Page 129 of Trouble from Abroad
He’s making it impossible to fight this, isn’t he?
“I feel…” I choke and try again. “I feel safe, Pres. And happy. Really happy.” I treasure the paper in my hands, setting it carefully on top of a towel. I tap a dry finger on top of the paper. “And this feels really tempting.”
Pres bends forward and kisses my shoulder once. “Good.” He doesn't push for more. “We don’t have to decide on anything tonight. I just wanted you to know where my dreams lie. Even when I’m awake. And they’re yours for the taking.”
We let the room fill with quiet, orange and jasmine.
How can something this good be more than a dream?
* * *
The next morning, before he leaves with Lily for Saturday drama school, he steals a good morning kiss when she’s busy skipping down the front steps to the car. The following day, when I crawl back into my room in the early hours, there’s a Post-it note.
Let me stand beside you and tell the world we’re together. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms, and start every morning with you still there, in our bed.
A few days later, my phone died in the middle of shopping, and I struggled to get home. In a matter of hours, I found a brand-new portable charger inside my purse.
He never lets me head out the door without a thermos of Yorkshire tea—my favorite British brand that he keeps endlessly stocked.
There’s no denying Preston is a man of his word. I’m thoroughly spoiled, feeling loved, and maybe getting a little high on it.
The question is—where does that leaveme? My future? The one I thought I’d return to after my three months as a nanny were up.
I ignore the fact Preston already sketched out the answer. I just have to admit I want it too.
Maybe that starts with me believing I actually deserve it.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
preston
I’ve wandered into fantasyland—onlybetter, because this is actually my life now. And it’s so good I half expect someone to pull the rug out from under me if I dare say it out loud.
Lily’s birthday is this weekend, and I’m about to risk a conversation I’m not sure she’s ready for. But I’ll test the waters anyway, since she’s the sovereign of all my kingdoms, imaginary or otherwise, and nothing moves forward without my daughter’s decree.
Dinner went on longer than usual, laughter stretching the meal way past Lily’s bedtime. I suggest we split night duties—Mia tackling the messy kitchen while I put Lily to bed. She runs upstairs, Little Miss Independent, and I make my lazy way there, after kissing Mia slowly enough to make her swoon. Audibly.
I find my kid in her pajamas, the top inside out, hair sticking every which way after undoing her own braids, already tucked under the covers.
I sit on the edge of her bed, smoothing the blanket over her legs, while the question claws its way up my throat.
“Sunshine,” I start carefully, “how’s therapy with Dr. Lark going? We haven’t talked about that for a while.”
“It’s good. I like her. She has nicer dolls than I do, you know? I got to play with the new vet Barbie there last week.”
I laugh at the dig and make a mental note for the extra birthday present.
“Great to hear. Remember that I’m always here to listen to you too, okay? You can always talk to me.”
“I know.” She says it without hesitation, looking at me with a steadiness that squeezes something deep in my chest. We smile at each other, then I tickle her into a fit of giggles. The melody begs the question. How did I ever let myself miss this? How did I convince myself that work was worth the trade?
“So…” I shift on the mattress, smoothing the blanket again, trying to line my words up before I speak. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask. You can tell me if it’s too weird, okay?”
She nods, perfectly at ease, sinking deeper in bed, while I silently run through the differences between an anxiety attack and an actual heart attack.
I clear my throat and quit stalling. “How would you feel if I… started dating again?”
Her head tilts, all serious eyes and scrunched nose. “You mean like… a girlfriend?”
