“No.”
“So, you don’t have a wife?”
“That’s what unmarried means, usually.”
I cleared my throat. “You go on vacation with your sister?” Why was I talking like I was an idiot? I met Andrew during my vacation with my brother. Families went on trips.
“Yes. Three of us. It’s always three of us.”
“And you aren’t married?”
“We already established that.”
Of course. Where did my smart brain cells go?
“Hmm…” I nodded slowly.
Oh. My. God. I was so fucked.
Figuratively speaking.
“Hmm. What?” Not letting his arms go, he shifted again, as if trying to look at my face. Which I was sure was red with embarrassment. Good thing it was dark in here.
“Why did you sayalwaysthree of us?”
Andrew’s chest expanded with a deep breath.
“Her husband, Louis, was a pilot. Seven years ago, he was flying his plane with my parents on board.” He swallowed. “They crashed over the Alps. Charlotte was five months pregnant so she hadn’t gone along on the trip.”
My heart pitched hard with sadness. Poor Charlotte, what a horrible thing to live through, especially when pregnant.
“I’m so sorry.” My words came out low.
“There were some scary moments, but she held on to the only thing that was left of Louis. Since then, we’ve always stuck together. After their accident, she moved in with me so I could help her while she was pregnant. Once Lulu was born, I didn’t feel there was any need for them to move out. My home has enough space for all of us. And I needed them as much as they needed me.”
“You love that little girl very much, don’t you?”
“She is the most important person in my life,” he said, and I heard a tender smile in his voice.
“I can see that. You never miss her calls.”
“I never ignore people who are important to me.”
That was nice to hear that there was a man who didn’t disregard a little girl, who didn’t mind taking their time from his busy life to listen to what she had to tell him. Andrew wasn’t even her father, but he made Lulu his priority. I wished I had parents oraparent like that. A parent who gave a damn about how my day in school had been or if I had eaten anything, let alone what I had to say.
“Andrew?” I looked over my shoulder.
“Yes?” His breath brushed against my face, and goosebumps swooshed over my skin like a tsunami.
“I’m safe now. You can let go of me.”
Even though I’d asked him to release me, for irrational reasons, when Andrew eased his grip and moved his arms away from me, it left my skin cold, and I already missed his touch. I tugged on my dress, pulling its skirt down to cover my thighs. He stood, picked up the flashlight, and offered me his hands. With a light yank, he hauled me up.
“I only caught a glimpse of your rump, and…” He wolf-whistled.
I smacked his shoulder, my face turning hot. “I told you not to look.”
“You shouldn’t have worn a dress.” Andrew bent and grabbed my purse.
