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Nik pulled out his wallet and dropped some bills on the table, then stood up and followed her out of Keys. When he rested his hand gently against her back, Jules didn’t object. His touch set off little sparks along all her nerve endings, and moisture pooled between her thighs. She allowed herself to enjoy the crackle of tension between them as he walked her to her car, keeping the conversation light.
In the parking garage beside her car, Nik pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight against him. His heart thumped against her ear as he leaned down and spoke quietly. “Thank you. Thank you for giving me a daughter. Thank you for telling me about her, giving me a chance to be part of her life.”
Jules wrapped her arms around him and breathed in the enticing scent of citrus and spice, mixed with hints of the whiskey Nik had been drinking. The heat from his body chased away any lingering chill in the air of the garage, and she relaxed into his embrace.
Nik gripped her chin and tilted her face to meet his, his lips covering hers. They moved slowly, languidly, teasing, tasting. When his tongue dragged along her lower lip, Jules couldn’t suppress a shudder.
A surge of longing made her wish she could give in, take the pleasure Nik could give her. But that would only complicate everything between them. They needed to figure out how to be parents together before she even considered anything else. She broke away from him, burying her face in his chest to hide her raw emotions.
“I have to go.” She pulled away from his embrace, letting her hands linger on his arms a beat longer than necessary before opening the car door and climbing inside. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The last thing Jules saw was Nik in her rearview mirror, leaning against a pillar, watching her drive away.
CHAPTER15
Nik parked his rental car across the street from the address Jules had given him the night before. The day was grey and overcast, although at least the rain had stopped. It was nothing like his planned Greek vacation, and yet after the news Jules had delivered last night, there was nowhere on Earth he’d rather be. The thought he might have missed learning about his daughter if he’d refused Charles haunted him. But here he was, and his next trip to Greece would be a family trip. He would teach his daughter about her heritage and have her meet her extended family.
Nik had been paying attention to the neighbourhood as he drove through it, noting that, while there were many multimillion-dollar mansions in the area, the street Jules lived on was more modest. Considering the area, even the more modest homes on this street had to be selling for well over seven figures in the Vancouver market, making him understand why Jules had purchased the home with her mother. Few single women could afford a house like this on their own. It did seem like a great place to raise a child. Nik had driven past several parks and access points to multiple beaches, and they weren’t far from one of the university campuses. He wondered if that was where Jules’s mother taught. He also wondered how the older Ms. Roberts would react to his sudden appearance in Jules’s and Ava’s lives. Last night’s conversation had ended on a tense truce, and asking Jules about her mother hadn’t been a priority.
Nik was still determined to build a life with Jules, but he’d bungled it last night. Michael had hurt Jules badly, and she was wary of opening herself up again. His first instinct was to take control of the situation and protect what was his. He was offering so much more than financial security, yet Jules had rejected him instantly. It had hurt last night when she’d refused, although the more he thought about it, the more he respected her for not immediately jumping at the chance to access his fortune. Many women would have. None of that mattered. He wanted his daughter, and he wanted Jules. And he always got what he wanted.
The house itself was an older Victorian, well kept, on a surprisingly large lot for a city home. Flower beds lined the sidewalk to the front door, and there were large trees in both the front and back yards. Most of the backyard was hidden by a high wooden fence, perfect for keeping both kids and dogs safe from traffic. Jules had chosen her home with care, and Nik found no fault with it.
Nik scooped up the packages covering the passenger seat and started up the walk. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this unsure of himself: nervous, anxious, excited. What if Ava rejected him? What if he made a mistake?
He’d stopped by a large chain toy store on the way to this meeting, then wandered the aisles, lost. He had no recent experience being around children Ava’s age. He had no nieces and nephews, and he’d avoided his extended family ever since Vanessa had married Angelo. What did an almost four-year-old girl like?
With some help from a sales associate, he’d wound up with an assortment of books, puzzles, games, and a giant stuffed unicorn. If Ava already had some of the items he’d bought, he could return them, or they could donate them. But he’d remembered that Jules said Ava loved books and was curious about everything. Hopefully she would find something she liked.
Nik climbed the stairs of the front porch, juggling the gifts and second-guessing everything. Would Ava like them? Would she like him? What would Jules do if Ava didn’t want him? He might have learned about Ava only last night, but finding out he had a daughter was a dream come true, and now he wanted nothing more than to be a family. This had to go well.
He rang the bell, and the door swung open to reveal a tall blonde woman who could pass for Jules’s older sister, wearing ... a medieval gown? The dress, in a dark ruby colour, hung to the floor, and a tiara sat on her head with a veil hanging down her back. Nik smothered a laugh.
She gave him an assessing look, eyes sweeping over him from head to toe. A small smile formed when she saw the wrapped packages. “You must be Nik. I’m Simone Roberts. Come in, please.”
He must have passed inspection, because her greeting was friendly, and her smile widened.
“Thank you.” Nik passed her some of the bags when she reached for them and slipped off his shoes before following her into the kitchen. He took in the cheerful decor, big windows, and french doors leading to the backyard. So far the interior of the house matched his impression of the exterior. This was a family home. It was the polar opposite of his sterile condo in Toronto, and he felt a stab of envy. This was the kind of family home he’d once expected to build with Vanessa.
Simone set the bags on the table and gestured for Nik to do the same with the rest of his presents. “We’re currently playing dress-up, as you can see,” she said with a laugh. “Come with me and you can meet Ava.”
Nik studied his surroundings surreptitiously as Simone led him down another hallway and into the basement. The dog bed in the kitchen told him that there must be a dog around here somewhere, which was confirmed when he noticed a golden retriever playing with Ava in one of the many pictures hanging on the walls. Mixed in with the photographs were framed drawings and paintings that Ava must have done. Everything about the home screamed warmth, comfort, and love.
When Simone opened the door to the basement, Nik stopped short. His heart was pounding, and his chest grew tight as he took in the scene in front of him. Ava was dressed in a tiny green costume reminiscent of Robin Hood, and she was tugging on rope tied around Jules’s wrists. Ava’s pale hair was in a ponytail, and her dark eyes were sparkling with excitement. Nik’s heart melted. And then there was Jules ... who was breathtaking. She was wearing another medieval dress, this one in a pale yellow. Her hair was pulled back, her face was pink, and she was laughing as Ava tugged at the rope. A deep longing for this moment to never end washed over Nik.
“Hurry, please! The wicked queen could be back any minute. Oh no, there she is!”
Ava, brandishing a small plastic sword, spun around to face her grandmother. “Get back, evil queen. I’m rescuing the princess, and you will never hurt her again.” Ava let out a little growl, and Nik choked back laughter, the lump in his throat making it hard to breathe. How was it possible this sparkling, vibrant little girl was actually his?
Simone waved the wand she was carrying at Ava. “That’s what you think, young knight. But I’ve brought a powerful wizard with me, so watch out!” Simone reached for Nik’s arm and pulled him forward.
For a split second, Nik panicked. He wasn’t part of their little game, and he didn’t want to spoil the fun Ava was having.
“I ...”
“Here, use this,” Simone whispered as she thrust another wand into his hand.
Nik looked at the plastic wand, trying to come up with something appropriate to say. Without warning, a floppy hat was dropped on his head, and he caught Simone’s grin out of the corner of his eye.
