Too much baggage? What did that mean? What could’ve possibly caused him to abandon something he was obviously so good at?
Christian had lost his mind.
How else could he explain the way he’d let down his guard so completely by waltzing with Hallie the other night? The last person he’d danced with had left a giant hole in his heart, and he’d feared sharing such a vulnerable act with anyone else would feel like a constant reminder of their tragic love story.
Why did Hallie get to him so much? Was it the way her stunning eyes sparkled with a mischief he’d never seen in them before? Or maybe it was the adorable way she was so bad at dancing. Whatever the reason, the moment Hallie set her hand in his, something shifted inside him.
He’d felt it instantly.
Undeniably.
Contrary to his long-standing fear, it wasn’t Sabrina filling his head during that impromptu waltz. And she wasn’t in his head now as he stood by the big twisty slide at Village Green Park.
Three days had passed, and the sensation of holding Hallie in his arms still lived in his head rent free. Dancing with her had been a mix of heady exhilaration and gentle contentment. But also terrifying as realization struck him in those moments.
He was no longer just attracted to his best friend’s little sister.
He was falling for her.
And he had to put a stop to it before he stumbled too deep. Especially now that the girls were involved. Penelope had refused to let Hallie leave the house until she’d gone to bed, for crying out loud. She wouldn’t even let Christian brush her teeth or read her a story. Isla hadn’t claimed the woman as an unsuspecting bestie like hersister had, but even she’d warmed up to the idea of having Hallie around.
Continuing down this road wouldn’t just hurt him, but his girls as well.
Because all romantic relationships eventually stumbled onto the twisty path toward heartbreak. He couldn’t risk it. Whatever was happening with Hallie had to end before he took another step.
“Daddy, watch this!”
Christian pulled his head back to his surroundings to find Isla, standing at the top of the twisty slide. “I’m watching.”
As she flung herself down the slide, Penelope and her preschool friend, Charlotte, ran past him toward the rope climbing wall. Those girls were living their best lives this afternoon. Except for the one time she’d asked for a snack, his youngest daughter had been too busy playing during this playdate to even glance his direction.
Isla tumbled out of the slide’s bottom, her giggle bringing a small smile to Christian’s face. These glimpses of the joyful little girl she’d once been always gave him hope that she’d eventually be okay.
“Did you see me, Daddy?” She hopped up to him, her curly ponytail bouncing behind her. “I went so fast!”
Christian held up a hand for a high five. “You were so fast, I could hardly see you.”
“Oh, Daddy, you’re silly.” Isla spun back toward the jungle gym. “I’m going to do it again.”
He waved her off. “I’ll be here.”
While she ran toward the wobble bridge leading up to the twisty slide, Charlotte’s mom approached, her infant son in her arms. “I think we’re going to take off. This one’s getting tired. I really hope he falls asleep on the way to Charlee’s dance class.”
Christian checked his watch. “Yeah, we should get going too. Thanks for organizing this. Penelope’s having a blast, as you can tell.” On cue, a high-pitched cackle came from the wood chips at the foot of the climbing wall.
Charlotte’s mom laughed. “She’s adorable. We need to get thegirls together again soon. Charlotte talks about Penelope all the time.”
“For sure. They play really well together.” Sticking two fingers in his mouth, he let out a shrill whistle, capturing the attention of all three girls. “Nellie, it’s time to go!”
Isla groaned from the top of the slide. “Can’t we stay for five more minutes, Dad?”
How could he resist her simple request when she was having so much fun? “Fine, five more minutes.”
At first, he thought Penelope’s timely squeal spawned from her excitement over more park time. But instead of heading back to the playground, she took off running toward the copse of trees at the edge of the park. Christian hastily said goodbye to Charlotte and her mom before jogging after his daughter, wanting to catch her before she reached the sidewalk. The number of times that girl gave him heart palpations had already taken at least ten years off his life.
Fortunately, Penelope stopped before jutting into the street. However, when he saw who’d captured her attention, he squeezed his eyes shut. How could he possibly put a stop to his developing feelings for Hallie if the woman showed up wherever he was? Was she intentionally trying to drive him mad?
Oh, gosh. Was she a stalker?
