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George shook himself, eyes wide and lip already trembling. He didn’t look hurt, just shocked.

‘You okay?’ Fox called, knowing the boy was trying hard not to cry. ‘Up you get.’

George stumbled to his feet, dead leaves in his hair and a smudge of mud on his cheek. His lip wobble was increasing and his face was growing red with the effort of holding it in.

‘Come here, lovely,’ Millie called, crouching down towards her nephew.

George clambered up the slope, slowly at first and then faster, in desperation for comfort. Fox knew he just needed a cuddle. It must have been frightening.

‘Poor George,’ Millie said, holding her arms out.

George broke into a run. Straight past Millie’s outstretched arms, right past Fox, throwing himself against Robyn’s thighs. Both his arms around her legs, he pressed his face against her jeans and Fox could see his back heave. Robyn bent, then knelt on the muddy floor and wrapped him silently against her, with Willow in between. Fox caught a glimpse of Millie’s face, soft with surprise as she watched the embrace.

‘There you go,’ Robyn said quietly. ‘You’re all right now.’

George snuffled but wouldn’t lift his head. Robyn dropped a kiss onto the top of his head. Eventually he looked up and she brushed the tears from his cheeks with her thumb. His breath shuddered but he was okay.

‘What do we do after we fall down?’ Robyn asked him quietly.

‘We get back up again!’ George said with a watery smile. Robyn nodded in agreement.

‘You better now, George?’ Reggie demanded. George nodded. ‘Let’s go to the pond then.’ George ran off, seemingly unharmed and the incident already forgotten. Fox realised he had been holding his breath and let it out, slowly. It had been amazing seeing someone else support his child like that. In such a natural way. And it seemed that George liked it too.

‘We’d better go with them,’ Fox said to Millie, thumbing after the boys.

‘I’ll get a new rope for the swing, don’t worry,’ Robyn said as they left. ‘See you Monday, Fox. And nice to see you again, Millie!’

When Fox looked back over his shoulder at her as he walked away, she was already concentrating on the remains of the rope.

As they made their way to the pond, Fox clipped Dingbat back onto his lead to save the duck population of Honeybridge from a heart attack. The boys threw sticks in the water ahead while Fox and Millie chose a bench nearby. Millie was quiet, thoughtful.

‘You’ve been so lucky to find Robyn,’ Millie said eventually. ‘She’s gold dust.’

Fox jolted.

‘What do you mean?’ He could sense her considering her next words.

‘She’s so lovely.’ She laughed softly. ‘The boys adore her.’ She tucked her hand through Fox’s arm and hugged into his side, out of the wind. ‘I like the way she talks to them. I hope they don’t mind too much when she leaves.’

Fox pulled his collar up to hide a sigh. December was coming round mighty quick.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Robyn

It was blissful to have a bath, Robyn had decided. When she was travelling, she could only dream of lying in a bubble-filled tub, topping up the water with hot every time it cooled down, sticking her big toe in the cold tap so that the icy water dripped down her foot every now and then.

Now, it was becoming part of her evening routine. Once she was back in the pool house, she’d draw the blinds and turn on the side lamps, creating a chilled environment after the hectic noise of the boys and the day. She’d feed Willow her bedtime bottle sitting on the sofa, able to watch as her baby drank and became sleepier with every swallow. Willow’s eyes would grow heavy, her lashes dropping onto her cheeks. And then Robyn would sit in awe for a few minutes more, drinking in the beauty of her face, the softness of her hair, the sweetness of her milky breath, before she popped her into her cot for the night.

Then it was all about the bath. Her ritual was established: she’d light a candle or two in the bathroom, turning off the main lights, and pour oil and bubble bath into the bath and turn the taps on full. While the tub filled, she would use her scarf to tie her hair into a messy bun and clean her face in the steamy mirror, before slipping into the silky water with a sigh. Then she would stay submerged, dreamy and relaxed, until her fingers were puckered and it was time to get out and fall into bed.

But tonight, she was finding it hard to really settle, to lose herself in the smell of lavender and the relaxing heat of the water. She had too much on her mind.

Since the weekend, she’d done her best to be professional. It was obviously what Fox wanted, because he’d really tried to resist her after the hen party. It had been her that encouraged him on. Although, she couldn’t lie, she was happy she had. That kiss. The thought of that kiss still made her close her eyes and sent shivers down her spine. But she had to be good. He was her boss. A very sexy boss, but her boss at the end of the day.

So, all week she’d made sure to keep her distance as they moved around each other in the kitchen. Once, just once, she accidentally brushed against his chest as she passed and heard the breath escape her mouth at the contact. If Fox had heard it, he didn’t comment, just stepped aside and let her through. They’d danced around each other at mealtimes, although he still always stood to pull her chair out before she sat down. Some might say it was old-fashioned, but the chivalry of it struck her every time. Manners were sexy.

She’d made sure to put a hoodie over her yoga kit when she was in the main house, so that she was professionally dressed. It didn’t help that he’d turn up in his wholesome, outdoorsy, lumberjack vibe looking sexy as hell.