The Single Dad's Patchwork Family. Claire Baxter

meant keeping her heart under wraps and her feelings firmly under control.

      Chase jogged down the steps from the veranda and crossed to where she was still standing. ‘Regan, it’s fantastic to see you again.’ He bent to kiss her cheek.

      Shock stole her voice. He’d kissed her. She wanted to lift her fingers to her cheek, to touch the blazing spot he’d brushed with his lips, but luckily she remembered she was holding the cake in time to stop her making a total fool of herself.

      It was a peck, that was all. Other friends greeted her with a kiss. It was nothing out of the ordinary. She just hadn’t been expecting it from him.

      ‘Is that the cake?’ He gestured at the white box in her hands.

      ‘Oh, yes.’

      ‘Brilliant. Thanks for doing this. Shall I take it?’

      ‘Um…could you help Cory instead?’ She tipped her head towards her youngest son, who was struggling to hold two bodyboards that were bigger than him. ‘I promised I’d take the boys down to the beach afterwards.’

      Chase’s smile broadened to a grin and he dropped to crouch beside Cory. ‘G’day, mate. I’m Chase. Can I give you a hand?’

      Cory nodded.

      ‘I’ve got one of these, too.’

      Cory looked up at him as he straightened and tucked the boards under his arm.

      ‘The waves here are perfect for bodyboarding.’

      ‘Are they?’

      ‘Yeah, not too big.’

      ‘Cory doesn’t know how to do it yet,’ Will chimed in. ‘Mum’s tried to teach him but he keeps falling off the board.’

      ‘Well, that’s no problem. We can fix that. Shall I take the bag, Will?’

      Will looked surprised that this stranger knew his name and he glanced at Regan as he handed over the bag. She gave him an encouraging smile. Will wasn’t shy but he did take a while to warm up to new people.