Page 19 of Single Dad Christmas

“Really? I thought everyone knew that,” he said, then laughed a little awkwardly. “My marriage break up was a source of interest for people in Australia. You know, our family name is kind of…”

“I get it. You’re famous.” And ice crept up her spine because she’d just left one high-profile relationship and definitely didn’t want to find herself in the middle of another.

“No, not at all. My family is famous, and at certain times, that fame bleeds into our individual lives. Plus, Amy has a high profile, so…”

“Yeah, I get it.” She bit into her lip, worrying it between her teeth. “Does it bother you?”

“Yes,” he answered, instantly. “I hate it. I hate that kind of attention. I hate speculation and gossip, and I particularly hate the prospect of my daughter being caught up in it.”

He moved away then, rolling onto his back, in one of the cruelest deprivations Louisa had ever felt.

He stepped up from the bed and scooped up his clothes. “Where’s your bathroom?”

She pointed through the open doorway. “Just across the hall.”

He took a step towards it then returned to the bed and bent over, kissing her forehead. “Thanks, Louisa. That was really special.”

Her heart soared and she found she couldn’t quite make her voice box work to say anything in response. Instead, she waited until he’d left the room then stood, her body heavy with relaxation and pleasure, so it was an effort just to get dressed again. She eschewed the clothes that were on the floor and instead pulled on some underpants and a loose cotton maxi dress. In the kitchen, she removed bowls and cutlery, and a bottle of wine from the fridge, from which she poured two glasses.

Noah came through with the dinner and a rueful expression. “It probably needs to be reheated.”

“And here you thought you’d disappoint me,” she teased. “There was nothing fast, or disappointing, about that,” she clarified.

He shrugged, the rueful expression deepening. “I have been thinking about you all day. I was worried one touch would set me off.”

“Ah, what big stamina you have,” she did her best impression of an X-Rated Little Red Riding Hood. “What have we got?”

He passed the bag over and she removed plastic containers one after the other, placing them on the counter. She was pleased to realize he’d ordered some of her favourites, like pad thai and green curry.

“Happy for me to serve up?”

“Sure,” he nodded. “I’ll have whatever.”

She distributed the food into two bowls, then microwaved them one at a time. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and each movement she made caused her dress to brush against her nipples, which, thanks to Noah, were incredibly sensitive.

“Okay,” she said, sliding the heated meal across the counter to him. Her heart jolted when their eyes met, and she remembered how distractingly handsome he was. He had a cleft in his chin that she kept wanting to divot her thumb into. In fact, his whole face looked as though it had been lovingly hand-crafted by a very skilled sculptor.

Another art analogy? She was really losing herself here.

“Okay?”

“Let’s talk about your daughter.”

He pulled a face. “And ruin a perfectly lovely evening?”

Pleasure sparked inside of her, but so did a hint of responsibility. “You said you wanted help. I’m here if that’s still the case.”

He dragged a hand through his hair. “God knows I need it.”

“So?”

He studied her carefully. “Are you free tomorrow night?”

She blinked with surprise. She hadn’t really thought that far ahead, only she knew that this was a little more complicated than she’d appreciated.

“I…why?”

He laughed. “So I can see you again? Let’s leave the Taylor conversation until then. Partly because I don’t want to ruin tonight, and partly because at the moment, I think I might say some things about her that I’d regret in the light of day.”

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