“I would’ve invited him in, too. Look at him. He’s like a perfectly made man from heaven. How the hell is he not taken?”
I shrugged. “Maybe he hasn’t found the right one.” I wiped my hands off and walked over to the doorway leading into the living room. Leaning against it, I watched Shaw interact with my children, the vibes genuine, a friendly smile on his face.
He turned around and met my eyes, his smile growing wider. He winked at me, and my knees wobbled. My breath caught in my throat. Did he feel me staring at him?
Lolly asked him a question, and his attention moved to her, yet my body still tingled as if he still looked at me.
“I’d feel the same way watching a handsome man playing with my children.” Mom’s voice drifted from behind me, and I jumped.
I whirled around, a hand on my chest, suddenly breathless. “Jeez, Ma, you scared me.”
Mom chuckled. “Oh, you’ve got it bad, child. Go make him yours.”
“That’s crazy talk. C’mon, let’s go enjoy Christmas,” I said, pulling her by the arm into the living room and away from her words.
We spent the rest of the day playing with my children, opening toys, and watching Christmas movies.
For dinner, Mom roasted a ham and made macaroni and cheese and broccoli casserole on the side, Shaw joining us for the meal once again. Everyone insisted he stay, especially my children, and he couldn’t say no to their cute faces.
Afterward, Mom said her goodbyes, and we took the children outside to play in the snow. We made snow angels and built a snowman, laughing and having fun.
From the outside in, it was almost like Shaw was sent by Santa to make my family’s Christmas a little brighter. And it was working.
An hour later, I rallied the kids up and got them inside. “Who wants hot chocolate before bed?”
“Me!” Both kids said in unison.
“Run upstairs and get your pajamas.” I nodded toward the stairs, and they took off toward them.
I turned to Shaw. “You probably need to go. But I’d love you to stay for some hot chocolate.”
“And I’d love to stay. But I totally understand if you want some alone time with your kids. I feel like I’ve imposed enough.”
“You aren’t imposing. At all. We like your company.”
Shaw studied me, his mouth parting as if he were going to answer me, but he remained silent.
Yet unspoken words passed between us, an understanding almost, that we both were very aware of what was happening between us.
I tilted my head upward and moved closer, an unseeing force between us.
Kiss me. Kiss me, please. Put me out of my damn misery already.
“Mama! Here are my pj’s!” Lenny said, and we sprang back, the moment broken.
I chuckled and focused on my children. “Good job! Let’s get you in your pj’s!”
“I can make the hot chocolate if you’d like,” Shaw offered.
I smiled at him. “That would be great.”
After mugs of hot chocolate, another Christmas movie, and many hugs and kisses, I wrangled the kids into bed. Shaw offered to help once more by cleaning up.
When I walked down the stairs, I watched him from afar, moving effortlessly about the kitchen as he put away dishes. As if he lived here all along. It was so surreal. So fucking surreal. How did this perfect man land on my doorstep?
It blew my fucking mind.
He was so tall, strong, and deliciously handsome, and he looked like a knight in shining armor showing up on my doorstep with my stolen wallet.
