Rescued by the Single Dad

by Emily Forbes

  Behind Pat she could see the sun starting to set over the lake. The mountains were growing grey in the shadows and the water was turning gold. It was still and peaceful. Sunset was rapidly becoming her favourite part of the day. On the edge of one of the paddocks, in the shadow of a stand of gum trees, she could see animals grazing.

  ‘Are those sheep?’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘Over there.’ She pointed at the animals whose shapes she could just make out in the dusky light. ‘By the trees.’

  ‘They’re kangaroos.’

  Charli stood up and leant on the veranda railing, as if the few extra inches would improve her sight. ‘Kangaroos! I’ve never seen a live kangaroo before. Can we go closer?’

  ‘They’re wild,’ he said with a laugh. ‘They won’t hang around.’

  ‘They are so cute.’

  ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover,’ he said as he tossed the last log onto the pile. ‘They’re a pest.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yep. They destroy the crops and compete with the stock for feed,’ he told her as he climbed the steps and leant against the veranda post.

  He was standing close beside her. She could smell his sweat—warm, musky and masculine. She watched as he wiped himself down with his T-shirt and slung it over his shoulder. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him and she had completely lost her train of thought.

  She straightened up, bringing herself even closer to him. He was watching her watching him.

  He bent his head and she saw his eyes darken. Her lips parted; he was close enough to kiss her.

  His lips brushed her cheek and Charli closed her eyes in anticipation. She felt his hand on her hip, felt it curl around behind her and cup her buttock as he whispered into her ear, ‘Hold that thought. I need a shower.’

  She opened her eyes in time to see him smile at her before he turned and walked away, leaving her all hot and bothered and barely able to stand on shaky legs. She leant back against the railing as she tried to work out what had just happened. And what would happen next.

  She heard water running as Pat turned the shower on. She could imagine him, stripped naked, hands soaping his chest, head tipped back under the spray as the warm water ran over his body. She could feel herself blushing and she shook her head. She hadn’t realised she had such a vivid imagination. She needed something to keep her busy.

  Charli moved into the kitchen and looked in the fridge. Pat had said there was homemade soup for dinner. She ladled some into a pot and put it on the stove to reheat before putting bread rolls in the oven to warm.

  She heard the shower stop as she ladled the soup into bowls and took the rolls from the oven. Dinner was ready but she couldn’t manage to carry the food to the table while using crutches. She’d need Patrick’s help.

  She grabbed her crutches and hobbled into the passage to call him to the kitchen.

  She rounded the corner and came face to face with Pat as he emerged from the bathroom.

  Or rather, she came face to bare, muscular chest.

  A few drops of water remained, glistening on his skin. He smelt of soap and she could feel the heat of the shower rising off him.

  Without thinking, she lowered her gaze. He had a thick, fluffy, white towel wrapped around his hips and she knew he was naked beneath it.

  Her heart was beating rapidly and she lifted her eyes and met his dark, intense gaze. She swallowed, suddenly and unexpectedly nervous, and swayed a little on her sore feet.

  ‘Are you looking for me?’ he asked as he reached for her, his large hands holding her by the arms as he steadied her. His hands were warm and gentle and her skin tingled under his touch.

  ‘Dinner is ready,’ she stammered.

  One corner of his mouth twitched up in a smile. ‘I might just put some clothes on.’

  ‘Would you like some help?’ The words passed her lips before she had time to think.

  His smile widened. ‘Do you think that’s a good idea?’

  Charli took a deep breath as she thought about what she was about to do. She nodded. ‘I think it’s a very good idea.’

  His green eyes darkened and Charli caught her bottom lip between her teeth as she waited for his reply.

  He bent his head and his words brushed over her cheek as he said, ‘We won’t be needing these then.’ He eased the crutches away from her body and scooped her off her feet.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pressed her against his chest. She could feel his heart beating strong and fast against her. He was firm and hard in all the right places. She tilted her head and looked up at him. His lips were millimetres from hers. She licked her lips and watched as his pupils dilated. Her lips parted, a soft moan escaping her throat as he closed the gap and pressed his lips to hers. Her lips parted further as Pat’s tongue slipped inside her mouth. She tightened her hold on him as she kissed him back. He tasted of mint, he tasted of desire and she couldn’t remember ever wanting someone as badly as she wanted him.

  His mouth broke from hers, leaving her lips swollen and lonely. ‘Are you sure about this?’

  She nodded. She was panting, out of breath, but she knew what she wanted. She wanted him. She wanted to taste him and feel him and let him take away the longing and the hunger that was eating away inside her and she couldn’t think about anything else.

  ‘I’m sure.’

  She might have sworn off relationships but this could only be a fling anyway, this situation was only temporary. Besides, she was sure he was still in love with his late wife but she didn’t care. It wasn’t as though he could be unfaithful, neither was she trying to steal him away from Ella. What she wanted to do wouldn’t affect anyone else, this was between the two of them, simply a physical relationship, not an emotional one. What was the harm in that?

  Convinced there was none she made her final decision.

  ‘I want you to make love to me.’

  She didn’t need to ask him twice.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  HE PICKED HER up and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her to his room. He kissed her as he walked. She had no idea how he negotiated the path but she didn’t care. All she cared about was getting naked. All she cared about was finding out if the reality was going to be as good as her fantasies.

  He sat on the bed and she nestled in his lap, her knees either side of his thighs. She slid her fingers into his hair. It was still damp and still unruly. She’d been wanting to touch his hair since the night she’d met him. She’d been wanting to do a lot of things. He was sexy and strong but gentle at the same time, and she had been longing to touch him for days.

  She traced the scar under his eye with her thumb, lightly brushing the skin before letting her fingers move over his cheek and jaw. She ran her index finger over the ridges of his abdominal muscles, tracing them from where they began under his ribs, counting the bumps silently in her head, one, two, three, four, five...until they disappeared under the edge of the towel. Her fingers stilled and she saw him tense. He breathed out, a long slow breath.

  She lifted her hand and placed it over his heart. She felt it beating, hard and fast. His nipples were hard and she ran her thumb over one brown nub and heard him catch his breath.

  He didn’t say a word but his hands spoke for him.

  His right hand moved from her hip, sliding under her top. It was warm on her skin and as his thumb grazed the lace of her bra she felt her nipple tighten under his touch. He lifted the hem of her top and she raised her arms as he slid her clothes from her. With a flick of his fingers he undid her bra. He bent his head and she closed her eyes in ecstasy as his tongue licked her nipple before his mouth closed over her breast.

  He flipped her over, off his lap and onto her back, and lifted her hips as he slid one hand under the waistband of her loose trousers. She wriggled out of her clothes until she l
ay almost naked before him.

  He lay beside her, stretched out on the bed. His hand rested on her thigh. She parted her knees and his hand slid up the inside of her leg, sending spasms of desire through her. His fingers found the edges of her knickers, found the warmth of her centre, and Charli trembled as her desire intensified.

  She watched as he ran his eyes over the length of her. His gaze was dark and intense. Her body was still varying shades of yellow and purple as the bruises faded but under his gaze she felt beautiful. Under the touch of his fingers she came alive.

  His fingers were teasing and taunting her. She had to touch him. She put her hand on his knee and slid it under the towel. His erection was thick and firm and warm beneath her hand.

  ‘I want you to make love to me,’ she whispered. She needed him. She needed to feel his warmth, his energy.

  ‘I don’t want to hurt you.’

  ‘You won’t.’

  He rolled over and opened a drawer beside the bed. She knew he was looking for protection. And hoped he found some. She wanted to be joined to him. Wanted him to bring her to orgasm.

  She watched as he stood up and retrieved a small packet. She reached out and flicked the towel from his waist. He was now completely naked and Charli couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was glorious. Perfect.

  She took her knickers off as he sheathed himself. He stood and watched her. Waiting. She bent her knees and spread her legs further, letting him see, inviting him in.

  His dark eyes met hers as she reached for him, wrapping her hand around his length. ‘I want you inside me.’

  He moaned and removed her hand as he knelt on the bed. He held both of hers in his and pinned them above her head. He moved between her thighs and bent his head and it was her turn to moan as he covered one breast with his lips, sucking on her swollen nipple as he thrust into her.

  Charli pushed up, arching her hips and back as he entered her, wanting, needing to take all of him in. She welcomed him in and let him fill her. Physically and emotionally he sated her. She was no longer an individual, she was no longer abandoned. He filled her physically and emotionally as she let him possess her.

  She dissolved into a state of absolute pleasure. There was no room for any of the thoughts that had been swirling in her head for days. There was no time to think about what had happened, to her or to Pat. There was just the two of them at this moment. Together. Entwined. She wasn’t going to think about the past or the future. There was only the present and she was going to make the most of the moment she’d been given. She was going to enjoy the man in her bed.

  * * *

  She woke to the sound of kookaburras laughing as the sun streamed in the window. She was alone in the bed but there was a note on the table beside her, tucked under a mug of tea. She picked up the mug, surprised to find it was still warm, and read the note.

  Pat had gone fishing and hadn’t wanted to wake her.

  Had he needed time alone with his thoughts?

  Did she need to be alone with hers?

  She’d followed her heart last night, followed her desire, and she didn’t regret it. Not yet. Pat was not a good match for her long term, she had no intention of getting seriously involved with a single father, no intention of being cast in the role of stepmother, but that didn’t need to stop her from having some fun for the next couple of days. It wasn’t like they could have a long-term future. She had to go back to the UK at some point as she was due to start work and further training in less than a month. But this could be fun for a couple of days.

  She showered and dressed while she relived the events of last night in her head. She smiled as she hugged her thoughts to herself. She had never really expected reality to outdo her fantasies but she was happy to discover she’d been proved wrong. Last night had been everything she’d dreamt of and more, and for the first time since the landslide she felt happy, relaxed and peaceful.

  She scanned the shore of the lake, looking for Pat. The banks were empty and there was no one on the jetty. Had he gone out in a boat? Did he have a boat? Her heart skittered anxiously until she reminded herself that he had grown up here. He knew the area and the lake. He wouldn’t have put himself in danger.

  A fire glowed in the fireplace, Pat must have lit it before he’d gone out. Charli threw another log on to keep it burning while she settled down with a cup of tea and a book. She had one eye on the story and the other trained on the lake. Watching and waiting for Pat.

  Eventually she heard an engine and saw a boat approach and tie up to the jetty. She watched as Pat leapt ashore, carrying a bucket.

  ‘Good morning,’ he greeted her as he stepped into the house. He was smiling and looked relaxed, and only then did she realise she’d been a little uncertain. Unsure of how he would be feeling today. ‘Do you fancy fish for lunch?’ he asked as he opened the fridge door.

  ‘That sounds good.’

  ‘And how do you feel about fishermen? Do you fancy them too?’

  She grinned. ‘I find the local fishermen irresistible.’

  ‘Is that so?’ he said as he came and leant over her sofa. ‘Just how many do you know?’

  ‘Only one but he’s more than enough for me.’ She reached up and grabbed a fistful of the soft, grey cable-knit sweater he was wearing and pulled him down to her.

  He kissed her firmly on the lips. ‘No regrets about last night then?’

  ‘Of course not. Why?’

  He squeezed in behind her on the sofa and pulled her back until she was lying against his chest. She could hear the beat of his heart under her ear. She snuggled in closer as he wrapped one arm around her shoulders. ‘I was worried that I’d taken advantage of you.’

  She laughed. ‘I think you know I was more than willing. I have wanted you since the moment I first saw you and, even with everything that has happened since I met you in the bar, that hasn’t changed. I’m a big girl, Pat, I make my own decisions.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I’m positive.’

  ‘I promised I had honourable intentions and the next thing you know I’ve got you naked in my bed. I wanted to help you. I wanted to give you time to recover. To heal. I thought you needed to escape, not just from the hospital and the media attention but from the world in a way.’

  ‘And that is exactly what you are doing. Let’s not over-think it, let’s just enjoy the next few days. And each other. We can both recharge and be ready to get on with our lives when the time comes. I don’t want to think. I want to feel. Last night was incredible. Shall we see if we can repeat it before lunch?’ she whispered.

  Charli arched her back as he slid his hand under her sweater. She felt her nipple harden in response to his touch and then there was no room in her mind for anything other than Pat.

  * * *

  Charli spent the next two days in a quiet bubble. She slept and read while Pat fished and did some minor repairs to the house. They shared wine and food by the fire and at night they shared a bed. They didn’t discuss the outside world. For forty-eight hours it ceased to exist, and Charli was content just to be in the moment, away from the real world. She knew it was out there, waiting, but she was happy not to think about it for now.

  On the last night they sat by the fire pit, bundled in thick jackets and blankets under the dark sky. She lay in Pat’s arms as they shared a bottle of wine and looked at the stars. ‘It’s so beautiful. I wondered if I’d ever see the stars again when I was trapped. But I don’t recognise these ones, your stars are so different.’

  ‘Does it feel strange, lying under a different sky?’ he asked.

  ‘It feels like a dream.’ She felt safe and comfortable in his arms and she could almost let herself believe that this was exactly where she was meant to be, even though she knew it couldn’t last. ‘It’s almost impossible to imagine that in a few weeks’ time I’ll be back in London.’

&
nbsp; ‘Are you ready to go back?’

  ‘Yes.’ And, no, she thought, but she didn’t have an option. ‘I’ve worked really hard to get into the GP training program, I need to get back. I need to be busy. I need to move forward.’

  Going home was the safe option. She had a job, a career, a life waiting for her there. She knew she would take the safe option. What other choice did she have? She couldn’t throw all of that away on the chance that Pat might be ready to move on. She wanted to be important to someone, she wanted to be special, and he’d made it clear that he wasn’t looking for anyone special.

  From the beginning their time together had been limited and while she could daydream about staying, it was only a fantasy. He had a daughter who needed his attention, one she was unlikely even to meet, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. That would be a dose of reality that she wasn’t equipped to deal with. She was happy here, secluded in their own little world, and she wasn’t naïve enough to think they could take what they had here back into their normal lives. Sexual chemistry wasn’t enough to build something lasting on.

  She would go home with her memories but, meanwhile, she would enjoy the last few hours with him. She’d made a decision to focus on her career but that didn’t preclude her from enjoying this time with him. She wanted this interlude, a chance to restore some peace in her heart, even though she knew it couldn’t last. Not the peace or the time with Pat. They both had complicated lives and she couldn’t stay. Relationships didn’t work out for her. She was always left alone. And she wasn’t going to keep making the same mistakes. She would take pleasure in his company for as long as they had and then she would leave.

  * * *

  It was time to return to reality. They were headed back to Melbourne and the closer they got to the city the more Charli felt as though time was running out. They hadn’t talked about what came next. She didn’t want to be the one to raise the topic but it was becoming increasingly obvious as the kilometres ticked over that she would have to.