AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She blinked up at him, her lovely mouth pursed and worry lines forming around her mouth and eyes. She was beautiful, and he appreciated her wrinkle lines. He didn’t want some young, tight-faced woman. He wanted someone who had experiences and battle scars and was stronger because of them.
“You are unbelievably fit,” she said in a quiet tone.
Nolan couldn’t hide the grin that spread over his face. He hiked most mornings and lifted weights three to four times a week in the castle’s gym, following the strength training program Derek and Malik had created for him. He’d been motivated to stay strong and healthy for his family. Now he had even more motivation.
“Thank you. I’ve worked hard to become so.”
She smiled, but her gaze went to his chest again. He had a hard time not flexing.
A spray of warm water hit his legs.
“What are you two doing?” Kiera demanded.
“Waiting for you to do another trick,” Nolan said.
“Yes!” Kiera bounced out of the pool and to the diving board. This time, she did an aerial twist.
“Amazing,” Madeline called to her when she surfaced.
“Thank you, Chad’s mum.”
Nolan laughed. “Her name is Madeline, sweetheart.”
“Oh. It’s a beautiful name for a beautiful lady,” Kiera chirped. “But I prefer Chad’s mum.”
Nolan agreed about the ‘beautiful name for a beautiful lady.’ “Does it bother you that she calls you ‘Chad’s mum’?”
“I like it. I’m very proud of, and grateful for, my boy.” Her feelings for her son shone from her emerald eyes. “And of course, I adore Hope and Faith.”
“As you should.” Nolan could relate. He was proud of and grateful for every one of his children and their spouses and especially his granddaughter Sunny. She and Kiera brought him such happiness.
“Can you swim now?” Kiera asked.
“Yes, love.”
“I wish Ray and Macey and Jenn and T would’ve come,” Kiera moaned, swirling in the water. “Then we could play chicken wars.”
Nolan had observed his sons and their spouses getting very close physically when they played Kiera’s favorite game of chicken wars. The thought of doing the same with Madeline made heat pulse through his veins.
“I’ll race you instead,” Madeline told her.
“You know how to swim?”
Madeline chuckled. “Swim team in secondary school and at the university. I swim several evenings a week at the gymnasium.”
“Let’s do it.”
Nolan watched this interaction with interest. When Madeline untied her coverup and dropped it on a chair, he stared with an open mouth and unapparelled fascination.
She caught his gaze wandering over her beautiful shape and tossed her shoulder-length blonde hair. “Are you all right, King Nolan?” she asked in a sassy tone.
“Forgive me.” He passed a hand over his face, hoping he didn’t look like an inexperienced young man. He certainly felt that way.
“What is it?” she asked, a purr in her tone that made warmth spark in his chest. “You can tell me. We’re a team now, remember?”
He chuckled at her throwing his lines back at him. He hadn’t said them so capriciously.
“You are unbelievably fit,” he said, letting his eyes appreciate the way her lean form filled out her one-piece blue suit.
