“Come sit here.” I moved toward the middle of the couch and widened my knees, patting the cushion between them.
She looked a little dubious, but she did as I asked. “You’re going to brush my hair?”
“Yes,” I said, starting at the bottom. “I have to make up for being a jerk to you. And besides, I’m good at this.”
She was silent as I combed through her hair with slow, smooth strokes. It smelled delicious—like coconut.
“How was your interview?” I asked.
“Good.”
“Did she offer you the job?”
“Yes.”
“Did you accept?”
She hesitated. “Yes. I did. But I haven’t even told anyone yet. You’re the first.”
“Congratulations,” I said, even though my heart sank at the thought of her leaving. “You must be really excited.”
“The hotel is undergoing some renovations, so I won’t go until early October, but yes—I’m excited. I think it will be good for me.” She paused. “I think maybe I need a change.”
“Change can be good.” Her hair was all combed out, but I kept brushing it. “Bree said my father wants to see us. He’s got terminal lung cancer. That’s what upset me on Monday.”
“Oh.” She put a hand on my leg. “I’m really sorry, Dex.”
“The last time I saw him was at my mother’s funeral. That was seven years ago. He hadn’t been around before that in years—she had breast cancer and went through treatment alone. Then he showed up all sad and somber, like he gave a fuck.”
She didn’t say anything. Her silence was inviting, and the fact that I could talk without eye contact helped too.
“I guess he’s sober and remarried now. Bree is in touch with his new wife. She asked if we’d consider reconciling with him.”
“That’s got to be a tough decision.”
I exhaled. “Bree feels bad for him. I don’t know if I do or not. What does that say about me?”
“It says you were very hurt by him as a child. And that your feelings are complicated.”
“Yeah.” I watched the bristles slide through her hair. “Bree has always been more forgiving than me. She’s like our mom was.”
“You make being forgiving sound like a bad thing.”
I frowned. “It is where my father is concerned. You can’t trust him to mean what he says. How do we even know he really has cancer?”
“Dex,” she said softly.
But I dug in deeper. “I will never allow him near my children. He forfeited that right years ago.”
“He wants to see the girls too?”
“Yes. And Bree’s kids. She said she’s thinking about it.” I dropped my arms. “But I can’t. And I won’t feel bad about it. I’m protecting them.”
“That’s your right as a father.”
I sighed, tipping my forehead against the back of her head. How did she know exactly what I needed to hear? Again, I was really fucking sad she was moving away. And I didn’t want to think about my family anymore.
Winnie took the brush from my hand and set it aside, then surprised me by circling my wrists and wrapping my arms around her like a blanket. “You’re a good dad, Dex.”
“But I’m a shitty friend.”
“Oh, I don’t know. This was a pretty nice apology.”
“I had to make things right with you. Your face was haunting me.”
She laughed gently. “Good.”
Her hair smelled so nice, I couldn’t resist burying my nose in it and inhaling. Or sliding one hand inside her robe. Or pressing my lips to her shoulder. “So have I?”
“Have you what?” she whispered as I moved her hair aside and kissed the back of her neck.
“Made things right.”
“I mean, you’re on the right track . . .” She tilted her head, allowing me to devour one side of her throat. “But it might take some more effort.”
“Yeah?” I pulled the belt on her robe loose and moved both hands to her breasts. She arched her back, pushing them into my hands.
“Dex,” she whispered. “Do you want to come upstairs?”
Without hesitation, I stood up, sweeping her into my arms and heading for the stairs. “How’s this for effort?”
She gasped and looped her arms around my neck. “This is such good effort. Don’t stop.”
I carried her up the stairs. “Last time I came up here, your smoke alarm was going off.”