Page 44 of Single Dad Christmas

“See where you grew up. You know, go to your palace.”

She laughed, squeezing him a little tighter. He grinned at her, as he swam them towards the steps of the pool and sat on thesecond shallowest one, so she was on his lap, but still submerged in the refreshing water. The night was balmy and warm, the sky a deep, velvet black, the stars shimmering almost as if they were dancing. The lights of Sydney made a soft, ambient glow in the distance, and the black void beyond that was the ocean, full of mystery and stories.

“I think we should walk before we run,” she said after a beat, stroking his cheek.

“Too fast?”

“No. If it was just you and me, nothing would be too fast,” she said honestly. “But it has become very clear to me that I’m not just dating you. Taylor is a part of this, and until we work out how to be in the same room together without her wanting to kill one of us, I can’t imagine planning anything like a trip.”

“She’s like that just with me, you know. It’s not about you.”

“It doesn’t matter why she’s the way she is, it’s still something we need to be aware of, and respect.” She shrugged. “Hopefully in time, she’ll get used to this.”

“I just…” Noah frowned, his brows drawing together.

“What is it?”

“Are you willing to give me that time? To giveusmore time?”

“What do you mean?”

“I feel like this is way more than you signed up for…”

“I signed up for you,” she said. “And I don’t regret that, even a little bit.”

He pushed up so he could claim her mouth with his. “Are you a dream?”

“Why don’t you pinch me to find out?”

“Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?” he asked, as his fingers slid into the waistband of her bathers and curved around her bottom, which he did, indeed, pinch.

She made a soft moaning sound, and felt the throb of his arousal between them. All thoughts were forgotten, just as theyhad been the night before. Whenever they were close like this, it overtook everything else.

“Noah,” she murmured against his mouth. “We shouldn’t?—,”

“Louisa,” he kissed her again. “We really should.” And he lifted her from the pool, holding her easily against him, as he made his way not towards the deck and the living room, but rather, to the pool house, and all the privacy it afforded. Louisa had never been so glad for anything in her life.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

NOAH TAPPED HIS PEN against the desk, his mind racing miles ahead of him. He was thinking about Taylor, and he was thinking about Amy, and his family, and Christmas, but mostly, he was thinking about Louisa.

For years, he’d felt as though his life was a puzzle with so many pieces he just couldn’t make fit together. His ex-wife had become someone he couldn’t trust with their daughter. They didn’t fit. His family hated his ex-wife. They didn’t fit. His daughter resented him. They didn’t fit.

And then, with Louisa, suddenly, the fact the puzzle pieces didn’t fit didn’t matter as much, becausetheyfit. Maybe all that had been missing, all this time, was someone in his life who not only got him, but who also accepted him, and the messy complications he brought with him. Maybe life wasn’t about making it all work out, all the time, but rather having someone by your side who wanted to weather the imperfections with you. To lean back in their chair and smile at you. The kind of smile that could warm you up, all the way through, even when your heart was breaking because your daughter was becoming someone you didn’t recognize.

So, when Louisa walked into his office, a little before five, looking incredibly, edibly good in a silk blouse that was tucked into a high waisted pencil skirt, he felt that same warmth flood through him, but at volcanic lava heat levels.

“Hey,” he practically growled, as she stood just inside the door, hand on hip, staring at him with eyes that were big and intense.

“I’ve been thinking about your trip suggestion,” she said, fingers tapping her hip now. There was an energy to her, a sort of intensity that had him leaning forward, staring at her without the ability to look away. “And I’ve been thinking about Taylor, and you, and me.”

“Yeah?”

“I know we said we’d go slow, give her time, but maybe what we need to do is go away somewhere after all.” She stalked towards the window and stared out. Another day with bright blue skies and sparkling harbour water blinked back at them. “When I was a kid, we’d do a family holiday each year. My parents were busy so much of the time, but that was when they’d really slow things down. No phones, no laptops, just us, card games, toasting marshmallows, reading books. Connecting. Maybe we just need to push through this and find a way to connect with her.” Her face was flushed when she turned back to Noah. “What do you think?”

“I think Taylor…”

“I know, she’s not ready,” Louisa said with a grimace. “It was a stupid idea.”

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