There was a voice in my head, asking me what I'd done to deal with my parents' death. But I rolled over, promising myself I'd handle it after Christmas. I'd have more time to pause and figure things out.
My life was filled with work stress. I was a new business owner. But eventually I'd have to focus on my personal life.
I'd gotten through Thanksgiving, and I was positive that I could be with Maddox and Sofia at Christmas and be okay. I'm sure there'd be reminders, but nothing I couldn't handle. And what was that saying? It got easier with time, not harder?
I was going to be just fine.
The next morning, I went to the office early to get some work done before Maddox was due to meet me. I'd gotten through quite a few emails and requests for toy donations before I heard his heavy footsteps on the stairs as he made his way to me.
At the knock on my open door, I said, "Come in."
He held two coffees in his hand, balancing a bag of something that smelled sweet.
"You brought coffee and food."
"Sustenance. We're going to need it for our big day. I wonder if we can convince the Telluride to blast it on their social media."
I took one to-go cup from him. "That would be great. I spent the morning spreading the news on the town's social-media pages, and I sent out a newsletter."
He set his coffee on the desk and opened the bag. "I got one of everything. Wasn't sure what you liked."
I peaked into the brown paper bag, pulling out a chocolate cake donut. "A man after my own heart."
He waggled his eyebrows. "Chocolate is the key to your heart?"
"Mine and every woman's," I said, taking a bite of the donut. It was the perfect combination with the mocha he'd ordered me.
"I'm cataloging that information for later."
"And don't forget it," I said over a mouthful.
He moved close to me, touching my shoulder and kissing my cheek. "I wish we were alone right now, and I wasn't worried about someone coming by at any second."
I swallowed, then sipped my coffee. "I want that too."
"First, flyers. Then maybe we can sneak away to one of our houses before Sofia gets off the bus."
"It's a plan," I said with a smile. It felt good to be dating him for real. We weren't hiding anymore, and I could express how I felt without worrying about scaring him off.
There was that voice in my head that said he couldn't possibly be healed enough to move on with another woman. But I dismissed it. Maddox was an adult. He knew his mind. He wouldn't start something if he wasn't ready.
This wasn't another situation where I got involved with the wrong guy. One who wasn't emotionally available to be in a relationship or thought I was too organized. I'd matured and gotten over my past mistakes. This wasn't going to backfire spectacularly.
As a single dad, he was already more mature than the other men I'd dated.
He pointed at the food in my hand. "Finish that donut. We have places to be."
"You want to hang them up here first, then go to Telluride?" I asked, running through the plan in my head.
"Makes sense since we're here," he said, kissing me softly on the lips.
I lifted the rest of the donut in my hand. "Chocolate, coffee, and kisses. The sweetest combination."
"Mmm. You forgot to add yourself into the equation."
I raised a brow. "I'm sweet too?"
"Definitely." Then he lowered his head, kissing me.
