Harlequin Medical Romance July 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 by Tina Beckett

Author:Tina Beckett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

THE HOUSE THEO had rented turned out to be on a stretch of beach just outside Williamtown, about a twenty-minute walk from Willow’s home. Willow was grateful for the walk, as she wanted time to collect her thoughts. This would be the first time Maisie would have any amount of interaction with Theo, and she was nervous about how it would go.

Willow had simply told her that they were visiting a friend. The plan was to have a picnic lunch on the beach, and Maisie chattered excitedly from her stroller about the dog Willow had said would be there.

Maisie, Willow knew, would be fine, no matter how this afternoon went. After all, as far as she was concerned, this was just another day out. To Willow, it was much more. Her conversation with Roni had been spinning in her head all week. She knew that she hadn’t had feelings like those she felt for Theo in a long time. But despite all the reasons not to start anything with Theo—and there were so many good reasons—maybe Roni was right. Maybe all of those reasons were nothing more than Willow’s way of hiding from herself.

Swearing off relationships had let her feel safe. For years, she’d told herself that she could be content with just herself and her daughter. But then, she’d never encountered anyone like Theo over the past few years. Someone who gave rise to the first stirrings of a desire for something more.

Or perhaps “first stirrings” was a bit of an understatement. She still remembered the way Theo’s hand had brushed her neck when they kissed. The way her shawl had dropped down from her shoulder.

She’d wanted so much more than just a kiss.

But she’d also meant what she’d said, about wanting to take things slow. The attraction she felt for him had disrupted her calm life and left her feeling thrown off-balance, because she knew the heartbreak that could come if things went badly.

She’d felt encouraged by the conversation they’d had in the cafeteria. But then, Theo always knew what to say. It was whether he followed his words up with actions that mattered.

They approached Theo’s house, where he waved to them from the porch. Like their own house, it was built on stilts to protect against hurricanes. Maisie hopped out of her stroller and they traipsed down the narrow pathway, until Maisie came to a dead stop.

“No,” she said.

“What is it, love?”

Maisie pointed a chubby finger. “No dog.”

A large, curly-haired dog sat placidly next to Theo on the porch. As Willow and Maisie stared at it, it placed its head on Theo’s knee and gazed at him with brazen adoration.

“This is Bixby,” Theo said, scratching the dog behind its ears as Bixby closed his eyes in ecstasy. “He came with the house. He lives out here on the porch, and seems very determined to stay.”

Maisie stepped back, and peeked out from behind Willow’s skirt. “What’s wrong, Mais?” Willow asked. “I thought you were excited to meet the doggy.

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