Page 115 of Take Her from You

“Understatement of the century.”

He grinned, so perfectly handsome, and gestured for me to drink my coffee. “It’s weird not having the Tobster home. I’m used to her noise in the morning. When do we go get her?”

My heart panged in a way that was getting worse and more familiar. He’d always been so respectful of my little girl, keeping clear boundaries as a house guest, but he missed her, too.

“Elise said to come by at noon.” I leaned to grab my phone, finding a photo waiting. “Look, they’re having breakfast in a den.”

The kids had a tent up in the living room with cushions on the floor and snack trays laid out in front of them. Elise’s son sat behind them, and the three beamed at the camera.

Valentine grinned. “Cute. I bet Finn would be in there if he were home.”

“They come back tomorrow, is that right?”

“Aye, right after the gig, so it’ll be the early hours by the time everyone’s flown in.”

“Daisy and Ariel will be so happy. You will be, too. I bet you’ve missed your crew.”

He raised a shoulder, chewing on toast. “I’ve been pleasantly distracted, if ye hadn’t noticed.”

Breakfast gave way to another turn in the sheets, then a shower ahead of getting dressed to fetch Tobi.

Shortly before we had to leave, Valentine surprised me again. At the front door, standing in a beam of sunlight, he gestured to the perfect spring day. “How about we drive out somewhere for lunch? There’s a café on the beach at Loch Morlich that Tobi will love. The sun’s out, and it’s naw that cold. We can take a ball. Maybe even paddle in the water if ye fancy it?”

Two thoughts struck me at once, arrows to my aching heart.

I’d fallen for him so hard, I’d been ignorant of anything else. But that couldn’t hide the truth right there in my face. Valentine loved me, too. He’d deny it, I was sure, but he did. He didn’ttake the option of space, which I could’ve given him by going out. He didn’t mention leaving though he was back on his feet again. Instead, he wanted to bring the family unit closer together, to join in with us. Be part of us.

For the first time since letting myself get tangled up in his orbit, I felt hope.

“Love that idea,” I managed.

“I do, too.” He leaned to peck my lips.

My stomach flipped, my whole being rotating to become his. So simple and easy, and something I had to work out how to keep.

In my car, we trundled out to pick up my daughter. She flew into my arms, but her glee was all for Valentine being there and his plan to go to the beach.

Throughout the afternoon, I had to remember to catch my breath. To pinch myself to remind me this was real. Loch Morlich was the prettiest spot, with snowcapped mountains rising all around and thick fir trees coming right down onto the sand. Other families had the same idea of enjoying a Saturday on the beach, and kids played in the surf, some brave souls out on canoes or windsurfing.

But it was Valentine at my side who stole my thoughts. Or him running with Tobi in and out of the waves. When she splashed him, he laughed, taking care to only lightly splash her back and not drench her.

If ever I’d pictured the perfect father for my little girl, he was there on the sands, carving out a place in our lives.

My phone ringing in my bag broke my reverie. I pulled it out—Scarlet calling.

“Hey,” she said. “Sorry to call unexpectedly, but there’s been an odd occurrence with regard to my lawyer talking to the Winchester family.”

A chill descended over me. Of course they’d crop up now. “Go on.”

“After ignoring many of our questions and requests, they’ve this afternoon sent through a list of demands. Primarily centred around getting visitation with Tobi.”

Down the beach, my daughter claimed her ball and tossed it at Valentine’s head. He snatched it from the air, his pretend outrage making her stuff her hands to her face in glee.

“No,” I breathed, horror threatening my perfect afternoon. “They’re trying to get her alone? No way. I don’t want that.”

“I doubt they really do either. It’s a chess move. There’s more, and some of this is going to sound scary, but hear me out before you panic, okay?”

I swallowed and asked her to proceed.

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