In the end, he was surprised to discover the more he talked about Steven, the more he got to know Nathan. Andthe more he got to know his son, the more he wanted to know. He still didn't feel like a father, although hewasn't even sure what a father was supposed to feel like.

Jack poured some water into a basin and washed his fishy hands with liquid soap. He glanced up as Nathan toreoff his shoes and shirt and jumped into the lake next to Daisy. She hollered his name as he splashed her.

It was very clear to Jack how Nathan felt about his mother. He might bitch that she babied him, but he lovedher. He might have hedgehog hair and a ring through his lip, but Billy was right. Daisy and Steven had done agood job raising Nathan. He was a good kid.

And Jack had nothing to do with it. He grabbed a towel and dried his hands. He tried not to let the bitternesshe'd hidden from Nathan rise up and eat a hole in him. He succeeded in keeping it tapped down, right next tothe burning ache in his gut that wanted Daisy Lee so bad it was driving him half crazy.

How could he still want her? Want to touch her as he sealed his mouth to hers? To feel the golden strands of herhair tangled around his fingers and the warmth of her skin against his palms? To smell her neck and to look intoher brown eyes as he made love to her? How could he want that and at the same time want to shake her and hurther as much as she'd hurt him? It didn't make a bit of sense to him.

Jack hung the towel on one shoulder and watched Nathan dive at Daisy. She screamed and he pulled her under.

Jack smiled despite himself. Daisy had a way of making him laugh when he didn't want to. Of making himremember things that brought a smile to his lips before he even realized what she was doing. Of reminding himthat they'd had a lot of good times together in the past, before things had gotten so fucked up.

If he closed his eyes, he could remember back to what she felt like in his arms. The weight of her body as sheleaned into him. The texture of her hair as he rested his chin on the top of her head. The sound of her voicesaying his name in anger or in ecstasy. The tastes and textures of Daisy Lee. He remembered it all and wishedlike hell he didn't.

Jack started charcoal burning in the fire pit and got out a cookstove. He put some Jimmy Buffet on the portableCD player and mixed flour, salt and pepper for the fish. While Jimmy sang about fins circling around, Jackcouldn't seem to keep his eyes off a certain white swimsuit jumping around and diving into the lake. Comingback up and looking almost transparent, but not quite.

When he and Nathan had returned this last time, Jack had stood on the bow of the boat and watched her walktoward the water. Toward him, looking like she was an underwear model wearing one of those one-pieceteddies that was cut up real high on her hips. Sexy as hell. Like a living, breathing wet dream. And for a fewseconds he'd wondered what it would be like if this was really his life. To return from a day out with his son andhave Daisy waiting for them. To grab her up and hold her against him. To touch her all he wanted. Anytime hewanted. Anywhere he wanted. For a few brief seconds, the thought of that life nearly sent him to his knees.

But that was not his life. Not reality, and he had no business even thinking about it.

Jack rolled the fish in the flour, then started the rice on the cookstove. Daisy and Nathan returned from the lakeand took turns changing in the tent. When Daisy emerged, she wore a soft blue pullover sweat shirt with GAPon the front, matching sweat pants, and white Nikes with a blue swoosh. Her hair was pulled back in one ofthose claw things. She set the picnic table while Jack cooked the fish in a skillet over the coals. They ate dinnertogether like a family. Talking and laughing. Jack had to remind himself that it wasn't real.

After dinner they played poker with wooden matchsticks. When it got dark, Jack got out the lanterns and theyplayed until Nathan yawned and announced that he was going to bed.

"It's early," Jack pointed out and tossed in his cards.

"I'm a tired camper," he said as he headed toward the tent.

"He does this sometimes. A few days ago, he went to bed right after dinner and slept clear through tillbreakfast," Daisy informed Jack as she gathered the cards and stuck them in the box. "I think he's growing sofast, he just gets worn from the inside out."

Jack rose and moved out of the pool of light to his truck. He grabbed his Jean jacket out of the cab, then walkedto the fire pit. Stars crammed the big Texas sky as he stirred the coals. He threw a few logs in the pit and took aseat in one of the folding chairs he'd placed around the pit. He stretched his legs out in front of him and watchedthe wood catch fire. He thought about their sleeping arrangements and wondered if he should have borrowedanother tent from Billy. Sleeping in the same tent wasn't going to be easy. Jack had never slept in such closeproximity to a. woman when they both weren't naked. This would be a first, and thank God Nathan would bebetween him and Daisy. Because lately his thoughts were definitely carnal where she was concerned, and he'dhate to fall asleep and wake up face-first in her cleavage.

"It's been a long time since Nathan and I got to get away and just relax," Daisy said and sat in a chair next tohim. "Thanks, Jack."

"You're welcome." He threaded his fingers together over his stomach, crossed his booted ankles, and pushed allthoughts of Daisy's cleavage from his brain. The fire cracked and popped. In between comfortable silences,Daisy told him more about her plans to sell the house she'd shared with Steven, and more about opening herown photography studio. She was ready to get on with her life and eager to start.

They talked about Billy and his family, and she filled him in on the latest with Lily. Lily's divorce was to befinal in a few days. According to Daisy,Lily was finally getting herself together. Jack had his doubts, but he didn't mention them.

"Being back here in Texas brings back a lot of memories for me," Daisy said. "Most of them good." He couldfeel her gaze on him and he looked across his shoulder at her. Firelight danced in her hair and across her face. Ittouched her mouth and drew his gaze to her lips. "Remember when you and I and Steven made that timecapsule out of a coffee can and buried it in your backyard?" she asked.

Yeah, he remembered that, but he shook his head and glanced up at the sky crammed with stars in the inkyblack night. He hoped she'd let it drop. He should have known better.

"We put our most valuable treasures in a coffee can, and we were supposed to dig it up in fifty years."

She laughed and Jack returned his gaze to her profile.

"I can't remember what I put in there." She thought a moment then snapped her fingers. "Oh, yeah. A fakediamond ring you'd won for me at the fair. A pink fuzzy barrette Steven had found someplace and given me.

You put some Matchbox cars in there, and Steven put some of those green army men." She looked over at himand a frown creased her brow. "There had to be more."

"Your diary," he said.

"That's right." She started to laugh, but it died on her lips. "How did you remember that?"

He just shrugged and rose to stir the logs on the fire. "Good memory, I guess."

"Did you dig it up?" He didn't answer and she moved to stand next to him. "Jack?"

He pushed a log with the toe of his boot. It snapped and shot red embers up into the darkness. "Me and Steve."

"When?" she asked.

"About a week after we buried it. We had to know what was in your diary. It was killing us."

She gasped. "You guys invaded my privacy. Abused my trust. You were horrible!"

"Yep, and as I recall, your diary was boring as hell. Steven and I thought we were going to read all kinds ofjuicy stuff. Like who you had a crush on or if you'd kissed a boy. Or what really goes on at those girly slumberparties you were always going to." He shoved his hands in the front pockets of his Levi's and shifted his weightto one foot. "As I recall, it was mostly filled with stuff about your damn cat."

"Mr. Skittles?" Her mouth fell open and she grasped his arm through his jacket and turned him to face her. "Youread my private thoughts about Mr. Skittles?"

"I hated that cat. Every time I walked into your house, he hissed at me."

"That's because he could tell you were up to no good."

Jack laughed and looked down into her face as the firelight danced across her cheeks and nose. Where DaisyLee was concerned, he'd always been up to no good. He grabbed her hand to remove it from his jacket, but heheld it instead. "You don't even know the half of it."

"Sylvia told me she showed you her bottom in the fifth grade."

He had seen quite a few bottoms by the fifth grade. "It wasn't as good as yours." He brought her hand to hismouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. He looked into her eyes. "Your bottom was always the best."

She blinked once and her lids lowered to half-mast. Her lips parted. She wanted him every bit as much as hewanted her. It would have been so easy to slide his other hand behind her head and bring her mouth to his.

Desire twisted in his groin and urged him to grab her up and hold her against him. He dropped her hand.

"I've missed you, Jack," she said. "I didn't even realize how much until I came back." She took a step forwardand raised onto the balls of her feet. She ran her palms up his jacket to the sides of his neck. "Did you ever missme?" She placed her soft lips against his, then asked, "Even a little?"

He stood completely still, staring into her dark eyes. His chest burned as he breathed in her exhaled breath.

"Even when you didn't want to miss me?"