The Princess and the Single Dad by Jessica Gilmore

Author:Jessica Gilmore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-05-05T19:33:03+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

ARROSA SAT STILL for a moment, absorbing everything Jack had told her. Every instinct she possessed told her that she now knew more about Jack Treloar than any other person alive. He’d gifted her his regrets and his hopes and his dreams. It was a precious, fragile gift and she knew how rare it was. Would he have entrusted her with so much if she were staying here? Was the intensity between them fast-tracked by the finite nature of their relationship, that knowledge the clock was ticking, and she was already over halfway through her time here?

And in return Jack knew most of her secrets, apart from Clem’s identity. This was as intimate as she was ever likely to be with another human being. And that wasn’t something she could just walk away from.

But what else could she do?

‘How long are the girls with their grandparents?’

Surprise—and intrigue—flitted across his expression.

‘Until Sunday at the earliest, possibly early next week, depending on how long their grandparents can cope. Losing Lily took a toll on them both, so I like to keep arrangements flexible in case the girls need to come back early.’

‘And it’s Thursday lunchtime now.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘If you include this afternoon then you have three days until the end of the weekend.’

Jack raised his eyebrows in bemused query. ‘Three days to what?’

‘To take a leaf out of my book and get away from it all,’ she said. ‘Responsibility and duty and shouldering everything yourself is all very well, but if you don’t put down your burdens occasionally then you run the risk of breaking.’

‘My girls are not a burden.’ But, to her relief, he didn’t sound angry.

Emboldened, she went on. ‘No, of course not. But I don’t know a single parent who isn’t glad of a break every now and then. We all need to refill the well, Jack. And if your plans for the next few days are just work, work, work how are you going to do any refilling?’

‘You think I’m in danger of running dry?’ Now he sounded amused as well as curious.

‘All I’m saying is that I do know a lot about burnout. I had no idea how close I was myself until the morning I woke up here. It was almost overwhelming, I almost left it too late. But I know now never to let myself get to that stage again.’ Arrosa picked up her coffee and drained it. ‘You know, I always thought my mother was selfish, disappearing off on retreat every summer without me and without my father. It always seemed an affectation to me, but I understand her better now. For forty-eight weeks of the year she’s the perfect Queen. She puts all her own hopes and desires to one side and concentrates on supporting my father, supporting me, making small talk, being the consummate hostess. No wonder she needs four weeks a year when she’s just herself.’

Truth was, Arrosa was a little ashamed of how judgemental she’d been.

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