I took a breath, but before I could reply, she ran her thumb over my brow, tracing a line down my temple. At her touch, I closed my lashes for just a moment. Her skin was so soft, I almost leaned into her palm. But as heat curled low in my belly, I caught myself and pulled back.
She was my daughter’s nanny. My employee.
I opened my eyes to override my thoughts, but my move had the opposite effect. She was even closer now; her lip caught between her teeth. Her chest rose and fell fast as she passed the brush over my forehead, the coolness of the mask a blessed relief from the heat growing in my body. My dick hardened, just enough to nudge at the fly of my shorts and in desperation, I crossed my legs to hide the evidence.
Mercifully, though, she finished, leaning back. “There. I’m done. You’re a free man.”
At the way she’d captured my heartbeat and held it hostage, I didn’t think I’d ever be free again.
She smiled, looking at my face, her lips curving gently. “I think pink might be your colour.”
Her eyes glinted in the light, and at their softness, my heart skipped. It’d been years since anyone outside of Fifi had shown me any unsolicited kindness. Any warmth. And maybe that was my fault. Maybe I pushed people away. But as she took in every inch of my skin, as if committing every detail to memory, glitter and all, a tight ball formed in my chest.
When I couldn’t swallow it away, I grunted, pushing back in my chair, desperate for some distance. Desperate to escape the smell of her perfume. “How long do I leave this on?”
I cringed inside at the harshness of my tone. When Chloe opened her mouth to respond, Sophie burst back into the room.
Her face looked freshly scrubbed, her earlier grin still firmly in place.
“Fifteen minutes,” Chloe said, turning her back on me, rinsing the pastry brush under the tap.
I reached out to my daughter. She took my hand, curling her fingers through mine. My throat tightened, and I gave the slightest nod. She hadn’t held my hand since she was little.
“Perfect,” I said, getting to my feet. “Just enough time for you to get ready for bed before I take this off.”
Her face fell. “Aw, Papa.”
I squeezed her hand, the sensible spectre of Valerie making an annoying appearance in the back of my mind. “It’s late. And I think you’ve had enough excitement. Besides, if you see me when the mask comes off, you won’t recognise me. I don’t want to frighten you.”
She clung to my arm. “Then let me show you how to take it off properly.”
I smiled down at her. “Okay, but according to Chloe, I can’t be longer than fifteen minutes. If I take longer, I could end up looking younger than you.”
She giggled. “That’ll never happen. You’re far too old.”
Chloe turned from the sink. “Well, where does that leave me? I’ve had my mask on way longer than either of you.” She widened her eyes theatrically. “What if I end up looking like a baby?”
I ran my gaze over her face. With the pink plastered onto her skin, she looked ridiculous, but something about the warmth in her expression tugged at my heart. Perhaps I’d check in on her once Sophie was in bed.
“Come on,” Sophie said, pulling on my arm like she was dragging a body.
Chloe gave a little wave as we left. I would’ve happily stayed longer, but as I followed my daughter out of the kitchen, I caught my reflection in the hallway mirror and chuckled. I looked like someone had dumped a bowl of pink porridge on my face. Still, I couldn’t stop smiling.
14
MAXIME
Shadows pooled at the edges of the cove, softening its curve, and I willed the sea to do itsjob. Soothe my nerves. But the person at the end of the phone had other ideas. Even the gentle crunch of the waves pulling the pebbles back and forth along the shore couldn’t calm the simmer in my chest.
“Are you still there, Maxime?”
With a sigh, I turned on my heel and walked along the beach to the club. The stones under my feet muted Valerie’s voice, but only slightly.
“I’m here,” I ground out. I didn’t like to point out that some of us had work to do. We couldn’t all swan around Europe with our rich friends for the summer.
I swallowed down a sour taste. That was harsh. Everyone deserved a holiday, and if she hadn’t gone away, I wouldn’t have our daughter for so long.
“So, if Sophie’s notwith you? Where is she?” Valerie paused, and the inhale of her breath reached me down the phone. “I hope she isn’t hanging out with any of the local urchins.”
