Page 102 of Take Me Away

‘High praise,’ Kit smirks, taking his own bite. His eyebrows lift. ‘Huh.’

‘“Huh, good,” or, “Huh, I’m mentally calculating how long it’ll take for pizza delivery”?’

‘“Huh, this is actually delicious.”’ He takes another bite, bigger this time. ‘What did you put in this?’

‘Secret recipe.’ I wink at Maisie. ‘Involves fairy dust and a tiny bit of magic.’

‘Is that what they teach you in Hollywood? Cooking with magic?’

‘Among other things. You should see what they taught me about turning frogs into princes.’

Maisie giggles, rice spilling off her fork. ‘Did you have to kiss many frogs?’

Kit suddenly becomes very interested in his food.

‘A few,’ I admit. ‘None of them turned into princes, though.’

‘Lily’s mum has all your movies,’ Maisie says with her mouth half-full. ‘Dad said he didn’t wanna watch, but then he sat on the couch the whole time and didn’t even look at his phone.’

‘That’s enough, Maisie,’ Kit says, ears turning distinctly pink. ‘Can we talk about something else? Like how surprisingly good this dinner is?’

‘The lighthouse guy looked grumpy like Dad,’ Maisie continues, ignoring him completely. ‘Except when he smiled. Dad smiles more, though.’

‘Moving on,’ Kit says firmly. ‘Seconds, please?’

I bite back a smile, sliding the serving dish towards him. ‘Told you vegetarian could be good.’

‘I’m still keeping the emergency pizza place on speed dial,’ he says, but his eyes are warm when they meet mine across the table.

‘Isla?’ Maisie cuts in, oblivious to the looks, the heat, the density in the air between me and her father.

‘Yes, love?’ I reply, noticing the small flicker of Kit’s mouth as I do.

‘When you make your next movie, how will you be here and there?’

Fuck.

I pause, my noodle-loaded fork hovering between the plate and my mouth. Kit’s gaze is analysing those ribbons of carrots like his life depends on it, but I don’t miss the drum of his fingers on the tabletop.

‘Well.’ I clear my throat, because it’s tightening by the moment. ‘Can I be honest, Maisie?’ I put my fork down on my plate.

‘Dad says honesty is the bedrock of family.’

Fuck. Again. Did she just call me family?

I want to cry.

‘Making films isn’t everything,’ I say cautiously. ‘Maybe I won’t make another one.’

This has Kit’s gaze lifted and staring straight into me like he’s reading my soul. A small frown chips its way between his brows.

‘But you have to make movies. You’re the best,’ Maisie blunders on, unaware of the look her father is giving me,

My cheeks sting with heat. ‘That’s sweet of you, but there are a lot, and I mean a lot, of other very talented people who are just as good as me.’

Kit is watching me so carefully.

‘Nope.’ Maisie’s bottom lip turns out in a pout. ‘Definitely not.’