Fairytale With The Single Dad. Alison Roberts

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      They walked along together, respectfully a few inches apart. But she was so aware of him and trying her hardest not to be.

      Nathan Jones was delicious. Of course she was physically attracted to him. Who wouldn’t be? Aside from his good looks, this man was intelligent. A good listener. Not at all judgemental. He’d seemed really interested in her. He’d asked questions without being too probing and really paid attention to her answers.

      She was very much aware that although they had just spent an hour in each other’s company she still didn’t know much about him. They’d both edged around serious subjects. They’d both avoided talk of past traumas and upsets. And they’d both kept everything light. Unthreatening. No mention of the baggage that each of them had to be carrying.

      She liked that about him. It was as if he knew what she needed.

      She frowned, spotting someone from the local council up a ladder, arranging the Christmas lights. ‘It gets earlier and earlier each year.’

      Nathan nodded. ‘I love Christmas.’

      She certainly didn’t want to talk to him about that!

      She changed the subject. ‘Do you know your way around Silverdale yet?’ she asked him, aware that the village had many tiny roads, closes and cul-de-sacs. And now, with the new build of over two hundred new homes on the edge of Silverdale, a lot of new roads had popped up that even she was unfamiliar with.

      ‘Not really. But the GPS system in the car helps.’

      ‘If you ever need help finding your way I could help you out. I know most places. Just pop in and ask at the desk.’

      He looked at her. ‘Thanks. If I ever get a call-out to the middle of nowhere I’ll be sure to call in and pick you up first.’

      Sydney glanced at him quickly, then looked away. That was a joke, surely? She’d meant that he could call in to her work and ask whoever was on Reception.

      She felt his gaze upon her then, and she flushed with heat as they came to a stop outside her veterinary practice.

      ‘Well, thank you for the tea. And the shortbread.’

      ‘It was my pleasure.’

      ‘I’ll see you at the end of the week? When you bring in Lottie again?’ she added.

      The rabbit was due another check-up, so she could look at its eye and see if it needed removing or not.

      ‘Hopefully I’ll see you before that.’

      Her heart pounded in her chest. What did he mean?

      ‘Why?’

      ‘Because we’re friends now, and friends see each other any time—not just at preordained appointments.’ He smiled and held out his hand.

      She blushed. ‘Of course.’

      She took his hand in hers and tried to give him a firm handshake, but she couldn’t. All she could think of was that he was touching her. And she him! And that his hand felt warm and strong. Protective. It felt good, and she briefly imagined what it might feel like if he pulled her into his arms and pressed her against his chest.

      He let go, and when he did she felt an odd sense of disappointment.

      Now, why am I feeling that?

      She stared back at him, unsure of how to say goodbye to this new friend. Should she give a small wave and go inside? Should they just say goodbye and walk away? Or should there be some sort of kiss on the cheek?

      But if I kissed him and liked it…

      ‘Well…maybe I’ll see you later, then?’

      He nodded. ‘Yes.’

      ‘Right. Bye.’

      ‘Goodbye, Sydney.’

      And then, with some hesitation, he leaned in and kissed the side of her face.

      She sucked in a breath. His lips had only brushed her cheek, and were gone again before she could truly appreciate it, but for the millisecond he’d made contact her body had almost imploded. Her heart had threatened to jump out of her chest. Her face must have looked as red as a stop sign.

      She watched him turn and walk across the road to his place of work and she stood there, breathing heavily, her fingers pressed to her face where his lips had been, and wondered what the hell she was doing.

      With this friendship with Dr Nathan Jones.

      Technically, they hadn’t done anything. Just shared a pot of tea. A plate of shortbread. A quick chat and a walk to work.

      But all she could think of was how he’d looked when he’d smiled at her. His beautiful blue eyes. The way he’d listened, the way he’d filled the space of the cafeteria chair, all relaxed and male and virile. How attracted she was to him physically. How his lips had felt…and how frightened that made her feel.

      Sydney turned and went into her own place of work.

      She needed to cool down.

      In more ways than one.

      And she needed to stay away from Dr Nathan Jones. He was going to be trouble.

      The kiss had been an impulse. To fill an awkward pause. It was just what he did when he left female friends or relatives. He kissed them goodbye.

      It didn’t mean anything. The fact that he’d breathed in her scent as he’d leaned in…the fact that his lips had felt scorched the second they’d touched her soft cheek…the fact that he’d got a shot of adrenaline powerful enough to launch an armada meant nothing.

      Did it?

      It was just that it was something new. A new friendship. The fact that she was the most stunningly beautiful woman he’d met in a long time had nothing to do with it. He felt for her. She’d been through a trauma. The loss of a daughter was something he simply couldn’t imagine. The fact that she was still standing, smiling and talking to people was a miracle, quite frankly. He couldn’t picture going through that and having the power or strength to carry on afterwards. And she was so nice! Easy to talk to. Friendly once you got past that prickly exterior she’d erected. But he could understand why that was there.

      What he felt for her was protective. That was all. And didn’t friends look out for one another?

      Crossing the road, he called in to the surgery and picked up his pager for the evening, along with a list of house calls that needed to be completed before he had to pick up Anna at three-thirty. He had a good few hours’ worth of work ahead of him, but he was distracted.

      A simple coffee had been something else.

      And he was afraid to admit to himself just what it had been.

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