Six Naughty Nights: Love in Reverse, Book 2 by Serenity Woods Page B

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.”
    “What?”
    He didn’t look up again. “You know perfectly well what.”
    “I’m still waiting to write that article, Toby.”
    Esther couldn’t help but smile at that. “Are you talking about the Naughty Nights?”
    Faith grinned in delight. “Did he show you the game?”
    “She found it by mistake.” Toby added headlights to the car. “Don’t go getting any ideas.”
    “It looks fun though, doesn’t it?” Faith’s eyes challenged Esther to deny it.
    Two can play at that game , Esther thought, enjoying the exchange. “I’m surprised you two didn’t give it a go,” she said, indicating Faith and her husband. “It would seem like your kind of thing.”
    “Ah.” To her delight, Faith’s cheeks turned pink.  
    “Yes,” Esther teased, “I read all about the Seven Sins. Mars Bars, eh, Rusty?”
    He gave her a look, half-amused, half-exasperated. “Why does everyone pick on that?”
    “I’m just glad it wasn’t a Curly Wurly,” Toby said.
    They all laughed. Esther realised she was actually enjoying herself. It had been so long since she’d spent time relaxing in the company of people her own age.
    “Anyway,” Faith said, “moving swiftly on, are you going around your parents’ house now, Toby?”
    “Yes, I think so.” He smiled at Esther. “Are you ready for that?”
    “Um…”
    “Don’t worry.” He reached over and squeezed her hand briefly. “They’ll be great.”
    Faith started collecting the cups. “And don’t forget—we’ll look after Charlie tonight if you’d like to go out.”
    “Thanks.” Esther took Charlie from Toby’s lap, deciding she wasn’t going to think about it for now. “We’d better get you washed and brushed up if you’re going to meet your grandparents, eh?” Grandparents. Oh dear God. Things had gone well up until now, but explaining to Charlie’s grandparents exactly why she’d never contacted their son to tell him about his child wasn’t high on her list of ways to spend a pleasant weekend.
     
     
    In the end, though, it all went surprisingly well. Luckily Toby had spoken to his parents at length the previous night, telling them what happened, so it wasn’t a shock as such when they turned up at their house.
    Still, initially Esther sensed a coolness from the efficient, organised Martha Wilkinson, who had clearly wondered what sort of person would keep such information to herself. But merely five minutes after meeting her grandson, who behaved impeccably, right down to his pleases and thankyous when she offered him a biscuit and a drink, she warmed to Esther. By the time they left, both Martha and the reticent Graham Wilkinson expressed great delight at having met her, and told her they’d love to have Charlie for the day if she’d like to go shopping or spend some time exploring the Northland.
    “That went well,” she said when they finally got back in the car. Rusty had previously dropped them at Toby’s house, and they’d picked up his car