Christmas with the Single Dad by Louisa Heaton

Author:Louisa Heaton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarlequinUKLtd
Published: 2016-08-14T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

IT HAD BEEN a long time since Sydney had had to play ‘mother’, and now she had the pleasure once again. The cat she’d raced to had recovered from its surgery, but had disowned her kittens afterwards. It happened sometimes with animals, when they missed giving birth in the traditional way and there just wasn’t that bond there for them.

The four kittens—three black females and a black and white male—were kicking off their December in a small cat carrier at her home and she was on round-the-clock feeding every two hours.

Sydney was quite enjoying it. It gave her purpose. It gave her a routine. But mostly it gave her something to do during the long hours of the lonely nights. Even if she was still torturing herself with what might have happened between her and Nathan.

I wanted him to kiss me and I made that perfectly clear!

She’d hardly fought it, had she? Standing there all still, eyes closed, awaiting his kiss like some stupid girl in a fairytale. He must have thought she was a right sap. Perhaps that was what had put him off...

Disturbed from her reverie by the sound of her doorbell, she glanced at the clock—it was nearly eight in the morning—and went to answer the door.

It didn’t cross her mind that she’d been up all night, hadn’t combed her hair or washed her face, or that she was still wearing yesterday’s clothes and smelt slightly of antiseptic and donkey at the same time.

She opened the door to see Nathan and Anna standing there. ‘Er... Hi... Sorry, had we arranged to meet?’ She felt confused by their being there. And so early, too.

‘We were out getting breakfast,’ Nathan explained. ‘Anna wanted croissants and jam. We didn’t have any and...’ He blinked, squirming slightly. ‘I thought you might like to share some with us.’

He raised a brown paper bag that was starting to show grease spots and she suddenly realised how hungry she was.

Her mouth watered and her stomach ached for the food and nourishment. Warm, buttery croissants sounded delicious!

Even though she still felt embarrassed after yesterday, the lure of the food overpowered the feeling.

‘Sure. Come on in.’ She stepped back, biting her lip as they passed, wondering if she was making a huge mistake in accepting. Hadn’t this man humiliated her just yesterday? Unintentionally, perhaps, but still... And today she was letting him in to her house? She had no idea where her boundaries were with them any more.

Following the scent of food to her kitchen, she washed her hands and got out some plates, then butter from the fridge.

‘I don’t have any jam...’

‘We do!’ Anna chirruped. ‘Blackberry, apricot and strawberry!’ She put a small bag holding the jars onto the kitchen counter.

Sydney nodded. ‘Wow! You do come prepared, don’t you? There can’t be many people wandering around with a full condiments selection.’

Nathan grinned. ‘We weren’t sure which one you liked, so...’

He was trying to say sorry. She could see that. The croissants, the jam, the sudden breakfast—these were all part of his white flag.

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