Page 13 of Moonstruck Kiss

Not that I was jealous or anything…

Anyway, regardless of Brax showing a better side of himself, he’s still in my bad books. The fact that he insists it’s me who should say sorry shows how self-absorbed he is.

I hear laughter outside, and I glance out the window. Elsa and Evan are each holding one of Ollie’s hands while he skips happily towards my studio. Aww. They look like excited grandparents walking their grandchild to his first day of school.

As for Brax, he’s sporting a huge grin while watching Ollie from behind.

Okay, I admit he looks damn handsome when his face shines with so much adoration for his son. But isn’t it a well-known fact that women find single dads attractive? Something to do with men showing their nurturing side? Unfortunately for Brax, that’s the only good thing going for him in my view.

I go to the door to greet them. “Good morning, everyone!”

“Joey!” Ollie runs to me and hugs my legs.

Tenderness explodes within me, and I return his warm embrace. “Hi, Ollie. Looking forward to your first art class?”

His head bobs up and down. “Do you have watercolour?”

“I certainly do. I have crayons, too. I thought you might want to draw with those.”

“I’m already good at drawing with crayons. My mummy in heaven, when she was still here on Earth, helped me with watercolours.”

Ah, my heart wants to burst for this little boy.

“But Norah doesn’t know how to help me mix them,” he continues.

“Is Norah your art teacher back home?”

“No. She’s my nanny. And she doesn’t have an artistic bone in her body.”

A surprised chuckle escapes me at his description.

“Where did you get that from?” asks Brax, frowning. “And Norah has been so good at helping you with your art, so don’t be telling lies now. Didn’t you say lying is not good?”

Ollie glowers at his dad. “I’m not lying! I’m not!”

I don’t know if Ollie is about to have a tantrum, but I try to stave one off regardless. “I’ll set you up with watercolours, Ollie. I’ll show you the best way to mix them with water.”

His face brightens. “Thank you!”

What a truly lovable kid. And I’m noticing how much he looks like his dad.

“Thanks for letting him do this,” Brax says.

“No worries. Why don’t you all come in and see where Ollie will sit?” I lead them inside my studio. “Here’s your desk, Ollie.”

The little boy plants himself on the small chair and starts opening the box of crayons. “I’ll use these first before you give me the watercolour.”

“Okay. Do you want to stay here while I show them around?” I ask.

He nods, already starting to draw.

I continue the tour with the adults, opening cupboards where I keep all my materials and showing them the sun-drenched courtyard that my studio shares with Moonstruck Chocolatier. We’re walking back inside when Brax makes a beeline for two unfinished landscape paintings resting on easels near one of the walls.

“These are great,” he says. “Your work?”

“Yes.”

“She sells them at exhibitions and the markets. Art galleries hang them, too,” Elsa supplies. “She’s well known in the region.”

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