Page 31 of Perfect Imperfections

CHAPTER 11

Sullivan gently closed the door to his daughter’s room. He swore the child could hear the squeak of a shoe on the way out of her bedroom but wouldn’t budge a muscle if the entire kitchen exploded downstairs. Normally she went to sleep on her own just fine, but today had been tough on her. Him too. They’d had a meeting with the boys responsible for pushing Charlotte into the penguin pool. The school had reached a decision on proper punishment. Three days of suspension and a ban from all field trips for the rest of the year. In addition, the boys had to write Charlotte letters of apology and read them to her in the principal’s office.

A fair punishment in his mind. He hoped reflecting on their behavior helped the children to see what they did wrong, but who knew if it would have any lasting impression. What he knew was he was damn proud of his daughter. Charlotte sat in that office with her head held high, listening to the letters, and at the end she’d told each boy she had forgiven them. He knew she was still frightened, but she put on a brave face and showed poise and maturity far beyond what most people—let alone a seven-year-old—would have.

After the meeting, he’d taken her out for her favorite dinner. They’d gotten extra dessert because she deserved it. Putting her to bed, he discussed with her a little more about her feelings on the day. Most of the time, he had no idea what he was doing. He was just winging this parenting thing. All the books he’d read when Claire had been pregnant had conflicting advice. He’d ended up just trashing them all and going with his gut. Seemed to be working out okay seeing how today turned out.

He headed down the stairs, pulling out his phone to text Ellie that Charlotte was in bed, and it was safe to bring the decorations over. A smile curled his lips as he typed out the message. He enjoyed texting Ellie. Texting her, talking to her. Hell, even thinking about her gave him a thrill he hadn’t felt in a long time. The woman fascinated and awed him. He might have a bit of hero worship, considering she saved his daughter, but that was just another aspect of her he found himself enthralled by. She had jumped in without a thought to her own safety to save a perfect stranger. Few people would do that.

The more he got to know her, the more he liked her. She had a unique sense of humor and a kind heart. The way she listened to him the other night, no judgment for him or his ex, just an open ear and a sympathetic heart. Who did that? Ellie did, apparently. He had no damn clue what was going on between them, but he knew whatever it was, he didn’t want it to end. He wanted to see where their budding friendship led. If nothing more than for Charlotte’s sake. She adored Ellie.

He still held true to what he told her the other night. Sullivan wasn’t looking to get remarried. A fact that a few of the staff at the office had refused to acknowledge. The nurses kept trying to set him up with their friends and daughters. He finally had to put his foot down and make it clear he wasn’t on the market. Ellie knew he wasn’t looking for a wife. Would she be amenable to something…more than friendship, but less than permanent?

He shook his head. He was getting ahead of himself here.

Walking into the kitchen, he debated making tea or opening a bottle of wine. Normally he enjoyed a glass after Charlotte went to bed, but he didn’t want Ellie to assume…what? That he’d invited her over to seduce her? His body heated at the thought of sharing a glass of wine with Ellie by the fire. The dim glow of the flames illuminating her soft round face. Talking in hushed tones, edging closer as their bodies naturally gravitated toward each other. He could see it all in his mind, almost taste the sweetness of her lips as he sampled the vintage bouquet from the depths of her mouth.

Sullivan groaned, his body tightening with need. What the hell just happened? He’d been debating what drink to offer his impending guest and somehow it became a cheesy porno in his mind. Not cheesy, hot. Yeah, it had been hot. He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t imagined himself and Ellie in an intimate scenario more than once since meeting the woman. But he didn’t want to do anything to make her feel uncomfortable.

Grabbing the teakettle, he filled it with water. Tea it was, then. He liked Ellie, in more ways than one. More importantly, Charlotte liked Ellie. He didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the budding relationship between his daughter and a woman he knew would be an excellent influence. Sullivan wouldn’t let his sudden raging hormones get in the way of his daughter finding someone she could relate to.

The water started to boil. Sullivan grabbed the box of chamomile from the cabinet, remembering it being Ellie’s choice the other night. He took two mugs down from another cabinet and dropped the bags in just as his phone pinged with an incoming text message. Pulling it from his pocket, he smiled as he read.

Ellie: At the front door. Didn’t want to knock in case it would wake up Charlotte.

He hurried to the doors, pulling one side open to reveal the person currently taking up a large portion of his thoughts these days. Ellie Clark.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” She smiled, holding up two large paper bags. “I got some party goodies for you.”

His eyes took her in, grin widening as he read her light blue shirt with a picture of a toad and the phrase Toadly Awesome on it.

“You are toadly awesome and I owe you for this.”

She blushed. “Happy to help.”

A shrill whistle sounded from the kitchen. He opened the door, stepping back to motion her in. “I’m making tea. Want to come in for a cup and show me what you got?”

“Okay.”

She stepped in with a smile that made his heart skip a beat. He was in so much trouble. Damn good thing he hadn’t opened that bottle of wine. The woman messed with his head as it was. No need to muddle the night with alcohol, too.

Ellie headed to the kitchen. After closing and locking the door, Sullivan followed. He lifted the kettle from the base, pouring the steaming water into the prepped mugs as Ellie set the bags on the counter and pulled out the contents.

“There was a lot of fun things left over from the celebration we had last year when we opened the new elephant enclosure.”

He remembered that. They’d spent two years building an expansive new paddock for the large animals. Charlotte had been so excited to see it when it finally opened last year. She’d begged him to take her out of school for the opening and he’d almost caved, but education came first. He’d taken her the following weekend, and she’d spent hours exploring every inch of it. He chuckled, remembering how he wondered if the gleeful grin would ever leave her face that day.

“I’ve got biodegradable plates, cups, and napkins. All with happy elephants’ faces on them, of course.”

“Of course.” He smiled as she pulled the items from the bag, her enthusiasm reminding him very much of Charlotte’s glee whenever the subject of elephants were brought up.

“There are also some balloons. You’ll have to rent a helium tank. We don’t have one on hand at the zoo, but I can give you the number of the place we rent from. I promise they’ll give you a good deal.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh!” She reached into the bag, pulling out a large elephant statue. No wait, it wasn’t a statue, it was a—

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