Eve: Just what every woman wants to hear.
Maddox: I want to see you all the time. I hate that you have to go home at the end of the night.
Eve: I suppose we could talk to Sofia at some point about spending more time together.
Maddox: Yeah, but this is new. We have to take it slow.
Eve: Right.
That was the right thing to do, even if I was anxious to spend more time with them. I sank into my pillows. I could be patient.
He had some things to work through in therapy and with his support group. And I'd be here for him while he did that.
I wasn't sure what my plans were for Christmas. Natasha would probably spend it with Ford's family. Would I be alone?
I couldn't spend the entire holiday with Sofia and Maddox. They probably had their own traditions, ones that didn't include me.
I'd be on my own this holiday season, and I'd have to be okay with it. I might get a few hours with Sofia and Maddox, and that would have to be enough. I could sign up to volunteer at food banks and meal services at missions.
For the next couple of weeks, I needed to deliver the toys that the parents couldn't pick up. That would keep me busy.
Satisfied I had a plan, I fell asleep.
The next morning, I got up early, showered, and was at Maddox's house by eight. He'd said he could only hold Sofia back from eating for so long, and he wanted us to enjoy breakfast together.
When I knocked, Maddox answered. "Sofia's watching TV."
I smiled as I stepped inside. "Is that why she isn't greeting me?"
He sighed. "A bomb could go off when she's watching TV, and she'd have no idea."
"I'm sure I was the same way as a kid," I said, surprised when he leaned down and kissed me.
His hand tangled in my hair, angling me so that his tongue could dip inside. Heat curled in my belly. I wished we were alone, but I knew that wasn't going to happen today. This was a tease for later.
He slowly pulled away.
I smiled, leaning into him. "That was a nice greeting."
"I missed you."
"I like the sound of that." The moment felt intimate and made me long for more like this.
He curled his fingers around mine and led me into the kitchen where there was a stack of pancakes on one plate, eggs with bacon on another.
"This looks great."
"Sofia, breakfast is ready," he called before squeezing my hand.
I slid onto the stool as Sofia ran into the room. "Yum, pancakes."
Maddox stacked two pancakes on a plate and poured syrup over them.
Sofia raised a brow. "Whipped cream?"
He sighed, moving toward the fridge. "Just this once."
"You can't have pancakes without whipped cream."
