“She’ll cherish it forever. I had a quilt growing up from my grandma, it’s probably still in a box somewhere.”
“I’m sure your mom has it stored away for you. I also make Lola little dresses sometimes. I sew, too. Anyhow, have you enjoyed your first week at Haven Crossroads?” she pries. Her bare feet are tucked under her knees as she sits comfortably, resting against the back of the sofa.
I finish my sip of expensive French wine. “Yeah, everyone has their head in the game. Connecting with the leadership team was never going to be an issue. My schedule is already full. I’ll have to visit our London office soon, among other places. Dinners, and more dinners—if in doubt, there’s always another added to my calendar. I’m happy to have a low-key day off.” I chortle, swirling my wine. “Well, low-key is a stretch. Kind of a big deal, since I’m getting to know my daughter.”
“So far so good.”
The gentle features of her face, accompanied by her subtle smile, calm me. Our eyes catch, and for the millionth time, they hold, no words needed. Sometimes I wonder what she is keeping inside her head, while other times, I’m able to read her as if it’s second nature.
She narrows her eyes at me, and her head tilts slightly. “I’ve learned something about you this week.”
“What might that be?” I’m intrigued.
“Although I met you as a man with persuasiveness, I didn’t expect you to be someone who enjoys power.” She sets her glass down.
Smirking at her observation, I find it slightly humorous when someone forms opinions about me. “How so?”
Elodie laughs under her breath. “The way you walked into the news with only your way as the option, the way you walk around the office very self-aware that people admire you, and the way you look at me feels somewhat possessive, to be honest.”
My hand slides a little above her knee, a move that probably confirms everything she just said. “True. I tend to lead the way. And of course I’m possessive of you. You’re the mother of my child.”
Her breath hitches from my choice of words as our eyes remain fixed on one another.
I continue. “You can’t be surprised by that.” Inching closer to her, she remains still. “You’re a great mom, Elodie. I see it. I don’t deny it. How you cut her food, teach her manners, or tuck her in for a nap. The little things. But I’m here now. You’re going to have to let me in on all of that.”
Her fingers find my wrist, and the tips begin to feather my skin in strokes as her eyes dip down to watch. “I am, trust me.”
“Good. Now enjoy your wine,” I order.
She begins to grin again. “I don’t often drink around her. I save it all for my after-work drinks with Savannah, and sometimes another friend, Sutton. When I can get a sitter, of course. I try to avoid department drinks and keep those connections to birthday cake in the staff room. Out of work, I just need my time to disconnect, away from mom life and work.”
“I still find it a little funny that you are a numbers kind of girl. On the island, I got the sense your job would be something smart, but it’s unexpected. I just didn’t think it would be in finance and at Haven.”
“Small world, right? I guess I also need to see your merman skills in the pool one day. Let’s see if you live up to all the talk you gave.”
Chuckling, I’m riding the flow of this conversation. “I would love to teach Lola to swim and to prove you wrong. Obviously, you’ll need to be in a swimsuit too.” I flash my eyes at her.
“Slipping that in, are you?”
“Innocent until proven guilty.”
The room grows completely still again, and we both focus on where our fingers are finding a home. I stroke the side of her thigh but keep it innocent.Her own hand begins to travel up my arm. Our touches are light, grazing, and still overload my senses.
“You shouldn’t be attracted to me if it’s only because I’m the mother of your child,” she warns me.
“It’s not that. Wasn’t I attracted to you years ago? Have I not thought about you since then? Lola maybe adds an extra factor, but she isn’t the reason. I could ask you the same thing.”
She grimaces. “I knew you were going to throw that back at me. And truthfully… it’s the same.”
“We’re aligned then.”
But she presses her lips together and thinks for a second. “Actually, it’s kind of different. Since then, you got to imagine me as the woman you met. I’ve thought of you, always have. I just had to think of you knowing you are also Lola’s father. It’s an extra connection or gravitation. Does thatmake sense? I need to separate attraction because of us or attraction because of the way we are connected.”
It makes sense, but I don’t enjoy the complication of her thought process.
She diverts her gaze away. However, I’m too far gone. I need to open Pandora’s box. I’m a man who accepts challenges.
Fuck it.
