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He gestured at the house and the open door ahead. “Just what you were doing, letting Nadia get to know you.”
She paused and put her hand on his arm. “Lucas, look at me, please.”
He looked down at her hand on his arm first.
Caroline’s touch had been one of his favorite fantasies.
He could name every single time she’d touched him from the first time they’d met until her last day in his kitchen. He hadn’t intended to store them away as treasured memories, but he also hadn’t intended to kiss her senseless that night as well.
“Lucas,” her voice sounded like raw honey, delicious, “I don’t know why you were so angry last night, but I was coming over today to talk to you. It’s summer so I thought Nadia might be out with friends so we could talk.”
“We’ll talk about last night, but not today, Caroline. You were confused by my actions last night?”
She nodded.
“So was I. Nadia asked me for a simple favor and I lost my patience. I’m honestly surprised that you came today.”
Her smile was tentative but no less beautiful than she was to him at all times. “I’m happy to help Nadia with anything she needs.”
Lucas wasn’t sure if he could believe the words she was saying. Seeing her leave Bulldog all those years ago and the look on her face made Lucas question himself a lot. “But you weren’t always like that.”
Her eyes changed, a troubled cloud darkening both the irises of her eyes, and the set of her features. “I don’t know what I did back then to make you think that, but maybe it was all for the best, Lucas. If you are so far off from the truth, we would only have hurt each other in the long run.”
“Dad? Caroline? Hurry up!”
It was hard for Caroline not to see the incredible bond between father and daughter as they bantered back and forth. So many times during her career, reporters interviewing her would ask one or more of the Bermuda Triangle of ‘female chef’ questions.
-When are you planning to settle down?
-Are you planning to have children?
-Do you think the demands of your career have prevented you from having a family?
Three questions they wouldn’t DARE ask a man in her same field.
Having a womb and ovaries always seemed to make it everyone’s business when she was going to have a child.
Even worse when she didn’t gush about the idea.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to have a child, it was the expectations of the world that if she did, she’d have to ‘step back’ or ‘relax’ her goals and drives.
She had to admit she was a junkie for news about Lucas. She’d kept a keen eye on his career. It wasn’t hard. He was everywhere on the internet. And she’d seen Nadia grow up as well.
It was just different seeing her up close.
Her beauty was truly inside and out, and as Caroline was discovering, she was an incredible young lady.
Having shown Caroline the closetful of clothes that she’d designed and made for herself, Caroline was feeling particularly dowdy next to the teen. Caroline was still gazing at the dress that Nadia was working with on the dress form in the corner of her bedroom when she impulsively asked Nadia a question.
“Would you consider making me a dress?”
“Seriously?”
The answer was a good octave higher than Nadia’s speaking voice and Caroline’s shoulders lifted in a cringe.
“Sorry. Sorry.” Nadia stepped into her line of sight with a wincing look on her face. “I’m sorry. My dad says I could break glass when I get really excited.”
Caroline couldn’t help but chuckle at the words. “Then you’ll only be allowed in my kitchen when you’re morose.”
