"But you're mature adults. At least you were. And on the front lawn."

He winced. "How'd you hear that?"

"I had a fascinating talk with your daughter before she had to leave. This was while you were being st.i.tched up." Her stern expression softened. "She's great."

"I know." He still couldn't believe she knew about him and wanted them to be friends.

"And her first impression of her father is he and his brother fighting. I should slap you myself."

"Please don't."

"Are you in pain?" Dani asked.

"Yes."

"Good. I hope Reid is suffering. Maybe that will teach you two." She studied the bandages on his face. "What were you fighting about?"

"I made Penny cry."

Dani's eyes narrowed. "You sure did."

"I don't need you taking me on, too," he told her. "I feel like s.h.i.t."

She socked his arm anyway, which, fortunately, was one of the only spots that didn't hurt. "Why didn't you tell her you were moving back east? What kind of moron has a relationship with a woman and doesn't mention that at least once?"

"At first I didn't think it mattered. Then I didn't think about leaving at all. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking that maybe I wouldn't now."

"Maybe?" She socked him again.

"I won't go," he said as he rubbed his arm. "I know I should have told her. I never meant to hurt her."

"Too bad. If you had meant to, you could be happy you'd accomplished your goal. As it is, her heart is broken and you're an a.s.s."

"Gee, thanks."

"I mean it, Cal. You're better than this. You don't play with other people's feelings. You've never been mean."

He went from feeling like slime to feeling like slime was only something he could aspire to.

"What do you want me to say?" he asked.

"To me? Nothing. I'm not the problem."

He knew that. But Penny had been so angry-not without cause, he admitted. "I should have told her," he muttered. "I should have made it clear."

"Not many people get a second chance," Dani told him.

"I know. I lost Penny before. I'm not going to lose her again." He couldn't. She'd come to matter too much to him.

Three months ago, he'd been eager to leave Seattle, to try something new, but now...

"Is she all right?" he asked. "She was upset, and with the baby and all."

"Upset? You call that upset?"

His insides clenched as he swore. "I should let Reid beat on me some more."

"That will only help you. There's someone more important to worry about."

"How much have I blown it?" he asked.

"A lot, but Penny isn't unreasonable. Lucky for you, she's especially vulnerable right now. Naomi's leaving."

"What? Leaving for where?"

"Ohio. But that's not important. What are you going to do?"

Beg and crawl, he thought. Hope the words came to him and if they didn't, he was going to camp out on her doorstep until she finally agreed they belonged together.

He stood. Every muscle in his body complained loudly. "I'm too old for this c.r.a.p," he muttered. "Tell Reid and Walker I went to see Penny."

Dani glanced at her watch. "She'll be there the rest of the night."

"Good. Don't let her know I'm coming. I have another stop to make first, and I don't know how long it's going to take me."

Dani glared at him. "You're not going directly there?"

"No, and get off of me. I know what I'm doing."

"Oh, that's clear. We should all allow you to run our lives. You're doing such a great job of your own."

He bent down and kissed Dani's cheek. "I love you, too."

THIRTY MINUTES LATER Cal walked into Gloria's office. His grandmother took one look at him and jumped out of her chair.

"What on earth happened?" she asked. "My G.o.d, you have st.i.tches and a black eye. Is your lip cut?"

He waved away her questions. "Not important," he said. "That's not what I'm here about."

"All right." Gloria sank back in her chair. "Then why are you here? Not that I'm not delighted to see my oldest grandson."

She even smiled, he thought in amazement. As if nothing had happened. As if she hadn't tried to destroy Penny and any chance he had with her.

"You crossed the line," he said, doing his best to stay calm. Gloria might be the devil, but she was still old and female. He had to respect that, if not her.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said easily.

"Bulls.h.i.t. You know exactly what's going on and don't pretend you don't."