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A couple of minutes passed before Allie pulled back, breathless. “Are you sure you need to leave so soon?”
“No.” Frantically, his lips found hers again and the hunger in his kiss made her head spin. Then he stopped abruptly. “Actually, yes. I need to go. It’s Alice’s first birthday. I can’t miss it.”
Allie rested her forehead against Hugh’s while she caught her breath.
“Sorry,” Hugh said.
“That’s okay.” Except she was sure she wasn’t doing a great job of hiding her disappointment. With Emmy arriving home, she couldn’t even catch up with him that evening. In fact, she wasn’t sure when she’d see him again, and the thought made her anxious.
“Why don’t you come with me?”
She frowned. “To the birthday party?”
“Yeah. I’ll only be staying for an hour anyway. You can meet my friends and eat cake.”
“Won’t it be weird?”
“No. You should come.”
“I don’t have a present.”
Hugh gave her a lop-sided smile. “She’s one-year-old. I don’t think she’ll care. But if that’s really an issue …” He reached for the gift bag on the coffee table. “I can put your name on this.” Before she could say anything he scribbled her name on the tag and grinned at her.
She rolled her eyes. “I suppose I have to come now.”
CHAPTER 34
At Leo’s house, a young woman opened the door with a dark-haired child on her hip.
“Hi,” she said to Hugh before her eyes darted questioningly to Allie.
“It’s all right to bring a plus one, isn’t it?” Hugh asked.
“Of course.” She beckoned them inside. “I assume you’re Allie?”
“Yes.”
“This is Caitlin and Alice,” Hugh told her, tickling the toddler’s cheek.
“We’re all out in the garden,” Caitlin said. “Leo decided it was barbecue weather. Come through.” As she led the way, she glanced back at Allie. “What did you think of Dartmoor?”
“I loved it. Thanks for the directions. I still can’t get over all those bluebells.”
“Spring is my favourite season,” Caitlin said. “I need to get out and do more hiking.” In the kitchen, she paused and picked up a sippy cup for Alice.
“That looks fantastic,” Allie commented, catching sight of the cake on the sideboard which was simply but artfully decorated with a number one on the top and colourful balloons around the sides.
“Verity baked it. I can’t take any credit for it.”
“It’s gorgeous.” Allie reached for Alice’s hand. “And so is she. I’ll bet her first year has flown by.”
Caitlin’s smile faltered. “Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for her either.”
Allie felt as though her brain stuttered with her confusion. “Sorry. You’re Leo’s girlfriend?”
“Yes.” She looked about as uncomfortable as Allie felt. “Alice is Leo’s daughter. Not mine.”
“Right. I see.” She had no idea what to say.
