Page 24 of A Chance to Believe

‘Nice outfit.’

Kimberley relaxed. ‘Cassie gave them to me. She said she wasn’t likely to fit into them even after the babies are born. She got a box of stuff out of storage she thought might be useful.’

‘We should reimburse her.’

Kimberley sputtered. ‘Da-ad. She gave them to me as a gift. Besides, she said she’d be donating them if I don’t want them. They’re in good nick, but they’re years old.’

Shayne eyed the vaguely retro apricot capris and white sleeveless top knotted at her waist over a matching apricot crop top, leaving a narrow strip of flesh showing above the waistband. Not even a father could have any objections to her displaying the barely there glimpse of pale skin. He would have liked to see it on Cassie if he was honest with himself. He looked lower and wasn’t sure if a pair of white Converse would have been Cassie’s first choice for shoes. They were fit for purpose in this situation.

‘Have you got your licence?’

She pulled her wallet out of a side pocket. ‘All set, Dad. I’ve got my phone too for the app so Ben can sign off on my hours.’

‘Where is Ben?’

‘He’s bringing the car around the front.’

He glanced at his watch. ‘I should get Cassie.’

‘She’s ready. I saw her in the lounge room before.’

Before he could make a move, Cassie appeared in the doorway.

‘Did I keep you waiting?’

‘Not at all.’ He waved off Kimberley. ‘You get going. We’ll catch up.’

His daughter grimaced. ‘Like I’m going to be crawling all the way to town.’

There was no chance to retaliate as she dashed out the front door and down the steps. Ben was climbing painfully out of the Subaru. It was higher off the ground than most sedans, but Shayne wondered if any vehicle would be easy for his brother.

He turned his attention to Cassie. ‘Kim is going with Ben. She still needs a few more supervised hours for her licence.’

‘She’s keen.’

‘More determined to get her licence the first moment she can.’

Guiding her to the door with a light touch on her elbow that zinged his fingertips, he looked over her chosen outfit. Another of the loose flowing summery dresses with large orange and purple hibiscus flowers on a green leafy background splashed over the light cotton fabric. Ballet flats in a similar purple and matching fine chiffon scarf finished the outfit.

Her hair was straightened into a silky curtain.

‘Why do you do that to your hair? It must take a lot of time.’

She fingered a lock that fell over her shoulder. ‘Don’t you like it?’

‘You know you always look beautiful, but surely it’s energy you could be conserving.’

‘It’s hard to keep looking neat when it’s curly.’

He could see she was embarrassed, and his throat tightened. ‘I’m sorry. It’s your hair, your choice. But if you’re doing it because you think I expect you to dress up all the time, then you should know I like it curly just as much.’

Her mouth curved up at one end. ‘I’ll keep that in mind.’

He normally used the Landcruiser for running around locally, keeping the Lexus for travelling to the city if he wasn’t towing the horse float. It wasn’t new, had been his father’s for a couple of years before they downsized to a slightly smaller hybrid when they moved to town. It was a choice between her having to climb in or climb out. Maybe he should have co-opted the Subi.

Cassie folded herself into the front seat, her long legs briefly displayed as her hem slid up. Shayne closed his eyes. Must. Not. Lust. After. Pregnant. Woman. He shut the door once he was certain she was strapped in correctly.

He’d already tasted the scent of her as she’d brushed past him. In the car, he’d be surrounded by it. Something that reminded him of the herb garden under the floribunda roses, and something only her. It was going to be a long few months. The last month had felt like forever.

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