“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d be like this.”
I frowned, unsure of what she meant.
“So good with kids. And getting it, you know, what ties they give you.” She looked apologetic, her eyes widening.
Then she bit her bottom lip.
Red hair flew about her shoulders, framing a face that was almost make-up free. She looked young, vulnerable and I saw her hurt and wanted to make it better.
“Ties are good. She’s amazing. Like you are, making partner and bringing her up by yourself.” I knew the praise would embarrass her.
“Mummy, can I go and have a nap on the sofa?” Rose’s voice chimed up. “I’m tired.”
Georgia paced over to her, her eyes assessing Rose’s face. “You don’t feel sick?”
Rose shook her head. “Just sleepy.”
“Okay. Go and nap on the sofa, but no sneaking the TV on.” There was the same firm tone that I’d heard from my mother.
Rose slid off her chair and went to a corner of the kitchen where a tatty teddy sat and picked it up, cuddling it to her as she headed out of the room to the lounge.
“She must be tired if she’s taking him.” Georgia watched after her. “When she was two, she wouldn’t go anywhere without that bear.” She smiled and looked wistful. “Give it another few months and I’ll be putting it in a cupboard because I’ll be the one wanting to keep it.”
“She’ll like seeing it again when she’s older. Ava had a doll that she took everywhere when she was a kid and she found it again over Christmas. I think she preferred it to any presents.” I’d gotten up to load the dishwasher, Georgia bringing the plates over to me.
“I can clear up. You cooked.”
I shook my head. “Doesn’t bother me. You can return the favour sometime.”
“I’m running up a debt of them. Seriously, Seph, I’m really thankful for your help and going out of your way and I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about Rose.” She leaned against the kitchen worktop.
She was wearing jeans that hung low and were loose, her top a little more formal, a patterned shirt with the top couple of buttons undone showing skin that was creamy and smooth. I knew I was staring.
“I kind of understand. But we’re not like that at work. If anyone suggested you put work before your kid, Max would probably barbecue them after Claire had skinned them. Which makes my family sound gory. Which they are.” It was true. Claire especially. “Claire will love the fact you have a daughter. One more for her girls club.”
“I feel bad for not telling her. It feels like I’ve betrayed her.” She looked out of the room to where Rose had gone.
I shrugged, putting the last plate in the dishwasher. I did consider myself very well housetrained, which I hoped Georgia had noticed, I just wasn’t sure why, because that was weird.
“I get you wanted to keep work and home separate though. But if you carry on doing that, you’ll probably be the only one at the firm who does.” I leaned against the cupboards opposite her, cupboards I’d helped Ava install one weekend.
That got me a smile. “It’s a relief that I don’t have to not say anything anymore. And she’s a great kid.” Her hands went to her hair and pulled it out of her face.
I wanted it to be my hands.
She bit that bottom lip and my cock stirred, my jeans tightening. I crossed my arms over my chest so I didn’t make the mistake of rearranging myself or reaching for her or doing something equally idiotic, because her eyes had darkened and that lip wasn’t being bitten through worry now.
I cursed Max for appointing her. Wondered if he’d done it on purpose to torture me, but given how good at her job she’d shown herself to be over the last week, I knew that wasn’t the reason. Besides, that would’ve meant Max had a sense of humour.
“She’s really bright. Why did you call her Rose?” I needed to focus on her daughter being a couple of rooms away and the pile of additional files we’d had dropped off a couple of hours ago.
Georgia stuffed her hands in her pockets, still looking at me, making me remember when we’d been in Amelie’s and we’d shared a look then that had crossed some invisible line.
I was attracted to her and I was pretty sure she didn’t find me horrific.
“It was the Shakespeare quote – ‘a rose with any other name would still smell as sweet’. I didn’t know what I was going to call her until after she was born. She was early, and I didn’t know if it would be a boy or a girl, and I wasn’t ready to decide on what it would be for each. But when I properly saw her, that line just ran through my head. I had a rose tattooed on me a few months later – I wasn’t sure what hurt more: childbirth or that.” Her giggle was soft and childlike, but it wasn’t that I was stuck on.
“Where’s your tattoo?” I licked my lips, suddenly dry.
