The Comeback (BWWM Interracial Romance Book 7) by Elena Brown

their pictures had appeared in magazines, on websites, with more than a few members of the press speculating about how serious they were, Brenton still managed to somehow avoid the discussion of what they were to each other. The fact that he had introduced her to his daughter was a step forward—but he still hadn’t acknowledged their relationship in any real formal way, not to his daughter or anyone else, and that made her uncomfortable.
    “Brent,” she said, sitting up on the couch to look at him. They had been watching a movie, unwinding together. Neither of them had been interested in going anywhere and playing the public game of being seen. “Can I talk to you about something?”
    Brenton sat up as well, setting his beer down on the coffee table. “What’s on your mind, Am-bear?”
    Amber took a deep breath. “Why did you tell Felicity I was your friend?”
    Brenton’s bright eyes closed, and she saw him take a deep breath. “Because you told me you were fine with it,” he said. “If you’d changed your mind, you should have told me.”
    Amber felt a flare of resentment. “You said you didn’t know how serious I was. I’m glad that you finally found it in you to introduce me to your daughter, but if we’re going to be serious, she needs to know that we’re in a relationship.”
    Brenton sighed, scrubbing at his face. “She’s not even three years old yet, Amber. She doesn’t know what that means.”
    Amber crossed her arms over her chest. “She knows what love is, doesn’t she? You tell her you love her—I’m sure you probably tell her you loved Kelsey, if she ever asks about her mama.”
    Brenton clenched his teeth. “Yes, I tell her I loved her mother, I tell her I love her. I tell her that her grandparents love her.” He licked his lips. “But don’t you think it’s a little bit complicated to tell a toddler about a girlfriend?”
    Amber pressed her lips together. “Is it really? ‘Felicity, this is my special friend, Amber. I love her very much—not the same way that I love you, but I love her.’ Brenton—can you even remember a time when you’ve told me you love me?”
    Brenton’s eyes widened. “I—I have to have said it,” he said, looking down at his hands, deep in thought as he considered the question. “You know I love you.”
    Amber swallowed against the tight feeling in her throat. “We’ve been together off and on for just about six months. If you’ve told me you love me it sure hasn’t been enough times for me to remember it.” She shook her head. “I thought we knew where we are in all this. Do you know where you are in this relationship?”
    Brenton picked up his beer and drank a long sip. “I know I love you. I know I want to be with you. But Howard and Betty are just looking for any excuse to make my life miserable and get someone to take Felicity away from me.”
    Amber groaned. “Jesus. Yet again you bring them into this. They aren’t Felicity’s parents: you are. Who the hell cares what they think? You’re a good dad and you know you’re a good dad.”
    “That’s not the point!” Brenton said. “I could be father of the year, I could make a million dollars tomorrow and they’d still find something to be down on me about. They hate me, Amber. They absolutely hate me. They didn’t like me before Kelsey died, and now that she’s been dead for over a year they still haven’t gotten over the fact that she died in an accident because I wasn’t there to do all of the driving.” He exhaled. “They think you’re trash, Amber. I don’t agree with them for a second, but the minute I try to commit to you they’re going to claim that I’ve lost my mind, or that you’re a bad influence on Felicity, and that if I don’t leave you I should lose her.” Amber felt blood rushing into her face.
    “They’ve said that?” she breathed in slowly, feeling her simmering anger transform into a hotter, more impulsive anger.
    “They’ve hinted at it. As