A Dad for Charlie by Anna J. Stewart

Author:Anna J. Stewart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
Published: 2017-09-05T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

OH, BOY.

Wrapped in a bath towel, skin clammy from the hot after-yard-work shower, Paige leaned against the bathroom counter and stared blankly into the fogged mirror.

She’d accepted a date with Fletcher Bradley.

She took a deep breath and leaned over, her insides twisted in knots. It was dinner. That was all. And yes, maybe she could have—should have—said no. Except she hadn’t wanted to. She liked spending time with him even if doing so kept her on the edge of panic. He’d extended an olive branch by telling her the truth about Luke’s situation; how could she fight for Jasper O’Neill and not her best friend’s husband? Besides, going with Fletch to speak to Nina and Willa just made sense. All she had to do was take things a minute at a time, a word at a time and do whatever she could not to raise any suspicions about herself. Easy, right?

She straightened, gave herself a good mental shake and exhaled.

Yeah. It might have been if she hadn’t been dumb enough to kiss the deputy. All her life she’d made the mistake of jumping first and worrying later, except this leap might just have thrown her off one of those cliffs near the Flutterby Inn.

And Paige wasn’t the strongest of swimmers.

What she wouldn’t give to not have the memory of his touch emblazoned in her mind; to not feel the sweet memory of his fingers brushing over the curve of her hips or the unending longing that her life was different enough that she could explore further what that kiss could lead to.

“Yeah, dwelling on that’s definitely going to help.” She started to hum to herself, the only way to make the thoughts stop swarming, and pulled open the bathroom door. The cool air rushed over her, cleansing and invigorating. She retrieved clean jeans and a shirt from the closet in the short hall. She’d installed a second bar in the center for Charlie to use. The space was small, but she didn’t mind. Their apartment in New York hadn’t been much bigger, but at least here Charlie could have her own room. Paige had definitely added her own touches. The thrift and vintage stores in town had been a godsend, and she’d even managed to get a decent collection of cookware and dishes in the kitchen. Pictures of faraway places lay scattered on the walls, small vases with gerbera daisies—Paige loved daisies—brought fun pops of color throughout.

Home. Paige hugged her clothes against her chest and smiled. At some point in the last few weeks, Butterfly Harbor—and this apartment—had come to feel like home. As she turned back to the bathroom, her gaze skittered across the oversize duffel bag beneath the table by the door.

The familiar pang of uneasiness struck, with more force and louder than it had in a while. “Don’t get too comfortable,” she whispered to herself, willing her heart to return to its normal beat. “You’re not safe yet.”

She’d just finished drying her hair when a knock sounded on the door.

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