A Magically Delicious Christmas (Single Dads All the Way #4)

Chapter 1

One

Angelo

Mr. Whiskers twines between my legs, purring as I open his can of food.

“Here you go, my greedy little kitty,” I tell him, setting his full cat bowl down in its spot.

That taken care of, I turn on the electric kettle, warming up water while I grab the tea and prepare my mug.

I’ve got quizzes to grade, and even though it’s too late for caffeine, I need something to get me through this.

A little green tea will have to do the trick.

Armed with my tea, I make my way to my desk.

The quizzes are already stacked on the wooden top.

I pull out a red pen from my cup and glance at the first paper.

I’m a quarter of the way through the stack when my phone chimes with a notification.

I take a sip of my tea and pull out my phone to check it.

The email on my screen makes me bite my lip.

You’re invited to the annual staff holiday party.

Great. Slipping my phone into my pocket again, I focus on the papers.

My eyes glance at the name scrawled across the top of the page, Eric.

I’m not sure what it is, but Eric has been acting off for the past few weeks.

Normally he’s a great student, but recently he’s been distracted, hardly paying attention in class.

As my eyes scan over the quiz in front of me, I find myself making mark after mark.

Not his best work. I write the final score of sixty-seven at the top of the paper, then pick up the next quiz.

As I grade, my mind goes back to the email I received earlier.

The annual Christmas party. Another year of attending the party all by myself and fielding questions from my coworkers about why I don’t have a boyfriend.

As if it’s so easy to find someone. It’s not my fault that none of my relationships have lasted more than a few months.

I just can’t seem to find a guy who’s interested in anything long term.

Maybe I’m just bad at picking guys. I always go for the ones that are hot and good in bed, but then the flame sputters out, and we’re left with nothing to connect over.

Just goes to show I need to pick guys with something other than my dick.

It’s just that I put so much of my brainpower into teaching that when I get the chance to hook up, my brain shuts off.

I’m not thinking about whether he’d make a good boyfriend when we’re tumbling in the sheets.

Maybe it’s time to get back out there and try dating again.

I just need to pump the brakes and focus on getting to know the guy before we fuck.

I yawn as I flip over another graded quiz.

Thanks to the tea, I made it through half of the stack, but it’s just not cutting it.

I need to call it a night. I don’t think I can make it through another quiz.

I straighten out my things, setting everything into neat piles for tomorrow before I head to bed.

Stripping down to my underwear, I grab the remote from my nightstand and turn on the TV as I climb into bed.

I set the streaming app to the medical drama I’ve been watching and let my brain wander.

Medical dramas are my guilty pleasure. Specifically, the kind with hot doctors.

The eye candy keeps my attention, even if all the guys in the show are flirting with women.

In my head, I flip the script and imagine them hitting on each other.

At least when my attention is on fictional guys, I don’t have to worry about my own love life. I fall asleep looking at Dr. Sexy.

The blaring alarm clock wakes me up. I press my pillow to my ear and groan.

I was having a good dream featuring Dr. Sexy, and my morning wood is standing at attention.

Damn. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten laid; it’s no wonder my body is protesting.

A quick jerk in the shower will have to cover it for now.

I need to get ready for work, or I’m going to be late.

I start the coffee before heading to the bathroom to take my shower.

If I’m serious about finding a boyfriend, I’d better get used to taking care of myself.

No more rushing into the sack. Standing under the warm spray of water, I wrap my hand around my length.

With a firm tug, I go right back to full hardness.

If I’m imagining Dr. Sexy as I jerk off, no one but me has to know.

The coffee is done brewing by the time I finish my shower. I sit at the table with my coffee and a bowl of Lucky Charms. I know it’s not the healthiest cereal, but hey, it’s magically delicious.