Unexpectedly, anger washed through her, replacing the numbness she’d been fighting. “You have a daughter and you never bothered to share that detail with your wife?”

Cole had the good sense to look uncomfortable. “It was probably the wrong way to approach things, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“Trust me, it wasn’t.” Her heart ached as she realized that Cole had never meant to include her in his life, had never considered that they could build something permanent. She tried to blink away the angry tears building in her eyes. He’d deliberately withheld a vital part of his life from her. “And just how long did you think you could keep her hidden from me?”

“Just until she got out of the hospital.”

Darci felt her mouth open, wanted to berate him, but the words halted in her throat. She finally managed to swallow. “She’s in this hospital?”

Cole nodded.

The anger faded away as Darci finally realized why he’d disappeared without warning, why he seemed distracted at odd moments. Reaching out, she tried to offer comfort as sympathy flooded through her, replacing the sense of betrayal. “I’m so sorry. Tell me about her.”

“Seven months ago, my first wife was killed in a car accident. Mandy…” His voice cracked on the word and he swallowed hard. “Mandy was badly injured in the wreck, but she survived. She can’t walk unaided right now, but after months of operations and physical therapy, it’s just a matter of building up her muscles again. In fact, she graduated to crutches just last week, and the doctor thinks she’ll be walking by herself soon.”

Her fingers tightened on his arm. With a rush of blessed feeling, Darci realized how trivial her troubles were. She was alive—young, healthy—and she could start over.

Quicker than she’d thought possible, a new determination swept through her—a determination to succeed, to build a new life for herself, a life without the controls and strictures the company and her mother had smothered her with.

But right now, Cole needed her. She’d give him as much time as he wanted, then set out to rebuild her life. With fresh determination, she focused her attention on Cole. For the remainder of the afternoon, she resolved not to think about Blackmore’s.

Cole caught her gaze, held it, almost pleaded for her understanding. “I promised her she could come home today. And I’d like you to meet her.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about her before?”