Carrie laughed. ‘Here. Take her.’ She gently passed Dana to him. ‘There’s a knack to it.’
Charlie’s chest tightened as Dana murmured and wriggled in his arms, trying to find the most comfortable position. Her blonde head snuggled into his neck. Her hair smelt like toffee-apples.
Carrie removed the seat easily and he indicated for her to precede him up the path. When she reached the front door, she placed the seat on the ground and inserted the key. Turning, Carrie held her arms out for Dana and he passed her over gently.
It was such a domestic scene Charlie couldn’t quite believe he was in it. Or how...nice it felt. It had an odd kind of pull. But his life was complicated, his head was messed up and she had a child.
And he’d probably never see her ever again.
‘Well, thanks for this, Charlie. I really appreciate it. It was nice meeting you. I just wish it had been under different circumstances.’
He chuckled. ‘Amen to that.’
Carrie walked through the door and closed it without looking back. She put Dana to bed, trying not to think about the sense of intimacy she’d felt when Charlie had handed Dana back. It was insane to think that way.
Charlie was gone. The book had shut on their brief encounter. She had a daughter to raise and a career to forge.
She didn’t need any Charlie’s in her life.