Page 78 of Prudence
“Some would say I work too much to properly enjoy it, but yes, I agree. It’s a great place to live.”
Milly stood and came to give me a soft peck on the lips, running her hand down my arm before she asked, “How was shopping with Gigi?”
“Expensive,” I said, and she laughed before turning back to Colin.
“Our flight leaves in a few hours. Do you mind driving us to the airport?”
“Not at all.”
“I’m just going to make sure I packed everything. Be back in a few,” she said, kissing me once more, and then I was alone with Deirdre’s father. If all went according to plan, I was going to be a part of his daughter’s life, so I decided being cordial was the best course of action, even if my irrationally possessive side hated any man who’d ever laid a finger on Milly.
“Would you like anything to drink?” he asked, motioning to the espresso cups, but I shook my head. A short, somewhat awkward quiet fell as I shoved my hands in my pockets and studied the books on the shelf in front of me.
“Milly used to speak about you sometimes,” Colin said, breaking the quiet.
His statement snagged my attention. “Oh?”
“Not often, but enough to let me know you were important to her. I think you might’ve been the one who got away. She’s had partners over the years, but none of them lit her up when she spoke about them like you. I’d always hoped the two of you might find your way back to one another eventually.”
I shot him a disbelieving look. “You did?”
He gave a soft chuckle as he ran a hand over his wavy hair. “A strange thing for an ex to say, I know, but me and Milly, well, youmight not be aware, but we were first introduced by her aunt. She was a friend of my parents, and that woman tends to get what she wants.” He paused to shoot me a meaningful look, and I suspected Milly had filled him in on recent events. “Anyway, I think we both knew we weren’t right for one another early on, but unfortunately, Milly and I both suffered from a similar complex, the need for approval from certain elders. Mine was my father, and Milly’s was her aunt. They were both so intent on us being together since we had so much in common, both training to be doctors and all that. To be honest, I’m surprised we didn’t force ourselves to stay together longer, considering how under the thumb we were. But I managed to break out of my father’s influence early on. It’s nice to see that Milly has finally escaped Nell’s hold over her.”
Colin stood, taking the last sip from his espresso, then patted me on the shoulder. “She’s an amazing woman and an incredible mother. I couldn’t ask for a better co-parent. Be good to her, yeah?”
His gaze was suddenly assessing, and I found myself looking back at him steadily. “I have every intention,” I stated evenly, and Colin gave me a nod of respect before he left the room.
Later that evening when we landed in Dublin, we caught a taxi home, dropping Milly off at her place first.
“If you’re going to London again before the end of summer, please take me with you!” Gigi said as I was helping Milly grab her suitcase from the back of the vehicle.
“I don’t think I will be, but if I change my mind, you’re welcome to come,” Milly replied, leaning back into the taxi to give my daughter a hug.
“You don’t have to do that,” I told her quietly as I rolled her suitcase up onto the footpath.
She shrugged. “Honestly, I’m not a fan of flying alone, even on short flights, so I’d be glad of the company.”
“Okay, well, are you free tomorrow night?”
“I think so, why?”
I shot her a tender smile and took her hand in mine. Lifting it, I pressed a kiss to her soft skin before replying, “Because I’m taking you to dinner.”
Her eyes lit with interest. “Oh?”
“The first of many. I plan on courting you like an old-fashioned gentleman, so get ready. There will also be gifts.”
She giggled and my chest eased at the sound. “Well, if you insist.”
“I do. Be ready at seven.”
With that I pulled her in for a kiss, despite the fact that the taxi driver had shot me a pointed look that the metre was still running. Gigi groaned from inside the vehicle. “Oh, come on. I’m on board with this and everything, but no PDA, please.”
Smiling, I released Milly, already inpatient for our date. “Miss you already,” I whispered, and her cheeks flushed with pleasure as I climbed back into the taxi.
25.
Milly
