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“I’m sure, and the girls will love it,” I reassure them. “They’ll keep you occupied.”
James laughs. Marie stands as Havana and Hettie come barreling into the living room, dragging their miniature suitcases behind them with grunts of effort.
“Mine has all the toys!” Havana announces proudly.
Hettie rolls her eyes at her sister. “It’s not fair because mine has our clothes.”
“Sharing suitcases. That’s a clever idea.” James chuckles, ruffling Havana’s hair affectionately before he takes Hettie in his arms and kisses her cheek. “We’re going to get ice-cream on the way.”
They’ve already had one ice-cream today and I should put a stop to another, but when Hettie and Havana look at me with their big blue eyes that mirror their mother’s, and wait for me to agree, I can’t.
“Only if Daddy agrees,” Marie says.
“Dad—“ Havana says, then looks behind me and her mouth falls opens. “Bree, you look like a princess.”
When I turn to see her, the air rushes from my lungs in an audible whoosh.
She looks ... exquisite.
The slinky red dress I bought her today hugs her curves in all the right places. The thin threads of shimmering silver weave through the fabric, catching the light.
I can’t tear my eyes away from the seductive hint of cleavage peeking through the balconette neckline. As she moves, the asymmetrical tulle skirt flutters around her toned legs, the layered fabric swishing with every step as she nears me.
Verdant eyes hold mine as she stops in front of me and I have to clench my fingers against my palms to stop myself from reaching out to her.
“Do I look okay?”
Not okay.
Beautiful...
Stunning...
Exquisite.
“You look like a fairy queen,” Hettie declares in an awed whisper.
I couldn’t agree more. “She does.”
Bree flashes me a timid smile, cheeks pinking adorably as she smooths one hand down the clingy material. “Thank you. I think I’m going to break my neck in these shoes, though.”
She takes a tentative step in the towering silver heels, teetering slightly, and my gaze shamelessly drops to admire her shapely calves. When my eyes drift back up, I’m stopped from openly ogling her by the sight of James and Marie both studying me with eerily identical, inscrutable expressions.
Marie’s lips curve into a practised smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Have an enjoyable night.”
There’s an awkward pause where the weight of her pointed look hangs heavily in the air between us. I shift uncomfortably, heat creeping up the back of my neck.
Clearing my throat, I take Havana and Hettie in my arms, balancing my girls as I give them a cuddle. “Thanks and behave yourselves.”
“Of course, Daddy,” Havana says.
“We’ll get going,” James says, lifting his wrist to see the time, “before the traffic starts.”
“Have a lovely time.” Bree kisses Hettie on the cheek and then Havana.
“We will,” Hettie replies.
I need just one moment to calm my racing heart and walk my girls to the car and help them get inside. But when Bree stands beside me as I wave goodbye, it does nothing to help with the way my body is responding to her.
