There’s a little ball of dark hair barreling towards me and I don’t think they realize it.

I scoop the kid up before she can run into my legs, and she squeals.

She’s got vibrant green eyes and dainty lashes, dark wavy hair spilling over her shoulders. Something’s familiar about her face, but I don’t know many little kids who’d be here.

I’ve met a few of the cousins and friends, but she isn’t one of them.

“You were just going to run into me?” I tickle her, not able to stop myself from laughing as she giggles. Kids laughter is such a sweet, pure sound.

“Sorry!” She grins.

“Where’s your mom?”

“In Minnennosota.” I smile because she adds some extra syllables. “I came with Daddy.” She lays her head on my shoulder and points across the backyard.

Well shit.

I meet Dane’s eyes and my surprise probably mirrors his. He’s gotten rid of the extra facial hair, leaving just a little stubble behind.

Still built. Still tall and just naturally brooding enough to make a woman a little wary.

It’s only been a few weeks, but it feels like I haven’t seen him in much longer. Probably spurred along by the fact that he was so insulting when we parted.

I’d successfully made myself not think about it in St. Lucia, and it was easy because I was so far from New York.

Now? It’s the first thing on my mind. I hadn’t even turned my phone on yet because we’d just dropped our luggage by Mickey’s place then come straight here.

I don’t know if he’d sent something, or tried to get in touch.

I definitely hadn’t expected to meet his daughter so soon.

I watch him walk towards me from the corner of my eye, even though I’m pretending to be very engrossed in talking to…

I don’t even know her name.

“What’s your name, little miss?”

“Addison. You can call me Addi. What’s your name?” She bops me on the nose with a finger.

“Keyra.” Dane reaches us before I can answer, his low voice wrapping around my name.

Shit, Keyra. You’re tight as fuck.

I hear his words from that night flash through my mind and I go from curious to breathless in the space of seconds.

It must show on my face because his nostrils flare, and he glances away.

The move pulls me back to reality immediately.

Right. We were on completely different pages.

“Did she run into you? She does a lot of that.” He chucks her on the chin and she giggles. He has the most reverent look on his face.

What reality have I stepped into?

“Yeah, but it’s okay. It was very nice to meet, right Addi?”

“Mhm.” She wiggles in my arms and I realize she wants to get down, so I let her.

She darts away immediately.

“She’s like a little bunny.” I cross my arms, looking at the middle of his forehead to give the illusion that I’m looking in his eyes.

“Yeah, I definitely had to learn pretty quickly to keep her in sight as much as possible.”

This is awkward. I feel awkward.

“Yeah.”

He reaches a hand out like he’s going to touch me and I step back just slightly. I know people are probably watching.

He doesn’t heed it though. He gently grabs my arm and steers me towards the house. The only reason I don’t resist is because it would be making a scene.

We walk past the people in the living room, past Hudson and Michelle in the kitchen, and he keeps walking.

“Where are we going?”

No answer. He just keeps tugging my arm firmly until he jerks open a door and pulls me inside.

“We need to talk, and I don’t need your sisters staring me down while we do it.” He leans against the dryer, dark red henley just stretching over his chest.

If he were punier, my life would be way easier. Damned biceps. My downfall in the first place.

“I wonder why they’d feel the need to do that.”

“I fucked up. Probably worse than I ever have.”

“Yep.” I cross my arms, leaning against the adjacent washing machine. Then I decide I feel too small compared to him, so I hop on top of it.

There. Eye level.

A small smirk tips his lips.

“Is something funny to you?”

“You needing the power position.” I didn’t expect him to answer, actually.

“Can we get this over with?” I narrow my eyes.

“We can leave as soon as you accept my apology.” He pushes his sleeves up and crosses his own arms.

“The apology I’ve yet to hear? Okay, I’m waiting. Bonus points if you do it on your knees.” I challenge, and seconds tick by where we stare each other down. Before, I might’ve said the air was crackling with sexual tension - but I know better now.

It’s just the energy of two slightly stubborn people.

He drops one knee to the floor, the other following and I barely school my surprise. He takes my hands from where they’re resting on the edge of the washer and holds them in his, deep brown gaze the most earnest I’ve ever seen it.

Like a hot puppy dog. Is that a thing?

“Keyra, I am incredibly sorry for going into your home and making you the villain. I am sorry that I was callous about your feelings and didn’t think things through that night. I was hurting. And it’s no excuse, but…it is what it is. That’s the only explanation I have for…what I did.”

“For having sex with me when you didn’t want me like I was some blow-up sex doll to take your frustration out on. Not thinking about our friendship or the ramifications of it.” I explain helpfully.

“I never said I didn’t want you. That’s never been in question. I just shouldn’t have had anything clouded by other emotions.” Annoyance covers his face.

“I’m pretty sure you did.”

“And I’m pretty sure those words never crossed my lips because I’m sure as shit still attracted to you.” There’s something else in those eyes now. Something that makes me a bit more uncomfortable.

This is not good territory to be in.

“Whatever. The point is, you handled it very poorly and I don’t know how to trust you again.” I move away from that subject, and I can hear how sad my voice sounds.

“I’ll make it up to you. I don’t know how, but I do value you Keyra and I don’t want you to disappear on me again and know that it was my fault.”

“Well, the vacation wasn’t entirely your fault. It just…made me realize maybe taking a break wouldn’t be the worst thing.” I give a little because honestly, I don’t like not having contact with him.

I don’t want to just trash everything. Yes, he had ulterior motives when he slept with me, but I was prepared to sleep with him and damn the consequences.

It’s not like I didn’t know who he was, hadn’t watched him with other women. I have to take a part of that responsibility too.

“You look great. Alive.” He stands, his earlier position putting him very close to being between my legs.

“Are you saying I didn’t before?” I rub my thumbs over his hands, ignoring how intimate everything feels.

If I just ignore it, surely it’ll go away.

“This is a different kind of alive.” He smiles, that damn boyish charm radiating from him again. It’s amazing how quickly a smile takes him from I could maybe murder you to pet me like a big, sexy teddy bear.

“Well, thanks. I’ll have to show you the pictures.”

“And I have to tell you all about Addison. And explain about my family.” He pauses for a second, then kisses me on the forehead. I close my eyes and lean into it, a bittersweet feeling coming over me.

I don’t things will ever be exactly the same.

“I’m glad you’re back.” He whispers.

“Me too.” I murmur, and we swing our heads to the door as it flies open, revealing Ethan.

I have to give the kid credit, he doesn’t blink or show a smidgeon of surprise.

“Hey, we’re about to sing happy birthday to Nic.” He’s the only one that calls Nico that, and it’s freaking adorable.

“We’re right behind you.”

He nods and closes the door gently behind him, leaving us alone again.

Dane plucks me off the dryer and sets me down gently, his hands lingering a little on my hips before he removes them.

I go ahead of him but he grabs my hand and I look back. There’s an almost nervous expression on his face.

“So, this is good? We’re good?”

I nod slowly, deciding then and there to just let it go. Or try to.

“Yeah. We’re good.”