“I don’t have any tissues. Want to use this, instead?” Derek grinned and held out his sleeve.

She giggled. “Dad!”

He laughed. “Listen to me.” He took her small hand in his, overwhelmed by the connection between them. “I promise you I’m not angry,” he told her, squeezing her palm tighter in his. “I made a lot of mistakes with your mom. I’m upset that I made her so unhappy that she felt that way.” He struggled for the right words so it didn’t seem as if he was bashing her mother.

He and Marlene had come a long way.

“Let me make a few things clear to you right now. Number one, I love you. I didn’t walk out on you. Your mother and I agreed that me leaving was for the best. Your mom was angry at me for a lot of grown-up reasons, but that’s over now. I’m happy for her and John. Are you?”

Holly nodded. “He’s not bad. And Mom seems a lot happier now so that’s good.”

Derek exhaled, relieved she understood. Divorce wasn’t easy on kids. “So how about you and I start over? No assumptions, no misunderstandings. If you want something, ask. I reserve the right to say no if I think it’s bad for you, but it’ll always be out of love. Okay?”

His little girl, who at eleven looked much older, stood in front of him, merely staring.

“Do you understand what I said?” he asked, wanting to be clear.

She nodded and sniffed. “I think you said you want to buy me those sheets. You just used a long explanation to get there.” She shuffled from foot to foot, her excitement tangible. “Can I pick them out now?”

He laughed, and despite knowing better, he pulled her into a hug.

She froze and his heart felt as if it had stopped. It had been too long since they’d been that comfortable around each other and he held his breath, waiting for her reaction. Inch by inch, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him back. His heart began to beat again.

She bent back down and handed him the items-sheets, pillow cases and, of course, the extra throw pillows and dust ruffle that added to the cost but increased her smile by a yard.

“You need pillows to fit inside the odd shaped shams,” he told her. “I saw them over there by the sample bed.” His arms were full with her choices.

“I’ll get them.” She ran back to the display and returned a minute later with three small pillows in her arms.

Once again, she began squirming, obviously excited about something new.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“While I was there, I heard two women talking,” she whispered. “One was Ms. Merchant, the librarian. The other was a lady I met while checking out my books at the library.”

Derek wasn’t sure where she was going with this. “Well, this is the only real mall in town. It isn’t that odd she’d be here.”

Holly nodded. “I know. I was going to tell you about her because she was really cool. I liked her clothes and all.”

He grinned, not surprised his daughter had noticed that.

“But then Mom called and I forgot all about it until I saw her again just now. I didn’t realize she was Ms. Merchant’s friend because they weren’t together at the library,” Holly continued, rambling at ninety miles an hour. “Anyway, I heard her say your name! So you already know her. She’s wearing Manolos, like Mom’s.”

“They aren’t Manolos, they’re Christian Louboutins,” a hauntingly familiar voice said.

Derek drew a deep breath and lifted his gaze, meeting the eyes of the woman he’d reluctantly pushed out of his life years ago. And he’d regretted it ever since.

GABRIELLE AND SHARON HAD been taking the escalator down to cookware to find Sharon a new coffeemaker. They’d been discussing Gabrielle’s purchase of chocolate truffle crème body wash, body crème and candle in contrast with Sharon’s choice of French vanilla. In Gabrielle’s opinion, there was no comparison. Chocolate was the most decadent thing in life next to sex, and she’d said so.

Then she’d caught sight of Derek.

Older and more mature, but no less handsome. His dark brown hair wasn’t as long as she remembered, but the tousled locks were vintage Derek. Styled to look as if he had no set style. And those eyes, those deep-set hazel eyes looked at a woman as if she were the only person in the world that mattered. A pair of baggy khaki shorts hung to his knees and a white T-shirt accented his tanned skin. Razor stubble covered his rugged yet defined face.

God, the man was still sexy.

Unaware, Sharon walked beside Gabrielle into the sheet department without questioning her motives. Gabrielle continued extolling the virtues of chocolate, something she could discuss easily while distracted.

She’d wanted to be in control when she ran into Derek again. She’d even thought about ambushing him, the way she used to after school, pulling him behind a tree for a surprise kiss, and see whether those old sparks still burned.

Then she heard him. And she’d been the one caught by surprise. Her toes curled in her pointy-toed shoes and her stomach did one of those sensual turns only he’d ever caused.

She pulled to a stop and placed her finger over her mouth, silently asking Sharon to keep quiet.

Gabrielle had tiptoed toward him and realized he was talking to the inquisitive young girl she’d met in the library. A child, she realized now that she saw the two side by side, who was clearly his. Her hair and eyes might be a different color, but her mouth, those white teeth and full lips were all her dad’s.

Derek’s daughter.

Gabrielle’s stomach dropped as she faced the little girl who could have been theirs if…

She gave herself a mental shake. There were no ifs. Only the here and now. She had to face the fact that while her life had gone on, so had his. Until now she’d never let herself think about how. True, Sharon had told her he had a child, but hearing about it and facing it were two different things. She knew now she’d pushed the child out of her mind, unwilling to deal with what the little girl meant-that he had fallen in love with another woman not long after saying goodbye to Gabrielle.

She placed her hand around her stomach. God, it hurt badly. And that’s when she knew that the old feelings were still there, as strong as ever.

“Go get your coffee machine,” Gabrielle whispered to Sharon.

“But-”

“I’ll fill you in later. I don’t want any witnesses,” she said.

Sharon hesitated, so Gabrielle gave her a gentle shove. “I’ll be fine. Go.” She waited until her friend was on her way to the kitchen department before she walked over to where the father and daughter stood, in time to hear the preteen extol the virtues of Gabrielle’s shoes.

She hadn’t even seen the girl checking her out.

“They aren’t Manolos, they’re Christian Louboutins,” Gabrielle heard herself say.

Two sets of eyes glanced up at her. One in awe. The other in recognition.

“Christian Louboutins,” the young girl said, shaking her head. “My mom doesn’t even own a pair of those.”

“I’m sure that will change while she’s in Paris with her new husband,” Derek said, his stunned gaze still firmly on Gabrielle’s face.

He cleared his throat. “I heard you two met at the library,” he said a little awkwardly.

“Not officially. Just long enough for me to tell her we had the same taste in books when I was her age.” Gabrielle never tore her gaze from his.

“Hey! Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Derek’s daughter asked as she dropped her armful of pillows onto the nearest counter and tugged on her father’s sleeve.

He unloaded the items in his arms, too. “Holly, this is an old high-school friend of mine, Gabrielle Donovan. Gabrielle, meet my daughter, Holly.” He gestured between the two.

“You two knew each other in high school? Wow!”

Derek met Gabrielle’s gaze.

And as his daughter spoke, about what Gabrielle couldn’t focus on, Gabrielle’s shallow breathing eased. The heat simmering between her and Derek did not.

“And you have the coolest clothes on the planet,” Holly added.

“Or at least in Stewart.” Derek laughed.

Gabrielle remembered that smile too well. She recalled what he could get her to do with that charm of his even better.

“How old did you say you were, Holly?” Gabrielle asked.

“I’m eleven and three-quarters,” she said proudly.

“When is your birthday?”

“August 15,” she said.

“I think that makes you more than eleven and three-quarters,” she said to the bright-eyed girl.

Derek nodded. “Someone has a birthday coming up next month.”

Holly grew more animated. “Ooh, I do. I need to think of a gift, don’t I?”

He laughed. “Yes, you do.”

“Clothes,” she said, drawing out the word.

“That means more shopping?” Derek asked, a mock grimace on his face.

Gabrielle met his tortured expression with a grin of her own. “What’s your favorite store?” she asked Holly.

“Different places. I got these flip-flops today at Abercrombie.” She waved her foot in the air.

“Ever hear of Isaac Mizrahi?” Gabrielle wondered if she sounded as silly as she felt, talking to a child about fashion.

Holly shook her head. “Who is he?”

“He’s a designer,” Gabrielle said. “If you love these bright-colored things,” she said, pointing to her choice in bedding, “I think you’d love the line he does for Target.”

“Now I know why the name rings a bell,” Derek said. “The guy began designing for Target around 2003. Their stock skyrocketed when he launched his line of affordable clothes with designer flair.” Derek folded his arms across his chest, looking like a man pleased to be finally participating in the conversation.

Holly rolled her eyes. “Dad,” she said with a groan.

Gabrielle chuckled at both father and daughter, but somehow kept her focus on Holly. “Maybe your father would let me take you to Target one afternoon and show you.” As soon as she spoke, Gabrielle couldn’t believe the words that had escaped her mouth.

She and Derek hadn’t said more than hello. She had barely gotten over meeting his daughter, yet she’d already invited her shopping.

“Oh, wow, Dad. She’s amazing!”

“Yes, yes, she is,” Derek said, his gaze never leaving Gabrielle’s.

Her body warmed beneath his stare. The sexual undercurrent between them was as strong as ever, but thankfully his daughter didn’t seem to notice.

“Can I, Dad? Please?” Holly tugged on his sleeve, bouncing with the enthusiasm of a soon-to-be teenager.

He smiled at her, the love and indulgence in his eyes doing crazy things to Gabrielle’s heart. He’d once looked at her with that intensity and devotion.

“We’ll see,” Derek said, wanting to spare his daughter any hurt. For all he knew, Gabrielle was just being nice to Holly for the moment, having been caught off guard by their sudden meeting.

He was still trying to get over the shock. She’d changed. And she hadn’t. Her chestnut-colored hair no longer hung long and straight down her back but instead brushed her shoulders in a sexy sweep. Long side-swept bangs dangled enticingly over one eye, and he’d noticed she often tucked her hair behind her ear as she spoke. Though her features were more defined, her makeup more seductive and professional, her beauty was still evident, inside and out.

“When did you get back to town?” Derek asked. He’d seen the flier, but there hadn’t been any whispers of her return, at least none that he’d heard.

She inclined her head, and the ends of her hair brushed at her shoulders, reminding him of the times he’d kissed her bare skin. Their encounters had usually been rushed, due to their inexperience and the fear of getting caught. If Derek had his way with her now, two adults with plenty of time on their hands, he’d take things slowly, savoring every sensual touch and taste…

“Derek? Did you hear me?” Gabrielle’s voice along with her hand on his shoulder brought him out of his daydream.

He shook his head. “Sorry,” he muttered, embarrassed.

“That’s okay. As I was saying, I drove in today to visit with Sharon. I’m giving a lecture at the local library tonight as a favor.”

“I heard about your talk.”

“Really? People are discussing it?” she asked hopefully.

“You could say that,” Derek said.

“My grandpa pulled out his old shotgun!” Holly joined in on the conversation again with exactly the point Derek had been hoping to avoid.

Gabrielle’s cheeks flushed red. “He what?”

“He wouldn’t really use it,” Holly said. “At least, I don’t think he would.” She wrinkled her nose in thought. “Dad?”

Derek groaned. “Why don’t you start moving all this stuff up to the register,” he said, pointing to the far wall where there was a small line.

It would take Holly a couple of trips, giving him a few minutes to talk to Gabrielle alone.