‘Me?’ His eyes flitted from it, to Lily, to Sophia. ‘And you think it’s a true likeness?’
She eyed him as she pretended to consider both him and their creation. ‘Seems pretty good, if you ask me.’
Lily laughed and Sophia grinned up at him. ‘If only you’d been able to help, then maybe he’d have been a little less...portly.’
‘Is that so?’ he said, his eyes twinkling. ‘I only have myself to blame then.’
‘Precisely. Now, don’t dilly-dally; the car has been waiting long enough.’
She turned on her heel and made her way to the slick chauffeur-driven four-by-four hired to navigate the tricky Icelandic terrain, leaving them to enjoy the view.
She knew he was watching her, and felt that kick of admiration in his gaze before she’d looked away. He liked that she stood up to him. Maybe he’d therefore welcome the idea already setting up camp in her brain that he should switch the pesky little mobile off.
‘I really like Sphea, Daddy. Like really, really like her.’
Lily’s words reached her and her lips quirked up, her heart fluttering in her chest. I really, really like you too, kiddo.
She couldn’t hear Jack’s response as the driver greeted her, opening up the rear door for her to climb in, but she hoped Jack’s had been close to a ditto at least.
She settled into the back seat, watching them as they headed towards her, Jack’s eyes locking with hers, assessing, searching. Was he looking for the anger he must have spied in her earlier?
She softened her gaze with a smile, which he readily returned. Fact was, she’d been mad—she was still mad when she thought on it—but she couldn’t stay mad at him.
They got in beside her, Lily taking up the seat by the window so that she could enjoy every second of the passing landscape, which put Jack alongside her. Close—too close.
No, she couldn’t stay mad, which was annoying and frustrating in its own way.
He looked at her, his eyes flitting from her lips to her eyes and back again, their intensity deepening into something else, something more primal and making her tummy contract over a rush of heat.
Not helping...
She looked away, to the back of the driver’s head as he climbed into the car and demanded Jack’s attention as they ran through that day’s itinerary and the impact their two-hour delay had had. Two hours. All thanks to his blasted phone.
Jack was exhausted. Heaven knew whether he’d truly slept properly last night. She’d not had a chance to ask him since his phone had rung the second they’d sat down to breakfast. He needed a holiday, a real break. The thing had to go, and she’d speak to him about it the first chance she got.
As for the trust issue...that would be harder to raise. But maybe she’d just got it wrong. She looked to the passing landscape, the snow-capped rocks, the trees drooping under the weight of it all. It was pretty, even if
it did coax memories to the fore that she would prefer remained buried.
Maybe it hadn’t been his lack of trust in her to look after Lily at all; maybe she was being unfair and overly sensitive because she hadn’t trusted herself either. She breathed through the rising knot of anxiety in her chest, flexing her tightened fists as she closed her eyes against the view, and then she felt his hand upon her knee.
She turned to see him looking down at her, the emotion blazing in his gaze reassuring her and letting her know he was there.
Yes, maybe she had been wrong, because if anyone deserved the benefit of the doubt it was him.
She rubbed her head against his shoulder, much like a cat would do to their owner’s leg, and whispered, ‘Thank you.’
He gave a soft laugh. ‘So I’m forgiven.’
‘For now.’
* * *
Jack’s phone call had cost them two hours of daylight but his driver was a pro at navigating the terrain and facing off the aftermath of last night’s storm. The sky was looking better by the hour which made that evening’s stay all the more hopeful.
He’d wanted to book their holiday for longer—the longer the stay the more chance they would get a glimpse of the natural phenomena that they were here for, but he hadn’t wanted to risk Sophia saying no and, as that morning’s call proved, he needed to get back to work. But they were here now, and they could make the most of it.
He’d seen Sophia’s face and known she was angry with him; he wanted to make it up to her, to both of them, and so far Iceland’s impressive sights were winning it for him. They’d trekked around Seljalandsfoss waterfall, been awestruck by its immense drop and the roaring glacier waters. They’d stopped at Skógafoss, another immense waterfall which had earned a breathtaking smile from Sophia and a squeal from Lily when the sun had shone through the spray and produced a rainbow so vivid and colourful.