Denning rubbed a hand down his cheek. “She thinks the worst of me. She hates me for what I’ve done, doesn’t she?”

Gavin hesitated, then gave a mental shrug. The man had asked. “Yes, sir, I believe she does.”

Denning winced. “Well, at least I don’t have to worry about you pulling punches and kowtowing, do I?”

A laugh slipped from him. “No sir, you’ll never have to worry about that. I respect you and your position, of course, but I’m no longer in the service, so . . .” He shrugged.

“So you don’t have to pucker up anymore?”

“That’s one way of putting it.”

The general laughed. “I have a feeling you never were the kind to kiss anyone’s rear end.” A pause. “Good for you.”

Gavin shot him an amused look. The man never ceased to amaze him. Honestly, he liked the general—didn’t agree with his methods in handling things, but liked him—and wished he and Sarah could find a way to settle their differences, but right now, he didn’t see it happening. “Have you thought about apologizing to her?”

“No.”

“Then don’t expect a reconciliation anytime soon.”

“I don’t.” The man paused. “It’s more complicated than just an apology.”

“Maybe so, but it’s probably a good place to start.”

The general shook his head. “You don’t know. You just don’t know. She’s a rebellious punk. Always has been, always will be apparently.”

“I don’t believe that. I don’t see that at all.”

“Then you’re blind. I see it and I won’t accept it—or deal with it.”

Even with the hard-hearted attitude, Gavin could sense the pain beneath it. Interesting. He didn’t want to ask the man to explain what he meant. Sarah had already promised to tell him. He owed it to her to let her do it. “Why can’t you tell her you love her?”

The general flinched. “She knows I do.”

“No sir, she doesn’t. And she doesn’t think you have any respect for her—as a woman or as someone who chose the Army as a career.”

“Respect? No, not much respect, that would be correct.”

He bit his tongue on the desire to ask why. Again, he had a feeling that was all related to what Sarah promised to tell him. “But you love her.”

“She’s my child. Of course I do.” He sighed and threw up a hand. “You sound like Caden.” Gavin raised a brow and the man’s jaw tightened. “I’m just trying to protect her.”

“I understand that, but you might want to go about it a little differently.”

“You and Caden decided to gang up on me about this, didn’t you?”

“No sir. I don’t suppose it’s really my business, so you can forget I said anything.”

The man grunted. “You think she’ll ever forgive me?”