Jason’s head shot up and the smirk was gone. “Elle?”
“Aye,” Prentice replied immediately.
That was who she was no matter who she wanted him to think she was.
Prentice kept his eyes locked on his son and watched as Jason’s gaze slid to Elle and the smirk returned before he went to the fridge to get the milk.
“Can we call her Elle?” Sally asked.
“No,” Prentice answered.
“Can we sit on the counter like Miss Bella’s doing while we eat our porridge?” Sally asked.
“No,” Prentice repeated.
“Can we have chocolate cake instead of porridge?” Sally went on.
“No,” both Prentice and Elle answered.
“But there’s a lot of cake left!” Sally cried. “If we don’t have it for breakfast, we’re never going to eat it all!”
“Sally, stool. Sit. Now,” Prentice ordered.
His daughter pouted and flounced to a stool.
Prentice went back to preparing the toast but his eyes caught on Elle and he saw she was watching Sally with a soft, warm, amused expression on her pale face.
And it hit him she wasn’t drunkenly declaring her love for his children last night. She was honestly doing it.
Prentice, luckily, had no idea the depth of longing of a motherless child who had no ability to have children of their own.
Or, he had no idea until he saw that look on Elle’s face and realized that, within days, she’d fallen in love with his children.
Fucking hell, he thought.
They really needed to talk.
He made the toast, he made porridge, they ate and the kids scrambled up the stairs to get their bags.
Elle hopped off the counter and started clearing the dishes.
“Dougal’s stag night is tonight and the kids –” Prentice started while watching her move through his kitchen.
He didn’t finish.
Her head whipped toward him and she said quickly, “I’ll watch them.”
That warm weight settled in his gut again.
And it felt good again.
He walked close to her, put his hand to her neck and he felt her still under his fingers.
“I’ve already arranged for Debs to pick them up from school. They’re spending the night with her,” Prentice said.
He saw disappointment, it was fleeting but he saw it.
His fingers curled into her neck.