Page 31 of Prudence (Balfe Family #1)

Derek

Normally, Paloma and I took turns attending Gigi and Pablo’s parent-teacher evenings, but since she was away, the task fell to me. It wasn’t that I didn’t like talking to their teachers; it was more the other parents who were the problem. Namely, the mothers.

I wasn’t oblivious to the fact that I was considered a catch around these parts.

Sure, they didn’t know anything about the real me or the things I struggled with, but on the surface, it seemed I held a certain appeal.

I was a single father approaching his forties with a decent job, over six feet tall, a good physique and a full head of hair.

Yes, those were all prized attributes, it appeared.

If they knew what a wreck I’d been the last few months, all these mothers wouldn’t be gazing up at me with such dreamy expressions.

In my peripheral vision, I spotted Milly arriving, and the very sight of her arrested me.

Her flawless skin and bright eyes, the way she seemed to have no idea just how stunning she was.

Such was her effect on me that my resolve to keep my distance from her had withered away almost to nothing.

I could feel myself shifting, my thoughts going to her constantly, my instinct to make life seamless for her prodding at me even though she wasn’t mine to worry or fuss over.

I didn’t want or need to be feeling this way about her, especially at this juncture in my life, but I couldn’t stop it even if I tried.

Milly cast her gaze about the space, and a moment later, our eyes connected.

She didn’t look pleased. I’d put her in the Talbot suite, and she wanted to switch rooms, but I’d told her it wasn’t possible.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure why I was being so bullish on the matter.

Although to be fair, I didn’t feel much guilt over changing the Long couple’s reservation.

They’d been coming to the hotel for years, and they were notoriously nightmarish to deal with, always being rude towards the staff, making endless inappropriate requests and complaining at even the most minor inconveniences.

A part of me hoped that changing their booking might encourage them to start staying elsewhere.

My poor staff definitely deserved a break from having to deal with them.

Besides, I wanted Milly and her daughter to have a spacious place to live while their house was being worked on, and none of our other rooms would do.

I had this overwhelming need to eliminate her stress, and it was probably down to how I felt when I discovered the water damage to her house.

Not only did it terrify me to think that something could’ve happened to Gigi while she was staying there, but I was scared for Milly and Deirdre, too.

Against my will, I’d started to care for them, which was the exact reason I’d tried to keep my distance in the beginning.

Now it seemed I’d passed a point of no return because something in me refused to put her in any room other than the most expensive suite we had.

“How has Gigi been liking those tennis lessons?” one of the mothers—I think her name was Iona—asked. I was momentarily confused as to how she knew about the lessons then recalled it was another of the mothers who’d recommended the instructor. Clearly, they’d been discussing me and my daughter.

“I’m not sure tennis is her sport. Her interest has been waning.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Iona said. “Well, there are always other options. Does she have any talent for horse riding?”

My gaze caught on Milly’s curious blue eyes as she passed the circle of women surrounding me.

I cast her a beleaguered look, which was shorthand for “Save me!”—something we’d developed as teenagers.

We’d always been adept at silent communication and reading one another’s facial expressions.

I was rewarded with a sparkle of amusement as she continued on her way without a care.

Evidently, she had no plans to rescue me from my predicament.

I mean, I was putting her up in the hotel and overseeing the work on her house entirely for free.

The least she could do was approach me with a made-up emergency or a simple request to speak with me in private.

Perhaps this was my punishment for being such an arsehole towards her when she first arrived.

And yes, perhaps I deserved it. Just a little.

“I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask Gigi about that,” I said. “If you don’t mind, ladies, I have a couple more teachers to meet with.”

“Of course,” one of them said. “Don’t forget about my dinner party next weekend. We’d love to see you there, Derek.”

“And my barbecue,” another added. “I make the best chicken wings in town.”

“I’ll try my best,” I said, no intention of attending either event as I hurried in the direction of the next classroom I needed to visit.

Gigi’s history teacher, Mr Flynn, was an elderly man with balding grey hair and a stern expression.

There were several other parents waiting to speak with him, so I took a seat to wait my turn.

A little while later, Milly walked into the room, saw me and immediately took the seat next to mine.

“I was hoping to speak with you.”

“You couldn’t have approached me earlier when I was clearly begging to be rescued,” I responded archly, and her lips twitched in amusement.

“It didn’t look like you needed rescuing. It looked like you were having a wonderful time talking to all those lovely ladies.”

“I was having a terrible time, and you know it.”

Milly chuckled. “So, about this suite at the hotel. We really need to—”

“Mr Balfe,” the teacher called, indicating he was ready for me next.

“Sorry, got to go,” I told Milly happily, and her amusement swiftly turned to annoyance.

She was cute when she scowled, and I enjoyed riling her.

If she wasn’t going to rescue me from the vipers when I needed her, then I was going to do everything I could to avoid discussing the hotel suite with her.

When I was done speaking with Mr Flynn, I left the room before Milly could pull me aside.

I could practically feel her silent irritation.

It went that way over the next few meetings.

I managed to dodge her at every turn, and it was rather amusing.

Most of Gigi’s teachers noted a marked improvement in her participation in class over the last few weeks, and I knew it was all down to her friendship with Deirdre.

Gigi had never been particularly studious, but she’d always managed to pass her classes.

When her mother had left to go on tour, her grades had dropped dramatically, and she’d often been late with her homework or hadn’t bothered completing it at all.

To hear that she was improving was an incredible relief, and it caused a niggle of guilt to seep in.

I’d been avoiding Milly all evening just to mess with her, but it was her and Deirdre’s arrival in town that had brought some happiness back into my daughter’s life.

When I finished meeting with the last of Gigi’s teachers, I decided I’d go find Milly and allow her the opportunity to express her dissatisfaction about the hotel suite.

I was wandering down a corridor in search of her when suddenly an adorably gentle shove came at me from behind.

I knew instantly it was Milly as I let her push me into an empty storage room.

“What the—” I turned and found her slamming the door shut behind her before flicking on the light switch to illuminate the small space. Pure amusement had my lips curving into a rare smile.

“Did you just manhandle me into this room?” I asked, and her dark eyebrows narrowed as she frowned up at me, hands on hips.

“You left me no choice,” Milly griped, blowing a wayward strand of hair out of her pretty face as she folded her arms in agitation. “We need to talk about the suite, and you’ve been running away from me all evening.”

I studied her, for some reason unable to stop from drinking in her pink lips, pert nose and flushed cheeks.

I’d pissed her off, and there was something irresistible about her when she was irate.

It made me want to push her buttons even further.

Without thinking, I stepped into her personal space before gazing down at her hotly. “Talk, then.”

“Wha—” she began, her words cutting off at my husky tone.

Then I moved even closer, so close that my chest was an inch from her chin.

I was aware of her smaller stature, her light, flowery perfume and the way a whoosh of air left her pretty lips as she held her chin high to meet my gaze.

I’d always been impossibly attracted to this woman, and despite my best efforts to resist her draw, I found myself in her orbit anyway.

I placed my hands flat against the wall on either side of her head, caging her in and not dropping her eyes for a second, when I murmured, “Cat got your tongue, Camille?”

A visible tremble went through her when I said her name, and I fought the base instinct that was roaring at me to kiss her, hitch up her long skirt and ravish her against the wall. I didn’t care how inappropriate it was; all I knew in that moment was that I wanted her fiercely.

I hadn’t had sex in a more than a year, and it was showing.

“Derek,” she said at last, her breaths uneven.

“Yes, Camille?” I responded, using her name again like a weapon. It affected her, and though I wasn’t sure exactly what the effect was, I knew we both liked it.

“You’re not playing fair,” she whispered, her blue eyes lowering from mine and focusing somewhere near my jaw.

“Oh?”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, the delicate movement drawing my attention and making me want to lick her neck, kiss my way up to her seductive mouth.

Her hand came to press against my chest, and on instinct, my hand closed over it.

I hadn’t realised just how much I’d been craving her touch until exactly this moment.