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‘Can we see the pool?’
He turned towards her. Darcie’s eyes were shadowed but her cheeks were a little flushed. ‘Of course.’
He followed her. The indoor pool was large and benefitted from clever lighting, calming decor. He watched Darcie walk the length of it. She opened the sleek cupboard at the end and stilled.
‘There’s everything in here.’ She showed him a selection of child-sized inflatables stowed inside. ‘You thought of everything.’
Her gratitude was too much and too unwarranted because really that had been the interiors team, not him. He’d only told them to prep it for a five-year-old’s entertainment. And he’d not asked Darcie’s opinion at all. ‘You know you’ve not married a hero, right?’ he said huskily. ‘You’ve married a hunter.’
‘That’s what you think you are?’ She actually giggled.
‘You don’t?’
For a moment their eyes met and he checked, reading her need. Anticipation rippled through him—blasting out the chill he’d felt before. Rendering him beyond control again.
‘How deep is the water?’ She suddenly seemed oddly breathless.
‘I’m not sure,’ he muttered. ‘Did you want to find out?’
A smile flashed. Spontaneity sparked. He watched, utterly in thrall as Darcie unleashed and her vibrancy bubbled free. Her skin glowed and her blue eyes sparkled and her soft laughter bounced against the marble walls. He couldn’t speak. It wasn’t just the rush of sexual attraction but another sort underpinning him. It was new and solid and he wanted to hold on to the sensation.Joy, he realised.Unfettered, holistic joy. Because Darcie, now clad in just her underwear, dived into the water and stretched out like a gorgeous nymph.
‘Zara loved the water,’ she said. ‘She’d jump in fountains on a hot day like this.’
Elias stood at the edge of the pool, unable to tear his gaze from her. ‘She was a free spirit?’
‘Absolutely.’
The lights beneath the water illuminated Darcie’s face, making her glow even more brightly and as far as Elias was concerned, Darcie was the sprite. The nymph. The goddess.
‘We’d escape to the park any time we could. Any park, but preferably one with a decent pond. Zara adored water lilies. Which is why Lily is named Lily, of course. She was such a romantic. Lily’s a water baby, too.’ Darcie floated on her back and smiled up at him. ‘She’s going to love this.’
Yeah? Elias was loving this, too. Because it was Darcie he was learning about and she was more free-spirited than he’d ever realised. More than she’d allowed him to see before now. Her circumstances had limited her ability to do as she desired. But now she was literally in a space in which she could do as she pleased. At least, he hoped she felt that way. Right now she seemed to and he wanted her to stay like this—purely, unashamedly her vibrant, sensual, playful self.
Sharingwasn’t something he had much experience with. His dates had been more transactional—he provided entertainment, interesting destinations, a diamond bracelet or earrings to sparkle at the restaurant and to remember the night by. Very simple and straightforward. But this was different. Pool toys meant more and Darcie’s obvious delight in all this was the best reward he could ever ask for.
Oh, who was he kidding? He wanted so much more. And now. He toed off his shoes and shrugged out of his shirt, glancing up to see Darcie treading water in the middle of the pool, watching him, with a different, smaller smile on her face. One that snared him completely.Yes.
Darcie was more siren than mermaid and right now she was summoning him to his fate. All he could do was dive in and surrender—to drown in her embrace.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘THEREARESOmany forms.’
Darcie spread paperwork across the table, baulking at the level of detail required. Elias’s lawyers had visited first thing and they’d been full of confidence and assurance. They’d sat here at the large family table in the living area and talked them through the process. They suggested Elias and Darcie apply to permanently foster Lily first, with a view to eventual adoption. The lawyers believed they had a strong chance given Darcie’s existing relationship with her. But looking at all the requirements again now, Darcie was far from reassured.
‘I had no idea there were so many things we had to do.’
Security clearances. Full medicals. Training.
Her nerves tightened as she flicked page after page, listing every instruction, every requirement. They’d have to complete two foster parenting courses over a couple of months, meet with other prospective parents, do a paediatric first-aid course...
All the hoops meant it would take a minimum of four months before they could even go before the frankly intimidating interview panel that would decide whether or not they’d be approved as foster parents. It would be the biggest test of her life. She’d be quizzed by a bunch of strangers who would determine something so incredibly important and while she knew it was right that they have to do all the training, it felt like it was going to take forever. All she wanted was Lily—to be safe, to be with her so she could give her everything she’d missed out on.
‘You haven’t seen all these before?’ Elias asked her curiously. ‘Didn’t you apply in the past?’
That lump in her throat grew and it hurt when she shook her head.
‘Darcie?’ He cocked his head. ‘Why not?’
