Page 326 of Not Over You

Those magical fingers of his had lived in her dreams for over a decade. Seeing him drag one of those elegantly nimble fingers against his tongue would keep her up at night.

“Well?” She fought to keep her expression and the tone of her voice even.

He pondered his answer in a way that she wasn’t quite sure he was just dragging it out for her benefit or his.

“I think it’s delicious. I’m just not sure if my tastes bend to flavored honey. I like to use an ingredient to build flavors, but-”

He stopped short and tilted his head to the side, his gaze fixed on hers. “Then again, you know that, don’t you, Caroline? If I recall, you always knew my flavors just as well as I did.”

God, just a few words and he could make her feel like they were alone instead of in the center of a busy farmer’s market with what felt like everyone in town milling around.

And the attraction she’d felt for him years ago, it wasn’t just ‘still there,’ it was about to set her on fire.

Hell, if he crooked one of those damn fine fingers at her, she might just-

“Dad? Dad!”

Caroline sucked in a breath and gaped as a stunning teenage girl rushed up to Lucas.

He transformed from one moment to the next, going from seductive silver fox to doting dad in a heartbeat.

And that’s when it all came flooding back.

That night in the Bulldog kitchen, the heat that flared between them and the sudden shift of energy when he’d received the call saying his daughter was on the way.

And now, standing there, staring at this gorgeous young woman, with her fall of inky black curls, her ridiculously beautiful face, and a personality that radiated like sunlight around her, Caroline couldn’t help but remind herself that she’d done the right thing years ago.

Nadia’s laughter was even ridiculously gorgeous. “I knew you’d still be rooting around the produce stalls.”

Lucas shrugged and leaned into his daughter’s hug, pressing a doting kiss on her cheek. “If you want to eat,” he gave her a shrug, “I need to buy food.”

Nadia rolled her eyes and giggled. “Don’t give me that. You’ve done a whole Youtube series on three ingredient meals from a pantry.”

Lucas laughed and Caroline felt her heart contract painfully in her chest.

She wasn’t exactly sure why, but she had a feeling it was because the scene before her only confirmed her instincts had been right. No matter what she had felt for Lucas in the past, she wouldn’t have come between Lucas and his daughter. Not then, and most certainly not now.

Nadia had a family that Caroline could only dream of.

And that was enough for her.

With a smile and a nod, Caroline started to walk away while the duo were teasing each other.

She’d made it a few steps when she heard her name.

“Caroline?”

“Miss Frazen?”

Agh!

Both of them?

She turned back around with what she hoped was a bright and easy smile. “Oh, sorry. I was just going to find my friend Cicely. Oh, Lucas, you should go and visit her food truck.”

He tensed a little and Nadia called him on it, smacking her dad in the arm.

“Dad! Don’t be a snob.”

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