Six Naughty Nights: Love in Reverse, Book 2 (9 page)

He tasted of chocolate and beer, summer and happiness. She let him kiss her slowly, closing her eyes, and enjoyed the movement of his lips across hers, the stroke of his tongue into her mouth.
What are you doing?
yelled her brain, but he was such a good kisser that her body refused to move.

“Kissing’s yuck,” said Charlie.

She pulled back, wondering if Toby would look exasperated, but he only seemed amused. He turned to face his son, who stood before them, Thomas Tank in his hand. “Hey, buster.” Toby lifted him up and sat him on the breakfast bar, placing the engine beside him. “Kissing’s not yuck. Not when you like the girl.”

Her cheeks grew warm, and she stood to clean away their dishes, letting her hair fall forward to hide her face.

“I’m never going to kiss anyone,” Charlie stated as she started to run the hot water.

“Fair enough,” Toby said.

“I’m not going to sex anyone neither,” Charlie announced.

Esther stared at him, startled, as Toby burst out laughing. “Charlie!” she exclaimed. Where had that come from? She’d never heard that on Thomas Tank.
 

“That’s very wise,” Toby told the boy. “You’ll save a fortune in condoms.”

“What’s a conbom?”

Toby lifted him down from the breakfast bar. “It’s kind of like when Thomas enters a blocked tunnel,” he said. “And about as reliable, apparently. Now look, you’ve missed two chocolate buttons. If you don’t eat them,
I’ll
have to eat them, and I’ll end up looking like the Fat Controller. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

Charlie giggled and ran off to get the buttons. Trying not to laugh, Esther glared at Toby. “For God’s sake, stop leading him astray.”

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll keep that for his mother.” He winked at her before turning away, giving her a splendid view of his tight ass as he bent to fight Charlie for the last button.

She sighed and went back to cleaning the dishes, smiling as Charlie tripped over the carpet, followed two seconds later by Toby. Going to the Northland with him would be a huge mistake. Because Toby himself was like a packet of Cadbury’s Buttons, and she hadn’t had even a taste of chocolate for three years. Once she opened the packaging, how was she going to stop herself eating the whole lot?

Chapter Ten

Esther had only ever been to the Northland once and that was fifteen years ago. She’d forgotten how different the climate was compared to Christchurch.

As soon as they stepped down from the small plane at Kerikeri’s tiny airport, the warm air wafted over her. She slipped off her jacket and hung it over her arm as she helped Charlie down the steps. “Wow, that’s warm.”

“I’d forgotten,” Toby said. “Jeez, I love it up here. I don’t know how you guys get off calling it summer down there.”

Certainly, it was never so humid in the south island. The sweat was already trickling between her breasts. “How are we getting to Kerikeri from the airport? By taxi?”

“Nah, someone’s picking us up.”

The first twinges of alarm shot through her. She hadn’t expected to meet strangers as soon as she set foot on the runway. “Oh.”

He reached out and squeezed her hand briefly. “Don’t worry. They’ll love you.” They watched as Charlie missed the last step and fell flat on his face. “I don’t know about him though.”

“Like father, like son.”

“I can’t argue with that.” She could remember Toby walking into doors and stubbing his toe in Fiji.

He took her travel bag from her so she could pick Charlie up, and she followed him across the tarmac. Her heart hammered. Why had she agreed to this? All her instincts had told her not to go, but she kept telling herself it would be best for Charlie—that he deserved to get to know his family, and vice versa, and so eventually she’d agreed.

Toby turned to wait for her to catch up, and for a moment hesitancy flickered across his face. He was nervous too. This was as scary for him as it was for her. Somehow, it made her feel better, as if they were in it together.
 

Inside the gate, several people were waiting to welcome the arrivals, and a couple waved to Toby as he approached.

“Hey.” He walked up to them with a smile.

Esther slowed as the young woman ran up to him and threw her arms around him. “I’ve missed you!” She gave him a big hug. Of average height and with a slim but curvy figure, she had long, brown, wavy hair and a pleasant, girl-next-door face. Esther recognised her from her picture in the women’s magazine—this was Faith, author of the Seven Sexy Sins articles.

So the guy standing with her must be Rusty. Around six foot tall, he was a good-looking man, slim but muscular, with reddish-brown hair that curled around his ears. When Faith finally released Toby, Rusty shook his hand, and then Toby pulled him closer for a manly hug.

“Good to see you,” Rusty said. “It feels like you’ve been gone ages.”
 

“I know. It’s good to be back.” Toby hesitated. “Um, guys, I’ve brought someone with me. A friend.” He turned toward Esther and smiled.
 

Heart in her mouth, she walked forward to stand next to him, conscious of their curious looks. Balancing Charlie on her left hip, she held out her hand to shake Faith’s and then Rusty’s as Toby introduced them.

“This is Esther,” Toby told them.

Recognition dawned on their faces. “Oh…” Faith said. “So
this
is Esther.”

Esther glanced at Toby. What did that mean? He’d said he’d only told his parents about her and Charlie coming up north with him.

They looked at the boy in her arms, and Toby cleared his throat. “And this is Charlie.”

They stared at him. There was a moment of silence.

“No…” Rusty said.

Faith’s eyes widened, and she turned her stunned gaze onto Toby. He nodded in answer and said sheepishly, “He’s my son.”

Esther’s cheeks burned as she waited for their reaction. She’d expected a thousand questions, denials, shock, even accusations.

She didn’t expect the look of pure delight that spread across Faith’s face as she said, “Oh my God, Toby, you’re a daddy?”

He grinned then. “Yeah.”

Faith squealed and threw her arms around him, kissing him on the cheek, then broke away and came over to Esther. “I can’t believe it!” Her eyes danced. “He told us all about you ages ago—I’m so glad you’re here.” She held her hand out to Charlie. “And you! You are so like your daddy. Look at your gorgeous curly hair! Hello, young man. I’m very pleased to meet you. I’m Faith.”

Charlie curled up to Esther shyly, but held out a hand and let Faith clasp it.

Rusty shook Toby’s hand again, smiling. “Congratulations, mate, that’s wonderful news.”

Esther nearly cried at the relief that swept over her. Faith obviously spotted her reaction and rubbed her arm. “Are you okay? Has it been a long flight?”

She shook her head. “No. I just…I’m a bit overwhelmed, that’s all.”

“Of course you are. How nerve-racking for you. Come on, let’s grab your bags and we’ll take you home for a cup of coffee, and you can tell us as much or as little as you want.”

“Thanks.” Esther concentrated on straightening Charlie’s T-shirt as she tried to hide her emotion. Although she got on well with her colleagues at the university, and the other mothers at Charlie’s daycare centre were always friendly, she hadn’t had any close friends since school. True, she’d purposely kept herself to herself and she’d coped remarkably well on her own, but, still, she envied Toby his close circle of friends and family. How different it would have been to know she had other people to rely on during the difficult times. She couldn’t imagine it.

They collected their bags and walked to the car. It was only then that Faith said, “Oh, I just realised, we don’t have a car seat for Charlie.”

“We’ve got that old one at home Cole gave us.” Rusty smiled. “I’ll nip home and get it.”

“No, no.” Esther flushed with embarrassment at their friendliness. “He can sit on my lap and I’ll clip us both in, providing it isn’t far.”

“No, it’s only five minutes. If you’re sure?”

“Of course. It’s no problem.”

They piled into the car and Rusty drove them into Kerikeri to his and Faith’s house. Once inside, Faith made them all a coffee and they took the cups outside to sit on the decking under the shade of a large umbrella, while Charlie scribbled on a plastic doodle pad that Faith kept in a cupboard for visiting kids.

Esther sipped her drink, finally beginning to relax. She hadn’t realised until then how tense she’d been.

“You’ll have to tell us all about the earthquake,” Faith said to Toby. “We were so frightened for you when we heard about it, especially when we couldn’t contact you. Was it scary?”

“Terrifying,” Toby said. “I screamed like a girl.”

Esther smiled as they laughed, but said, “He did not. He saved my life. And Charlie’s.”

“Wow,” Faith said. “A real superhero.”

“Like Dan Carter,” Charlie announced, making them all laugh.

“I can tell he’s your son,” Rusty said to Toby wryly.

Toby ruffled the boy’s hair. “His rugby education is sadly lacking, but I’m attempting to rectify that.”

Faith met Esther’s gaze and smiled. Esther studied her coffee cup. Faith’s eyes seemed to see right through her, to her most vulnerable spots. She supposed that the other girl had some inkling of how she felt. Faith had been fairly open in her articles with the way her relationship with Rusty had progressed, and she’d obviously been through the mill before the two of them finally settled down.

They talked for a while about the earthquake, and Toby explained how he and Esther had miraculously met up again. To Esther’s relief neither Faith nor Rusty enquired why she hadn’t told Toby he had a son for two and a half years.

Eventually, though, Faith said, “Where are you staying, Esther?”

Esther recognised the unspoken question beneath Faith’s query—were she and Toby back together? She couldn’t look at Toby. They hadn’t actually finalised details, although she knew he would let her stay at his house. But she wasn’t sure that would be a wise idea.
 

The night after she’d had the beer and he’d kissed her, he’d told her he was sleeping on the sofa, and she hadn’t contradicted him. Since then, he’d made no further move on her. He could probably sense her confusion, she thought. She was still attracted to him, but the last thing they should do was get involved again. She had to keep their relationship purely platonic and concentrate on what was best for Charlie.

She cleared her throat. “I’m not sure. I hadn’t actually decided…”

Faith smiled. “Then why don’t you stay with us? We have a spare room, and I can borrow any bits and pieces you need from Toby’s sister-in-law—her boy’s four now, but she’s kept most of his clothes and toys and stuff, and I know she’ll be happy to loan them out.”

Esther bit her lip and finally glanced at Toby, wondering if he’d be annoyed that she wouldn’t be staying with him, but he just smiled. She sighed with relief. It would give her the space to work things out and would remove the temptation of being in his company at night time. “Well, if you’re sure…” She wondered if Rusty would be alarmed, but he was just watching his wife with a smile. “Charlie can be a bit loud,” she told them.

“It’ll do him good.” Faith’s eyes twinkled. “Give him some practice.” She exchanged an amused glance with her husband.

“I thought so,” Toby said. “Congratulations, you two—when’s it due?”

Chapter Eleven

They both stared at him, shocked. “What do you mean, ‘I thought so’?” Faith demanded.

“I’m a father now. I know these things. I’m very sensitive, you know.”

Faith blew a raspberry. “Give over. You probably saw my pregnancy magazine on the table.” But she laughed as he gave her a hug.

Esther smiled, but she couldn’t help but study Toby as he shook Rusty’s hand. He
was
sensitive, surprisingly so, but clearly his friends had no idea. How strange that she should recognise it and they didn’t have a clue.
 

“Congratulations,” she told them. “When’s it due?”

“August,” Faith said. “I’m only just three months. Hopefully you’ll be able to give me some tips!”

Esther pulled a face. “Jeez, I made it up as I went along. I was so clueless.”

“But look what a lovely boy you have. You must have done something right.”

Esther was unable to stop a flush of pride spreading warmth into her cheeks. “Thank you.”

Charlie brought the doodle pad up to Toby and tried to climb onto his lap. Toby lifted him up. “Draw a ’rari, Daddy,” Charlie instructed.

“A Ferrari? Jeez, mate, start with something easy, why don’t you?” But Toby began sketching, and Esther noticed that whereas her cars consisted of a box with two circles for wheels, Toby’s actually looked like a sports car, to Charlie’s delight.

She looked up. Faith was observing her watching Toby. Faith now smiled, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Perhaps you’d like us to babysit tonight for you? I’m sure the two of you have a lot to catch up on. You could go out for a drink this evening.”

Toby glanced up at Faith and pointed the stylus at her briefly before returning to his drawing. “Stop interfering.”