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‘Yeah.’
Ellie’s small fist was wound tight into her father’s shirt and she was hiding her face now. Cass stood her ground, wondering what to do.
‘Say hello to Cassandra, Ellie...’ Jack nudged his daughter’s arm, speaking quietly, and the little girl shot her a brief glance. ‘She’s a bit shy.’
‘That’s okay. I...er...I went for a coffee and happened to see this as I was walking back to the car. For Ellie...’
She proffered the package awkwardly. It was a mass of brown paper and sticky tape, probably not particularly attractive to a child. And Cass wasn’t sure now whether the contents would be all that appealing either. Ellie looked like a very girly girl, in her little pink and blue dress and pink cardigan.
Jack rose from the chair, taking Ellie with him. The little girl clung to her father, hiding her face in his shoulder. ‘Hey, Ellie. Cass has brought you something.’
Ellie turned, looking at her solemnly. Then suddenly she smiled.
‘Hi, Ellie.’ Cass smiled back.
‘Hi, Cassandra.’ Jack chuckled as Ellie once again managed to pronounce Cass’s full name.
‘Maybe Cassandra likes to be called Cass?’ He raised one eyebrow and his daughter looked up at him.
‘I like Cassandra,’ the little girl corrected him firmly.
‘Well, it’s not a matter of what we like. We should call Cass whatever she likes to be called, shouldn’t we?’
Ellie turned questioning eyes on to Cass.
‘I like Cassandra too. It’s just that most people call me Cass because it’s shorter. But I’d like you to call me Cassandra.’
‘See...’ Ellie gave Jack an I-told-you-so look.
‘Yeah, okay. Far be it from me to interfere...’ He shot her a delicious grin. That hard, strong body, the tender eyes. The tough, unbending resolve that was all too easy for the little girl in his arms to conquer. It was like an arrow, straight to Cass’s heart.
Ellie was reaching now for the parcel in her hand, and Cass handed it over. Jack peered at it. ‘What d’you have there, Ellie?’
‘I don’t know...’
‘Well, say thank you to Cassandra and then you can unwrap it.’ Jack looked at the sticky tape. ‘Maybe you can ask her to help you.’
He let Ellie down and she ran to the chair, putting the parcel on to the seat and pulling at the wrappings. Jack shrugged. ‘Or she’ll just try it herself...’ He smiled at Cass. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome. I just happened to see it and...’
‘Cassandra!’ Ellie had torn most of the brown paper off and scattered it on the floor, but the sticky tape was too much for her. Cass grinned, walking over to her and kneeling down next to her, tearing at some of the tape.
‘Wow! Look at that, Ellie.’ Jack’s voice behind her. Ellie gifted her with a bright smile and suddenly everything was right with the world. ‘Say thank you, and go and show Ethan and Auntie Sarah what you’ve got.’
‘Thank you, Cassandra...’ Ellie threw the words over her shoulder as she ran to the kitchen, where Sarah was making the tea.
‘Every girl needs a fire engine?’ When Jack turned, the curve of his lips was all for her. Not the indulgent smile that he had for Ellie, but something raw, male. The trace of a challenge, mixed with the promise of something heady and exciting, should she wish to take him up on it.
‘I think so.’ She was caught in his gaze, unable to back off.
‘You’re probably right.’ He re
ached forward, brushing a strand of hair from her brow. ‘Take your coat off. Sarah’s making lunch and she won’t let you go without something to eat.’
* * *
Sarah and Cass were a perfect foil for each other. Sarah loved to cook, and generally did so as if she were feeding an army, and Cass was perfectly capable of eating like one.
