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'Tuck me in,' Phoebe pleaded, her eyes huge, and Keely smiled.
'You want me to tuck you in? Of course. Lie down.'
But instead of lying down Phoebe slid her chubby arms round Keely's neck and squeezed.
'Want cuggle.'
'Cuddle. Of course you can have a cuddle.' She lifted the child out of her cot again, loving the way the little legs wound round her waist like bindweed. After a few minutes she gave Phoebe a final squeeze and tried to put her back in her cot, but she was having nothing of it.
'More cuggle.'
'Time for sleep now,' Keely said gently, trying to peel her away from her body, but Phoebe's grip tightened.
'No sleep. Cuggle Keekee. Sleep with Keekee.'
Oh, dear.
Keely was just pondering how to handle the situation when Zach appeared in the doorway, his top button undone and his jacket slung casually over one shoulder.
'Problems?'
He looked so wickedly handsome that she nearly dropped Phoebe and fell to the floor at his feet.
'She—she just wanted an extra cuddle.'
That sexy mouth, the same mouth that was capable of doing such amazing things to her, curved into a smile.
'And who can blame her?' His eyes met hers briefly and then he turned his attention to his daughter.
'Phoebe come to Daddy.'
'No.' Phoebe's arms tightened around Keely's neck until she felt as though she were trapped in a vice. 'Stay with Keekee.'
Help! Now what? Inspiration struck and she tossed a book that she'd seen earlier into the cot. 'Phoebe, look!' She injected an enormous amount of excitement into her voice. 'Look what's waiting for you in the cot.'
As she'd hoped, the toddler turned, her attention caught by Keely's tone of voice, and she allowed herself to be lifted into the cot.
'Phew.' Keely grinned at Zach. 'For a moment there I thought I'd be sleeping in a cot tonight.'
Zach didn't laugh. Instead, his eyes were fixed on his daughter.
Keely's heart sank as she looked at his tense features. She could read his mind. He was worried that Phoebe was getting too attached to her.
'Go and get changed,' she said quickly, hoping to distract him. 'I'll pour us both a drink.'
He stood frozen to the spot, his eyes still fixed on his daughter, but then he gave a brief nod and turned on his heel, leaving her with a sinking heart.
In the kitchen she tugged open the fridge, poured them both a glass of wine and walked through to the sitting room. Zach had already lit a lire and it crackled and whispered in the hearth, sending a warm glow across the cosy room.
'Is that for me?' He walked up to her and took the wine with a nod of thanks and then strolled over to the fire.
'Zach?' She said his name tentatively, not sure how to broach the subject. 'Look, I know what you're thinking...'
'Do you?' He stared down into his wine glass, unsmiling. 'And what am I thinking?'
She swallowed hard. 'That Phoebe is getting too attached to me.'
There was a long silence and then he gave a short laugh. 'How come you're so good at reading my mind?'
