His jaw tightened. “That’s not the way I was looking at it.”

If he didn’t want her around Noelle, he didn’t really want her at all. His life revolved around his daughter. He was asking her to accept an ancillary role. She wouldn’t even be his girlfriend. She would be his booty call. She didn’t miss the irony. In the beginning that was exactly what she’d wanted. When they’d met, she’d wanted to put him in a box and keep him there. It was brutal karma that he wanted that type of relationship now. Because she’d found so much more, come to want more. It was like she’d been the Grinch and her heart had done that growth thing, but the Whos suddenly didn’t want to sing. “I happen to love Noelle.”

“You did a damn fine job proving to her that you don’t.” The ice was back in his tone.

“If she truly believes that then I’m sorry because I do love her, but love isn’t always cuddly and sweet. Sometimes it’s hard. Cuddly and sweet can be very fragile. Love shouldn’t be fragile, but yours certainly was, Armie.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way. It didn’t feel fragile. I still feel more for you than any woman I’ve ever known, but she’s my daughter and I have to put her first.”

“I’m not trying to take her away from you, but you won’t listen to sound medical advice.”

His hands fisted at his sides. “I don’t want to push her.”

“Sometimes we need a push,” she insisted. “You are treating her like she’s made of glass, and she’s not. She’s strong, and she’ll be even stronger if she can push her way through this.”

He took a step back. “I can’t believe I thought this would work. I don’t understand why this is an argument. Do you always have to be right?”

“I am right about this. I don’t understand why you’re not in there coaching her. She’s got a shot at walking again. I know you feel guilty about the accident, but . . .”

His whole body went rigid. “Stop. I took a shot that you would want to at least salvage some of the relationship, but I can see this isn’t going to work.”

A bit of anger started to thrum through her system. “Salvage the part of the relationship where you get sex and I’m not any part at all of your real life? Thanks a lot. That’s a hard pass from me, but go find the Mirandas of the world. I’m sure they’ll play the part you want.”

“Part?”