Project: Parenthood. Trish Wylie
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not the tomboy she’d been for most of her life.
Words of love or even a hug would be too much to hope for. But something, even a small something, would do.
He didn’t even look up from his food when she made her entrance.
‘I’m off now, Dad.’
‘Right, then. Back by twelve.’
‘Dad, it’s a ball. I’ll not be back ’til after one.’ She tried to keep a note of pleading from her voice. ‘But I’ll come straight home. I promise.’
‘Make sure you do.’
She waited. Willed him to look at her, just for a moment. But he kept on eating. ‘You got money?’
‘Yes.’
‘Don’t spend it all well.’
‘I won’t.’ With a small sigh she scowled down at her feet and then turned to leave the room. ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’
‘None of that bran nonsense at breakfast.’
‘Fine.’
Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she turned and walked away from him. She should have known better than to even hope, shouldn’t she? Years of disappointment should have taught her not to believe in any form of magic from her father. Or even from the mother who was gone.
It was just a shame she wasn’t as thick-skinned as the years should have taught her to be.
Thank heavens she had a friend like Brendan. He gave her hope in the rest of the world.
Within a few hours he had put the smile back onto her face, with his easy banter, teasing tones and quiet confidence.
He was truly amazing. Around him she actually found herself feeling happy and carefree, even if reality was always in the background to remind her that life wasn’t carefree and happy.
Brendan had been her flatmate’s boyfriend when she’d met him. Which had technically made him ‘safe’ to get to know. There had been no danger in being friends with him because the three young women who shared the flat had had an unwritten rule about stealing guys. Not that Teagan would even have thought about it. She had more important goals than some guy’s arm to dangle from.
So they’d become friends. Had almost been forced to during the times when Shannon had been late back from her part-time job, or spending longer than usual getting ready to go out for the night.
Teagan knew everything about Brendan McNamara. She knew he was determined about what he wanted from life, that one day it would definitely involve a home, with a wife and a family. He was warm and open, enthusiastic and optimistic, successful in everything he ever put his hand to. And to add to all that he was disgustingly good-looking.
Truly amazing. If almost a little too perfect.
He was not what Teagan would ever allow herself to fall for. Because he was a long-term, serious commitment.
And, truth be told, she had no intention of looking for anyone that serious. Not anyone who was seeking a happily ever after anyway. She’d seen up close and personal what a deep and ‘meaningful’ relationship could do to two people. Especially when along the line they got married, had kids and discovered that they really weren’t that suited after all. Then things fell apart at the seams. And the children were the ones who paid for the mistake.
Teagan had sworn she would never allow that to happen to her. She never wanted any child to go through the upbringing she had.
Being friends with Brendan was absolutely the safest option. And their friendship mattered to her. She trusted him. Felt that he knew her well enough not to cross any line. And she needed to know the latter most of all, because he was testing her theories for life more than anyone else ever had.
The thing was, being with Brendan made her forget a lot of the things she had her future focused around. He made her wish she could believe in things like happily ever after.
So now, for one night, she was allowing herself to walk in a fairy tale. Dressed as a princess, dancing in the arms of a handsome prince. At Christmas. It really didn’t get any better than that.
‘You having fun?’
She smiled up at him. ‘Yes. I don’t think I’ve ever had more fun.’
He grinned a grin that made his dark blue eyes sparkle. ‘You really need to get out more, you know. Too much studying makes Teagan a dull girl.’
‘Oooh, go on—compliment me some more. I can take it.’
‘I already told you twice that you look stunning tonight.’ He swung her around in a circle that swooshed her long skirts against her ankles. ‘I don’t want to swell your head too much.’
She felt herself glow beneath his underhanded praise. Though the look on his face when he had first set eyes on her had been compliment enough already.
Looking down on her face, a low grumble of laughter escaped his lips as they swung closer to the edge of the dance-floor. ‘I know. I’m a keeper, really.’
Yes, he was. For a brief moment she allowed herself to wonder at the kind of girl who would be lucky enough to keep him. And the slice of jealousy that tore through her made her feet falter for a second.
Oh, no. He was a friend. He could only ever be a friend.
‘Watch the toes, kiddo.’
‘Mmm, ’cos they’re hard to miss.’ Teagan quirked a brow at him, her eyes shining. ‘You know what they say about men with large feet…’
His dark eyes widened slightly and then he leaned his head closer, dropping his voice so only she could hear. ‘Large shoes?’
Laughing, they swung closer to the edge, and stopped below an archway. Then, as their gentle swaying stilled, something in Brendan’s eyes changed. He examined her face for a long moment, his gaze seeming to memorise her before he spoke in the same low tone. ‘You really are stunning tonight, Teagan.’
Looking back years later, Teagan would see what happened next as being one of those ‘oh, no’ moments. Everyone, at some point in their life, experienced at least one. She would find that out herself with time.
It was a kind of mental danger alert. The moment when a person knew that they shouldn’t have allowed a particular thing to happen. It was a voice in the back of the mind yelling Uh-oh—this could be trouble moment. And for Teagan it came seconds too late.
While he looked at her with so much warmth in his eyes she temporarily forgot the small matter of all the goals she had set for herself in the not too distant future. And the pledge she’d made to avoid guys like him, who might touch her heart where it had never been touched before.
She just allowed herself to get caught up in the magic of the moment.
And as he smiled down at her with every spark of charm at his disposal, then let an upward glance direct her eyes to the mistletoe above them, she even forgot to breathe.
What she should have done was crack a joke or step away. She most certainly shouldn’t have stood rooted to the one spot and watched while his head descended.
She knew how big a mistake it was the minute his mouth touched hers.
Oh, no.
In that first touch of lips it was as if something she hadn’t even known existed inside her woke up. It started with warmth where their mouths met, a sensual awareness of connecting with another person. Then the warmth moved from her mouth to her chest, causing her breath to catch and her heart to beat louder. Then there was the spiralling, tightening sensation low in her abdomen. All in one kiss. All in the space of a few minutes.
It frightened the life clean out of her. This was exactly what she had sworn she would never allow to happen to her. For a few brief moments she was losing control, was stepping into the abyss. But,