Be My Hero by Nell Dixon Read Free Book Online

wasn’t sure if he was interested — or, for that matter, if she even wanted him to be. She’d had her heart broken once before. “I don’t know. There’s a lot of history between us, not all of it good. He’s got a little girl as well.”
    â€œSingle parent, huh? Does he have custody?” Gemma’s face was alive with curiosity.
    Nathalie nodded. “Polly lives with Evan. He’s looking to buy a house now that he’s moved back to town.” She didn’t say any more, since she wasn’t sure if the identity of Polly’s mother was common knowledge.
    â€œIt sounds as if we’ll be seeing more of him,” Gemma observed.
    â€œMaybe. His office isn’t far away. That’s why he dropped by.” Nathalie stared at the tiny cardboard fan she held with unseeing eyes.
    â€œI think he’d have found an excuse to drop by even if he’d been five miles away.” Gemma tweaked the card from Nathalie’s hand. “Although it might be kinder on your business cards if he didn’t drop in very often.” She laughed.
    â€œI told you, we’re just friends.” Nathalie shook her head as her assistant walked off toward the fitting rooms, still laughing.
    The afternoon bought in a flurry of customers, and Nathalie was late closing the shop. She grimaced as she locked the shop door and pressed the button to lower the security grille. The familiar cramps, which had been held at bay all day by her medication, began to make themselves felt again. She rubbed her abdomen discreetly as she waited for the grille to click into place.
    â€œCan we give you a ride home?”
    Evan’s car sat at the kerb behind her, and he hailed her through the open driver’s window. She could see Polly admiring the beautiful gowns in the window through the squares of the security mesh.
    â€œI’m okay, thanks. I don’t live very far from here, so I usually walk home.” She set the alarm and locked down the alarm panel door.
    â€œPolly and I have been to see her new school, and we called to pick up some more house details on our way home. Are you always this late finishing? “
    â€œI sometimes close earlier, but it’s been a busy day. Hello, Polly.” Nathalie smiled at the little girl on the back seat, who still appeared engrossed by the dresses sparkling and twinkling under the halogen lights in the shop window.
    â€œIs this your shop?” Polly asked. Evan smiled at the rapturous expression on his daughter’s pale face.
    Nathalie’s heart melted at the tenderness in his eyes as he looked at his child. “Yes, it’s mine.”
    â€œThe dresses are so beautiful! Like the ones princesses wear,” Polly breathed.
    A plop of icy water hit Nathalie’s cheek as the heavens opened and raindrops began to pelt down on her like silver pennies. Even the elements seemed determined to conspire against her.
    Evan opened the passenger door. “Get in the car.”
    Faced with a choice of getting soaked or a short, dry ride home, Nathalie obeyed her first instinct and jumped in.
    â€œWe were on our way to get something to eat. Would you like to join us?” Evan asked.
    â€œI don’t know. I mean, you and Polly probably have plans.” Her voice faltered. She needed to take more of her tablets, but she couldn’t very well do that in plain view. She hesitated, trying to decide what to say.
    â€œDaddy promised we could go somewhere with a play area,” Polly said.
    Evan smiled an apology at Nathalie. “There’s a family pub just on the edge of town that has a ball pit. It’s nicer than it sounds, I promise.”
    â€œIt’ll be fun. You can tell me about the pretty dresses.” Polly looked wistful.
    Much to her surprise Nathalie heard herself agree. “So long as I don’t have to get in the ball pit.”
    â€œIt’s okay. You and I can sit in the grown-up