Broken (6 page)

Zoe stirred restlessly and made a sound of protest, causing Cassidy to realize she was gripping her daughter too tight.

Poor Max. He appeared devastated. Cassidy tried to sympathize but… Well, she couldn’t. She’d been through too much. Death changed a person, and she’d died twice in that operating room. All she cared about was what Max planned to do now that he knew.

She’d only had her daughter to herself for these last six months. In the beginning it had been a real struggle, but with the help of her parents, Nell and Brian, and her best friend Erika, they’d managed. She’d gotten used to the idea of being a single parent. Had even come to relish caring for her daughter herself after being so dependent upon others. Now here was Max.

Cassidy wasn’t sure she wanted to share Zoe. Max’s family didn’t deserve her daughter. Whether Max did, remained to be seen.

Max suddenly leaned forward, forearms braced on his thighs. He finally tore his gaze away from Zoe to pin Cassidy with a narrowed blue eyes. “Whose name is listed as father on the birth certificate?”

“Phillip’s.”

 Initially, there’d really been no choice. She’d had the baby via C-section in an emergency operation undertaken to save both their lives. It had been weeks before she’d seen Zoe. Her mother-in-law and parents had come and taken care of all the necessary paperwork.

“She’s my child. I want my name on the certificate,” Max demanded.

Not willing to argue, she said calmly, “As long as you pay for it, I won’t object.” Inwardly she thought,
If you wanted your name on the certificate, you should have been present when the birth certificate was being completed by the hospital staff. Then all this wouldn’t be necessary.

Max shifted his regard to stare at Zoe with deep longing. Cassidy suddenly remembered the way he’d stared at the ultrasound image of their daughter in Dr. Manning’s office. “Can I hold her?”

Cassidy had to choke down her instinctive denial. “I don’t know if she’ll allow it. She doesn’t feel good, and she’s going through her stranger anxiety phase.”

He nodded, went down onto his knees on the floor, and knee-walked so he was near the recliner. “Hi, Zoe, I’m Max, your daddy.” He eased one finger forward and gently touched the hand holding the spout cup. “That’s a lot of juice. May I have some?”

Daughter stared at father for a long moment. Zoe tipped her head and, glancing at Cassidy, gave her mother a look that seemed to ask, “Who’s this bozo?”

Max held out his hands and asked, “Zoe, can I hold you?”

Zoe switched her gaze to him, and then looked at his hands. Pulling the cup from her mouth, she said a very definite, “No.”

Smirking inwardly, Cassidy said quickly, lest he be offended, “It’s her favorite word right now.”

“It’s all right. She doesn’t know me, but she will,” he said determinedly. “I want to know my daughter, Cassidy. I want to spend time with her. Be a father to her,” he warned.

“I’m not the one who kept you from your daughter, Max,” Cassidy reminded him as gently as she could. She didn’t want to antagonize the man. The last thing Cassidy wanted is Max threatening her the way Phillip had.

Max scowled. “I haven’t forgotten. I’ll deal with them later.”

She arched a brow. “You believe me?”

His gaze sharpened. “Cassidy, one of the things I’ve always admired about you is your sense of fair play. You wouldn’t have deliberately kept Zoe from me.”

She shook her head. “Don’t give me too much credit, Max. If you hadn’t shown up here today, you would have never known about Zoe.”

He stared her, his disagreement evident. “No, I think once you saw me the other night and knew I’d returned, your conscience wouldn’t rest until you’d made another attempt to contact me.”

Since it pleased him to think so, Cassidy let his assumption ride. She knew the truth. After dealing with Nicco and Max’s mother, she’d have gone to her grave before reaching out to Max again.

“What’s her full name?” he asked suddenly.

Cassidy felt her face flush. “Zoe Maxine Brannon.”

“Thank you for naming her after me, despite the lies you’d been told.” Max actually smiled. The sight of it shocked Cassidy and brought to the forefront memories too painful to consider.

I’m over you, Max Desalvo. I’m not falling into your trap again.

She pushed the earlier kiss aside. He’d taken her by surprise. Besides, physical attraction was just that—physical. This time, she’d keep her heart and her hormones under complete control.

Zoe’s weight grew heavy and Cassidy knew she was drifting off to sleep again. She’d only been down for little over an hour when Max arrived. Both of them were exhausted. She needed Max to leave so she and Zoe could rest. However, she lingered a few more minutes. Max seemed fascinated by his daughter. Cassidy had to admit, together they’d created a beautiful child.

She gently tugged the cup from Zoe’s lax hold. “Will you put this cup in the refrigerator for me?” she asked Max.

He took it from her and rose to do as she bid. Cassidy adjusted her hold on the sleeping toddler and prepared to rise.

“Here, let me get her for you,” he said, appearing at her side with his arms outstretched, the half-empty cup dangling from one finger.

Cassidy careful transferred her precious bundle into his care, watching closely to make sure he held her correctly. She was ready to give instructions, but they proved unnecessary. When she stood, her leg protested, but she was used to the various aches and pains that went with her still healing leg. Knowing she was limping slightly, she directed Max to follow her to Zoe’s room.

Max trembled as he held his daughter for the first time. There were so many emotions running through him, each too powerful to name. Overwhelming them all was a tide of love. His child. His and Cassidy’s. He had a daughter. He’d thought the fantasy powerful. The reality was awe-inspiring.

He followed Cassidy to a small bedroom that was a little girl’s dream. Done in a rainbow motif, it was bright and colorful. Someone had added animals from Noah’s Ark to give the room a more gender-neutral feel.

After laying Zoe in her crib, he stood watching her, enthralled. He had young nieces and nephews and loved each one dearly, but it couldn’t compare to the love he felt for his own child. A love Max knew would only grow stronger with time. Cassidy was going to have to monitor him closely or he’d spoil Zoe rotten. Already she had him wrapped around her little finger.

Cassidy motioned him silently out of the room. In the hallway, after she’d secured the gate behind them she said, “I need to lie down and sleep while I can. I’m exhausted.”

“Let me stay,” he said before she could kick him out. “I don’t want to leave yet. You sleep, and I’ll get Zoe if she wakes.”

When Cassidy appeared dubious, he said, “I can handle her, Cassidy. I have several nieces and nephews, remember? This isn’t my first time with a toddler.” When his appeal didn’t seem to be swaying her he stressed, “She’s my daughter. I’ve a lot of time to make up for.”

It was the last that convinced her. He could see it the moment she made her decision. “Suit yourself. I need sleep.” She turned and limped to her room.

He trailed behind and stopped in the doorway. The furniture was the same from her apartment. He had a vivid memory of nights spent curled around her on that same bed.

Watching her climb wearily onto the mattress he dared to ask, “How bad is your leg?”

“Not too bad,” she said easily enough, telling him she didn’t mind talking about her injuries. “When I overdo, I need the cane for extra support.” She let out a heavy sigh of relief as she made herself comfortable under the sheet.

“Rest,” he told her, knowing there’d be time for them to talk later.

Her eyes closed as though they couldn’t stay open any longer. Seconds later, her breathing evened out and deepened. Max stood, leaning against the doorjamb. Peace covered him like a blanket. Finally, he was where he was supposed to be. Now he just needed to convince Cassidy.

After placing Zoe’s cup in the refrigerator, Max took advantage of the quiet to explore the house. He spent more time watching his ladies sleep, and scavenged the kitchen for something to eat. By the time Max heard Zoe stirring, three hours had passed and he’d made himself completely at home.

He went to his daughter’s room, glancing in Cassidy’s room as he passed and noting she was still sound asleep. Zoe stood gripping the rails of her crib. Her sleepy eyes blinked at him as he stood in the doorway.

She glanced past him. “Mama?”

“Daddy,” he corrected.

Father and daughter measured each other before her little face scrunched into a frown. “Mama!” she demanded.

Max arched an amused brow. His little princess was a tyrant. “Daddy,” he said again in firm, no nonsense voice.

Zoe stared at him a moment. Her lower lip quivered and tears pooled in those gorgeous eyes. “Ah, princess, now you’re fighting dirty.” He stepped over the gate into the room and crossed to the crib. “Eat?” he asked, holding out his hands.

She leaned to the side to glance past him again to the still-empty doorway. Max could almost see her little mind working. He smiled. Looking resigned, she raised her arms for him to lift her. “Eat,” she confirmed.

When he tucked his arm under her bottom to support her weight, he noticed she felt a little squishy. “Are you wet?”

“Down,” she commanded and wiggled to be free.

Obediently, Max set her on the floor. She went straight to the changing table, grabbed a diaper, and brought it to him. Chuckling he said, “You must keep your mother on her toes.”

He picked her up and set her on the changing table. Zoe lay down and watched him with her assessing gaze. Max had the feeling his diaper changing technique was being judged.

He must have done it right for there were no complaints. Once she was dry and dressed, and safely on the floor, he cleaned his hands with a wipe and used the disinfectant for good measure. Max picked her up again and carried her out the room. Amazingly, Zoe let him tote her all the way to the kitchen.

As soon as he opened the refrigerator, Zoe lunged for her cup. “Whoa!” He managed to catch her before she tumbled out of his arms. “Sweetheart, don’t do that. You’ll give daddy a heart attack.”