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It’s only when we’re in the room that I realize something’s missing. “You haven’t decorated for Christmas,” I say, looking around. There’s no tree, tinsel, ornaments, or cards on the mantlepiece. No sign at all of the festive season.
He shrugs. “Not yet. It’s a rule I’ve had since Daisy was born. No decorations until the day after her birthday. It seems a shame for a kid to have to share their special day with anybody else.”
Oh, that’s so sweet. I’m about to tell him that when Daisy runs past me, clutching the dragon we bought her.
“Daddy, Theo said she got this for me.” Daisy clutches the green stuffie tight, her eyes wide with delight.
Beckett lifts his brow at her. “Try again. Her name is Georgia.”
Daisy shoots me a big smile. “Georgia brought me a dragon.” She gives me a one-armed hug. “Thank you.”
“You’re so welcome. What are you going to name him?” I hunker down to her height.
“I don’t know. What’s a good dragon name?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe something with a flower, like Daisy.”
She blinks. “Aren’t flower names for girls?”
“Nah.” I shake my head. “Flowers can be for everybody. “How about Valerian?” I ask her.
“Val…” She tries it. Shakes her head.
“Or you could choose a tree,” I say. “Cedar. Ash.”
“Ash like a fire.” Her eyes light up. “I’m going to call him Ash.”
“Good choice.”
She takes my hand. “Come and see what else I got for my birthday.”
Theo joins Beckett, carrying the LEGO set that Daisy seems to have forgotten.
“You okay?” he mouths at me.
I nod. Because yes, I’m good. More than good. And as Daisy tugs me toward the window, chattering about Ash the dragon and that she loves birthdays more than she loves Christmas, it feels like I’ve walked straight into the part of Theo’s life he doesn’t let just anybody touch.
THEO
“Well she’s bloody gorgeous,” Beckett says, pouring a glass of water for Caleb and me, because we’re both driving. I can see Georgia through the doorway, across the hall in the morning room, listening intently to Daisy.
“Which makes it even harder to understand why you left her hanging in her hotel room the other night,” Caleb says grinning, lifting his glass to his lips.
From the corner of my eye I can see Daisy laughing at something Georgia has said. Then Daisy hugs her tight, her eyes closing as she breathes Georgia in.
“And my kid likes her,” Beckett adds. “Which means you’re going to have to marry her.”
Caleb chokes on his water.
As though she knows we’re talking about her, Georgia looks up and catches my eye. For a second neither of us look away.
“She’s going home in a couple of weeks,” I say. “So I wouldn’t get your wedding suits out yet.”
“Ah,” Caleb says. “That explains it.”
“Explains what?” I ask him. It takes an effort to pull my gaze away from the morning room.
“Why you brought her here.” Caleb shrugs.
