Cat smiled, watching her daughter running along the beach, chasing her little hat as the wind blew it along the sand. Angel's babysitter, Candy the golden retriever, was barking playfully at the five year old who squealed, irritated as she neared the hat, then it blew away again. Finally she threw her body onto the hat and laughed in victory. Cat joined in the laughter, clapping at her daughter for her efforts.
"Mummy who's that?" Angel called out pointing over Cat's shoulder.
The retired author put her hand up to her eyebrow in order to block the sun and see who Angel was pointing at. Cat saw a man walking down the private stairway to the secluded beach. He was wearing a white shirt and skinny leg jeans. His long hair blowing in his face as the wind swept it. Cat recognised his swagger instantly. She turned to her daughter who was running back towards her mother and the approaching stranger.
She hadn't seen him since the day he was acquitted for the man slaughter of Nicola Starr. The judge threw out the case due to the fact that Tom had had the presence of mind to turn on the live streaming on his social media and live streamed the entire event including Nicola's confession to killing Trent. It was a clear case of self defence. No charges were ever laid.
"You're a hard woman to find Catherine Stone." He said in his Southern American accent.
"Who is he mummy?" Angel whispered, as she eyeballed the stranger, squinting against the sun.
"This is Tom." Cat said as Tom Bell joined them on the sand.
She couldn't read his expression behind his sunglasses while he observed Cat's daughter. Angel's shoulder length, wavy hair was blowing into her eyes, her mother took the hat out of the child's hand and placed it on her head. He looked at the child's large green eyes as she stared at him in return. She had her mother's nose and lips, with a familiar crease in her chin.
"Hi Tom, my name is Angel Stone Sutton." She said in a distinctive Australian accent, holding out her tiny hand to the stranger.
"I'm very pleased to finally meet you Angel." Tom smiled, taking her tiny hand in his and shook it gently.
"Are you staying for lunch, we're having a barbie?" Angel asked and pointed to her backyard above the stairway.
"That's up to your mommy." Tom said turning his attention to Cat who was still watching her daughter.
"Mummy, can Tom stay?"
Cat looked out at the ocean, then back at her daughter. A smile curling on her full lips. She turned to Tom as he removed his sunglasses. She looked into the beautiful green eyes she'd been dreaming about for five years and nodded.
"EEEEK!" Angel squealed as the wind blew her hat off her head again, she ran off chasing after it again.
The End
YOU ARE READING
The One Night Stand
RomanceCatherine Stone was a bestselling author and a respected psychologist. She was smart, successful and always in control. Cat was a good girl. Until she had that one night stand with rising star, Tom Bell.
