“Yes, ma’am.” After looking at her for a few seconds, he nodded, then walked out the door, closing it behind him.
Ava snapped back to the present and shook her head. She should have told him. He deserved to know he had a child. She’d been shocked when she found out she was pregnant since Deacon used a condom every time, but she also knew they weren’t one hundred percent safe, so she knew the shock he was feeling and they would have to sit down and talk.
She prayed he wouldn’t fight her for custody, she’d let him into Ellie’s life as often as he needed or wanted to be.
****
By the time Deke pulled up in front of the hotel, it was dark and with heat still roiling through his veins, he sat in the driver’s seat and stared at the streetlights dancing in the windshield. What the hell had just happened? Why hadn’t Ava told him about their daughter? He closed his eyes for amoment, picturing that wide-eyed little girl’s face and feeling a punch of regret mixed with anger. His daughter. His heart thundered in his chest. He’d dreamed of kids for years, and now she’d kept this from him for close to three years? What the fuck? She should have gotten in touch with him the second she knew she was pregnant. Every second he’d been in the dark was another betrayal.
He slapped a hand against the steering wheel. “Damn it,” he muttered into the silence, voice rough as gravel. “We used a condom every time.” He knew condoms weren’t infallible. Why hadn’t Ava taken birth control? He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to let go of some of the blame. It was no one’s fault about the pregnancy, but she shouldn’t have kept it from him.
With a low groan, he climbed out of the truck, the hot air prickling his skin. Inside the lobby’s soft light, he padded across the carpeted floor to the elevator and rode quietly up to his room. Hunger gnawed at his stomach; exhaustion tugged at his eyelids, and he knew sleep would evade him tonight.
He let himself in and flopped onto the bed, kicked off his boots, mind racing with what-ifs and maybes. But duty called. He had a case to solve, and that case wouldn’t wait for him to sort out his personal life.
A rumble in his belly reminded him of one thing, he needed to eat. He wanted a burger. He’d never tasted one as good as Connie’s at the Clifton Diner, but a greasy patty and a soft bun sounded like heaven right now.
He sat up, swung his legs over the mattress edge, and tugged on his boots. As he reached forhis keys on the nightstand, his phone lit up, vibrating against the wood. He picked it up and saw Hud’s name on the screen.
“Hey, Hud,” he answered, voice unsteady.
“How’d the trip go?”
“Trip was fine,” Deke said, shifting on the bed. “But once I got here… not so much.”
“What happened?”
He closed his eyes, pressing the phone to his ear. “I’ll tell you once I’ve come to terms with it. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I’ll be back tomorrow. I’ve got enough info on the case for now.”
“All right. See you tomorrow.”
He heard the click as the call ended and let the phone slip from his fingers. His brothers and his father would have to know. He’d tell them about Ellie in his own time.
Deke squared his shoulders, pushed off the bed, and strode out of the room. The evening air was hot against his skin as he crossed the street to the diner’s neon glow. Inside, the familiar clink of dishes and the scent of sizzling beef greeted him. He slid into a vinyl booth, leaned back, and closed his eyes a moment before signaling the server.
He studied the menu, though he knew he’d order the same thing, a cheeseburger with extra pickles, crispy fries and a cold soda. He was determined, once he’d cracked this case, he and Ava would have to figure out what came next. He wanted nothing more than to be a part of his daughter’s life. And if Ava resisted, he swore he’d do whatever it took to claim his place by Ellie’s side.
He left early the next morning, ready to gohome. When he pulled up to his house, he shut the truck off, and sat there. Shaking his head, he stepped out, entered the house and carried his duffle bag to his bedroom where he dropped it on the floor.
Making his way back to the living room, he sat on the sofa and stared into the empty hearth.
“Damn her,” he swore, as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
How was this going to work? He wanted to see Ellie every chance he got but between his job and the five hour drive, one way, he wasn’t sure how.
Deke sat up, rested his arms on his knees and knew, for right now, he had a case to finish before he could even think about working something out with Ava. But, they were going to work on this and try to come to some solution because he was not going to walk away from his daughter.
****
Early in the morning, Ava woke up and immediately wondered if Deacon had already left town. She dragged herself out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen, craving a cup of coffee to start her day. As she sipped her coffee, there was a knock on the door. With a sigh, she made her way over and peeked through the curtain to see her father standing outside. She opened the door with a smile.
“Hi, Dad, come in. Do you want some coffee?” she asked as she headed into the kitchen.
“No thanks. Ellie still asleep?”
Ava leaned against the counter, taking another sip of her coffee before nodding.
“Yes. What do you want to say?” she asked, cocking her head.
