into the kitchen.
Simon nodded. “Did you enjoy the day?”
“Yes.” Faye’s gaze flickered downward, her mind flooded with the memory of their encounter by Hannah’s crib. Had it really happened the way she remembered it, or was it possible she’d imagined the heat in his gaze, or the longing in his touch? Would he really have kissed her, had Sienna not interrupted? And what if they had kissed? Things would be unbearable awkward between them now.
“I enjoyed meeting Laurel and Sienna,” she added.
His brows inched upward. “You looked nervous.”
“Did I? I suppose I was, a little. It’s an unusual situation, you must admit.”
“I’d prefer to call it extraordinary.” A grin lit his face. “And at the same time, it was a wonderfully ordinary, traditional Easter. I didn’t think to ask whether your family was upset you couldn’t be with them.”
“They might have thought about that years ago,” Faye said dryly, then thought better of dragging out her family drama at this moment. “Anyway, I probably would have spent the day with Jenna and her mother, under normal circumstances.”
“Do you like it here, Faye?” Simon asked, regarding her with curiosity.
“Very much.” She turned to gaze out toward the beach, where sunset was just beginning to blaze in bands of purple and pink across the water. “It’s so peaceful and beautiful.”
“Would you be willing stay a few more days?” he inquired carefully. “I feel as though Hannah’s just getting used to me, and it would be a shame if you took her back now.”
Faye looked at him, mildly alarmed by the prospect. “We really need to be back in Vancouver in case Jenna wakes up.”
Simon stepped forward, spreading his hands in entreaty. “The minute you get word that she’s awake, you can go home straight away. Please, Faye. Just a little more time with Hannah is all I’m asking.”
For a brief moment the notion entered Faye’s mind that he might be wishing for more time with her , as well. But she just as quickly shook off the idea.
“One more night is all I can promise right now,” she agreed uneasily.
Simon smiled. “Good enough. Well, I’d better get to those dishes.”
“And I’d better get this little one into the bath.” Faye bent to scoop Hannah into her arms, carrying her to the bathroom across from their bedroom.
As she ran water into the tub and undressed the toddler, Faye tried to focus on the routine task but could not quite manage to relax, her muscles taut with apprehension. Another night under the same roof with Simon Blake . She’d been fretting enough about getting through this night. But it would be fine, she told herself. Avoid ending up alone with a glass of wine by the fireplace, and nothing untoward was likely to happen.
“This is the way we wash our hair, wash our hair, wash our hair,” Faye sang, working the shampoo into a rich lather over Hannah’s scalp.
“Wush hair,” Hannah repeated, slinging a glob of suds in Faye’s direction. Watching the foamy blob splatter across Faye’s bangs, the little girl chortled gleefully, displaying both rows of her stubby white teeth.
“Silly girl,” Faye said, wiping off the suds. “Are you having fun with Daddy? I think you are. What will you do tomorrow, I wonder?”
Having expected to leave for home in the morning, Faye hadn’t given any thought to tomorrow’s activities until now. Though nervous tension still gripped her body, a current of anticipation ran through at the notion of seeing Simon’s face across the dinner table one more time, and hearing his smooth English tones. Despite her misgivings, a part of Faye was looking forward to another day at Halfmoon Bay, watching Hannah get to know her father. They were only beginning to form a bond. Surely the child would miss him when they left.
And you, Faye?
“Splash!” Hannah shouted, jarring Faye from her thoughts as she slapped the surface of the bathwater giddily.
“Let’s rinse you off
Simon nodded. “Did you enjoy the day?”
“Yes.” Faye’s gaze flickered downward, her mind flooded with the memory of their encounter by Hannah’s crib. Had it really happened the way she remembered it, or was it possible she’d imagined the heat in his gaze, or the longing in his touch? Would he really have kissed her, had Sienna not interrupted? And what if they had kissed? Things would be unbearable awkward between them now.
“I enjoyed meeting Laurel and Sienna,” she added.
His brows inched upward. “You looked nervous.”
“Did I? I suppose I was, a little. It’s an unusual situation, you must admit.”
“I’d prefer to call it extraordinary.” A grin lit his face. “And at the same time, it was a wonderfully ordinary, traditional Easter. I didn’t think to ask whether your family was upset you couldn’t be with them.”
“They might have thought about that years ago,” Faye said dryly, then thought better of dragging out her family drama at this moment. “Anyway, I probably would have spent the day with Jenna and her mother, under normal circumstances.”
“Do you like it here, Faye?” Simon asked, regarding her with curiosity.
“Very much.” She turned to gaze out toward the beach, where sunset was just beginning to blaze in bands of purple and pink across the water. “It’s so peaceful and beautiful.”
“Would you be willing stay a few more days?” he inquired carefully. “I feel as though Hannah’s just getting used to me, and it would be a shame if you took her back now.”
Faye looked at him, mildly alarmed by the prospect. “We really need to be back in Vancouver in case Jenna wakes up.”
Simon stepped forward, spreading his hands in entreaty. “The minute you get word that she’s awake, you can go home straight away. Please, Faye. Just a little more time with Hannah is all I’m asking.”
For a brief moment the notion entered Faye’s mind that he might be wishing for more time with her , as well. But she just as quickly shook off the idea.
“One more night is all I can promise right now,” she agreed uneasily.
Simon smiled. “Good enough. Well, I’d better get to those dishes.”
“And I’d better get this little one into the bath.” Faye bent to scoop Hannah into her arms, carrying her to the bathroom across from their bedroom.
As she ran water into the tub and undressed the toddler, Faye tried to focus on the routine task but could not quite manage to relax, her muscles taut with apprehension. Another night under the same roof with Simon Blake . She’d been fretting enough about getting through this night. But it would be fine, she told herself. Avoid ending up alone with a glass of wine by the fireplace, and nothing untoward was likely to happen.
“This is the way we wash our hair, wash our hair, wash our hair,” Faye sang, working the shampoo into a rich lather over Hannah’s scalp.
“Wush hair,” Hannah repeated, slinging a glob of suds in Faye’s direction. Watching the foamy blob splatter across Faye’s bangs, the little girl chortled gleefully, displaying both rows of her stubby white teeth.
“Silly girl,” Faye said, wiping off the suds. “Are you having fun with Daddy? I think you are. What will you do tomorrow, I wonder?”
Having expected to leave for home in the morning, Faye hadn’t given any thought to tomorrow’s activities until now. Though nervous tension still gripped her body, a current of anticipation ran through at the notion of seeing Simon’s face across the dinner table one more time, and hearing his smooth English tones. Despite her misgivings, a part of Faye was looking forward to another day at Halfmoon Bay, watching Hannah get to know her father. They were only beginning to form a bond. Surely the child would miss him when they left.
And you, Faye?
“Splash!” Hannah shouted, jarring Faye from her thoughts as she slapped the surface of the bathwater giddily.
“Let’s rinse you off
Similar Books
