AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was brief, more of a stamp than anything else. But I still felt its intensity tingle from the top of my head all the way down to my toes.
And then, just as quickly, it was over.
“Sorry,” he said after he released me. “I didn’t mean—I just thought—it’s only—”
He shook his head abruptly, like a dog shaking out it coat. Then he blinked, like he wasn’t quite sure what he was trying to say. Or think.
“You’re a good mum,” he finished at last. “I had no idea.”
“Oh, um. Thanks.”
I frowned, still touching my lips. I had stumbled backward into the door and had essentially forgotten everything I had just said. The flavors of ginger, soy sauce, and something immeasurably savory were ripe on my lips.
What was I saying?
Oh, right. Sofia.
Xavier swallowed, still looking befuddled by my earlier reaction. Or maybe by his.
“And you’re right,” he said. “I’m a complete wanker.” He glanced back toward the closed door. “I don’t even know that I can go back in there.”
“Oh, you’re going back in,” I told him. “We also teach her to apologize. That means we have to do it too when we mess up.”
“You mess up too?”
I nodded. “Of course. We’re only human.”
He raised a brow. “Does that mean you’re going to apologize for dragging me out here like a dog?”
“No,” I said. “You deserved that completely.”
He sighed. “I suppose I did.” Then he yanked at his collar like he was about to tug himself somewhere. “All right. I’ll apologize. And I think it’s time to go back to my hotel. Take a shower and watch that stupid tiger too. Maybe learn something.”
I nodded, still feeling shaky. Great. Now I was imagining Xavier naked. In the shower. Completely wet.
I fought the need to fan myself despite the fact that it was probably twenty-two degrees outside. “Okay, yeah. That’s probably best.”
“I have to go back to London tomorrow night, though. Can I see her in the morning? Take her to breakfast?”
I snorted. “Breakfast is pretty early when you’re a four-year-old.”
“Why?” Xavier pressed. “What time does she wake up?”
“Believe me. You don’t want to know.”
“Try me.”
I shrugged. “Five, five thirty most days. Sometimes earlier if she has a bad dream. We go to bed in about an hour.”
Xavier thought for a moment. Then a sly smile hovered just behind his stubbornness. “Breakfast it is. I’ll take her to the fish market. I need to meet the vendors anyway.”
I scoffed. “Xavi, the last thing she’s going to want to do is be dragged around your business crap at five in the morning.”
“She’ll like it, I promise. You will too. Please, Ces. Let me make it up to you both. Second chances, right?”
I eyed him for a long moment. He seemed completely in earnest.
“All right,” I said. “Five. But you better bring breakfast.”
