Deke grinned. “I bet they spoil her. Especially my dad. He’s never had a daughter, so he’s going to go crazy with her.”
“My dad spoils her all the time.” Ava laughed, recalling fond memories. “Just like he did me.”
“I had a feeling you were a daddy’s girl,” Deke teased, a smile playing on his lips.
“I am and not one bit ashamed of it,” Ava replied, a playful glint in her eyes.
“Yeah, I can tell.” Deke chuckled as he walked over to where his hat hung on the wall. He took it down and held it in his hands. “I’d better go.”
“Alright,” Ava said softly. She picked up Ellie, her arms enveloping the child in a gentle embrace, and walked toward the door where Deke stood.
“Have you given any thought about moving to Clifton?”
“I’m thinking about it, but I do want to talk to my dad first.”
“Alright. I want to get to know you too, Ava, not just my daughter. I’ll text you when I get a chance,” Deke said, reaching out to gently touch Ellie’s curls. They were soft under his hand, and he marveled at how much he loved her already. “Bye, baby girl,” he whispered to her.
“Bye-bye,” Ellie replied with a bright smile, her innocent voice tinged with a happiness that tugged at him.
Deke turned his gaze to Ava, feeling the weight of unsaid words. “Tell me something,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of unspoken desires.
“What?” Ava asked, her eyes holding a playful gleam as she met his.
“Do you ever think about that night?” he asked, the question hanging between them like a fragile thread binding them to the past.
A slow smile spread across her lips, a mix of sweetness and mischief. “All the time. You?”
“Constantly,” he confessed, giving her a look that lingered. “I’ll talk to you soon. We have to do what’s right for our daughter. Goodnight.”
He opened the door, settling his hat on his head before leaving. He closed the door behind him, then jogged down the steps and got into his truck. As he started it, he looked back at the house for a few seconds, then drove to the hotel.
Chapter Six
Ava sat quietly on the sofa, listening intently as the rumble of Deacon’s truck faded down the gravel driveway. God, he was still incredibly handsome, with the same rugged charm that had drawn her to him years ago. When he had asked her if she ever thought about that night, she couldn’t bring herself to lie. It was a memory she cherished, one that lingered in her mind. Every time she gazed at her daughter; the resemblance was undeniable. Ellie had inherited Deacon’s dark hair and honey-colored eyes. There was no way to deny the truth of her parentage.
The moment Deacon laid eyes on Ellie; he knew. Now, they faced the challenge of weaving their lives together. Ava was eager for Ellie to meet Deacon’s family and felt a flutter of anticipation about meeting them herself. His brothers needed to know their niece, and his father had to meet his granddaughter. She frowned as she realized he never mentioned his mother, and she wondered why.
She decided to wait for Deacon to reach out again. She knew how busy he was. Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when her phone vibrated with a gentle buzz, and she glanced down to see her father’s number flashing on the screen.
“Hi, Dad,” she answered warmly.
“Hi, honey. Did I just see Deke’s truck passing by here?” he inquired with curiosity.
“Yes, he came to see Ellie. He brought her the doll she wanted,” Ava replied, a smile in her voice.
Her father chuckled. “And how did that comeabout?”
Ava recounted how Deacon had wanted to bring Ellie a gift and how she had mentioned the doll to him. “I told him it was expensive, but he didn’t care,” she added.
“I didn’t think he would,” her father said knowingly.
“He asked me to move to Clifton, Dad.” She shook her head at the thought.
“You’re going to, aren’t you?” he asked, a hint of expectation in his tone.
“What do you think I should do?”
“In my opinion, I think you should. I know we’d miss you, but this is what’s best for Ellie.”
