He’d missed her? Yes. A mental fist went up in the air. For more than two years? Or a few hours? Whatever. He was back. For how long? Did it matter when he’d made the effort to return? She slid her hands behind his neck and held on for all she was worth.
‘Guess I should be getting the beers,’ Dad growled from somewhere behind them.
Marshall slowly lifted his head, withdrawing that delicious mouth as though reluctant to stop kissing her. ‘Yes, sir, that would be great.’ And then he kissed her again, a quick kiss on her lips before putting her down on her feet. ‘I like your dad.’
Dad probably felt a teeny bit smug right now, with Marshall’s sudden reappearance. She asked, ‘How far did you get?’
‘The turn-off for Auckland outside Hamilton.’
‘What happened? Did your flight get changed again?’
He took her hand and tugged her across to the lounger on the veranda where he sat and lifted her onto his lap, holding her there with an arm around her waist. He needn’t have worried. She wasn’t going anywhere.
‘I bailed. Told the guys I’ll find my own way back to the States later. If it’s all right with you, I’d like to hang around and get to know my daughter.’ Then he added, ‘Actually, I’d like to get to know her mom even better.’
Warmth flooded her. Yes, this was what she’d hoped for. ‘You can stay here.’ He would, wouldn’t he? It made sense.
His eyes narrowed. ‘Are you sure that’s a good idea? Hadn’t you better check with Brendon first?’
‘Check what with me?’ Dad asked as he strolled out, two beers in one hand.
‘Marshall’s staying for two weeks and I said he could bunk down here.’
‘I should think so.’ Then he added, ‘But don’t let us pressure you, lad. You might find you want time to yourself.’
‘Then I’ll go for a run, or have a beer at the hotel. Thank you both. That’s settled.’
Marshall had returned. That’s all Charlie knew. And she was happy to accept that, to enjoy his company. At least she had time up her sleeve now. She could afford to give him some space. As long as they didn’t share too many of those hot kisses. Otherwise all her good intentions would combust.
Now, there was a thought. Her smile felt smug even to her.
CHAPTER SEVEN
MONDAY MORNING AND the bedside alarm screeched into Charlie’s sleep-soaked brain. Six o’clock. She jerked upright. Something wasn’t right. Again Aimee hadn’t woken her. She used the alarm clock as back-up.
Leaping out of bed, she threw her robe around her shoulders as she raced down the hall to Aimee’s bedroom. What had happened? Was she okay? Her heart thudded hard against her ribs as she ran into the bedroom. She pulled up in a hurry. Aimee’s cot was empty.
That had to be good. Didn’t it? Had Marshall got Aimee up again? Back out in the hall Charlie strode fast to the kitchen. And slammed to a stop in the doorway.
Dressed in running shorts and a tight tee shirt, Marshall sat at the table with a mug of what looked like black coffee in one hand. Aimee bounced on his knee, held firmly in place with his other hand. The smile beaming out at Aimee from her father stopped Charlie’s heart. Filled with awe and happiness and care—or was that love?—his mouth curved into the sweetest smile she’d ever seen and his eyes glowed with emotion. He really had no problem accepting Aimee was his child. He’d embraced the concept, not once questioning if she was sure.
She opened her mouth to say something but the words stuck in her throat. Never in all the months of searching for this man had she believed he’d fall for his daughter so easily, so quickly.
‘Look who’s woken up.’ Marshall spoke to Aimee but his eyes had focused on Charlie. ‘Aimee was a wee bit grizzly so I figured it would be okay to get her up. But by the look on your face, I guess I did wrong.’
‘Not at all.’ She drew breath to get her emotions under control. No point giving him any clues as to how she felt about him yet. If ever. Now he was getting the hang of being a parent he might start thinking of wanting more kids, which would lead to even more problems. Her heart squeezed. She’d love more of Marshall’s babies. Gulp. Concentrate on what they were talking about, not the impossible.
On an indrawn breath she said, ‘Aimee usually wakes me up, so when the alarm went off I thought something had happened to her.’ Her mild panic sounded stupid, even over the top, now. Trying for a nonchalant shrug, she crossed to the hot kettle and flicked the switch to make tea. Then she plopped a kiss on Aimee’s grinning face. ‘Morning, sweetheart.’
‘Do I get one?’
‘Sure.’ She leaned closer, kissed Marshall’s stubbly chin. ‘Morning.’
The hand that had been holding his mug now gripped her arm and held her in place while his mouth reached for hers. ‘We can do better than that.’ And then he was kissing her. Again. This was getting to be a habit. A habit she enjoyed.
Aimee grabbed a handful of Charlie’s hair and pulled hard. ‘Mum, mum.’
‘Ouch.’ She stepped back a pace. ‘Careful, little one. Mummy’s head hurts when you do that.’ Her scalp had been tender since the day her hair had fallen out due to the chemo. Blinking rapidly, she turned away from Marshall’s all-seeing gaze and concentrated on making tea.
When she sat at the table with her drink, she’d got her emotions in order again. ‘You’re an early riser,’ she commented to Marshall.
‘Like to go for a run before it gets too hot.’ He jiggled Aimee on his knees and was rewarded with giggles. ‘But I got sidetracked this morning.’
‘I can understand that. She’s always been a great time-waster. But if you want to go out you can put her down. We’ll be showering as soon as I’ve had my tea. Aimee usually joins me.’ It was the fastest and easiest way to get her girl washed.
Marshall’s f
ace lit up. ‘A family affair.’
Her cheeks heated up. ‘You needn’t think you’re joining us.’
He scowled exaggeratedly and held a hand over his heart. ‘Ow, she wounds so easily.’
‘Go on with you. I’m still getting used to you being here. I’m certainly not ready for anything more intimate yet.’
‘Yet? So there’s a possibility? If I behave?’ His grin turned wicked. As did the glint in his eyes.
‘You don’t know how to behave.’
‘Is that so? Talk about a challenge.’ His grin only widened. Any further and he was in danger of splitting the corners of that delectable mouth she so enjoyed kissing.
‘Go for your run. I haven’t got time to sit around talking nonsense at this hour of the day. I’ve got to get ready for work.’
He wiggled his eyebrows at her. ‘Nonsense? Did you hear that, Aimee? Your mom’s a hard woman. Take it from me.’ Then his face settled back to near normal. ‘Have you got time to join me on the run?’
Yes, she did but was she up to it? ‘I’ll be too slow.’
‘Let’s give it a shot. We can turn back any time you’ve had enough.’ Definitely a challenge twinkling out at her.
In the past she’d have taken him up on it, but now, after everything she’d been through? ‘I’ll be turning back. You can keep pounding the pavement for your usual time. I’ll tell Dad.’
‘What time do you leave for work?’
‘A little after eight. Aimee goes with me. We’ve got a crèche at the centre for staff families, as well as for patients’ children so they can have a more relaxed consultation.’
‘Exactly how little after eight?’
She shrugged. ‘Five, ten minutes, maybe more. I go when I’m ready.’
Annoyance battled with bewilderment in his face. ‘What time do you start work, then?’
‘When I get there.’ She chuckled as it dawned on her what Marshall’s problem was. ‘At the medical centre we aren’t regimented. It’s not a standing order to arrive exactly at eight-thirty. As long as we’re there on time for our first appointments at nine no one has any concerns. I like to spend half an hour or so looking up test results that have come in overnight, check who I’m seeing and going over their medical histories. But if I don’t have time before the day gets under way it’s not the end of the world. I do those things as I go.’ Draining her mug, she stood and reached for Aimee. ‘Come on, little one. Let’s find Granddad.’