Chapter 2 #3
I take a moment to really look at this woman.
She’s petite and plump, with strawberry-blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail and wearing flared jeans and a peasant-style shirt.
Everything about Marie screams, “world’s greatest grandma.
” She is the kind of matriarch who is soft but stern when she needs to be.
I can tell she’s the type of woman who will make sure you keep your nose clean but won’t tell you about the crazy stuff she used to do when she was your age. I like her. She seems genuine and kind.
“Good. They’ll be sleeping like logs later tonight,” I chuckle.
“Did Eric tell you about the daycare?” she asks.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“The offer stands,” Marie says, and Eric nods in agreement.
“You should consider it, Halle.”
“I will, thank you.”
Marie gives me a warm smile. “I know you’re a tad apprehensive.
We don’t know each other and I get it. But here’s my card,” she says and hands me a business card.
“The daycare’s website has more details.
Have a look, think about it, and when you’re ready, just let me know.
I’ll make sure the kids have their slots allocated. Free of charge, mind you.”
“Oh, Marie, free of charge? That’s too much,” I protest, albeit meekly again.
She shakes her head and laughs lightly. “Halle, once you can afford to pay for their daycare, I’ll gladly direct you to our payment portal. Until then, don’t worry about it.”
“I’ve never seen so much kindness in the span of… what, twenty-four hours?” I mumble, giving Eric a wondering look. “You people are amazing.”
“Like Mom said, we’re human beings. We help each other out,” he replies with a casual shrug. All I can do is smile, humbled by their good hearts.
Had I met people like the Dansons before, maybe my life would’ve turned out differently. But I will absolutely do my due diligence before I send Luna and Sammy to Marie’s daycare. It’s not that I don’t trust her; it’s that I don’t trust anybody.
Colby did quite the number on my decision-making abilities, and I’m still reeling from the mountains of self-doubt that he left me with. But for now, I’ll thank the heavens for thrusting me into the path of these folks.
I’d have been lost without them.
As the evening settles in, I put Sammy and Luna to sleep in their room.
We’re all squeaky clean and smell like fresh apples and cinnamon, courtesy of a deliciously fragranced shower gel that Wyatt left in our bathroom, along with a bunch of other toiletries and cosmetics.
That list Marie gave them had to have been a foot long, at least, because we’ve got a little bit of everything.
Once the kids are asleep, I head downstairs and fire up Eric’s laptop. He set up a guest account for me to use to check my emails, contact my bank and the DMV for a new ID, and look for jobs in case the firehouse gig doesn’t pan out.
Wyatt said that Holt is exceptionally picky about choosing a new PA because he was so fond of and used to Suzy, and he still hasn’t gotten over the fact that she retired before him.
The first thing I do is look up Marie’s daycare.
My shoulder is starting to itch underneath these bandages, and I’m going to have to change them later.
“Focus,” I mutter to myself. Then, I take a long sip of my jasmine tea and proceed to scroll through the daycare’s website.
I notice they have public records, and I follow the link, going over every report with an eagle eye.
Outside, the darkness settles quietly over the back garden and the night lights come on, one after the other. The house itself is warm and cozy.
I honestly think we’re going to be okay.
“Still awake?” Eric’s voice makes me jump out of my chair. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I didn’t hear you come in,” I gasp, trying to catch my breath.
I end up belting out a nervous laugh as I stand awkwardly beside the counter, slapping the laptop shut so he won’t see the amount of detective work I’m willing to do on his mom in order to make sure my kids are safe.
“I thought you were fast asleep already.”
“Almost, but then I got snacky,” Eric chuckles and heads straight for the fridge.
Only now do I notice how scantily dressed he is in shorts and a tight white tank top.
From where I stand, I get a generous view of his muscles.
I swallow back a ball of nerves, ogling the man with impunity while he’s not looking.
He settles for Greek yogurt and then comes over to the counter, offering me some.
“No, thanks, I’m okay. I ate half of your fridge earlier,” I say with a shy smile.
“You’re looking better,” he replies.
“Well-rested. That’s the word you were going for, right?”
Eric laughs again. “It’s amazing what good quality sleep and proper food will do to your system.
Oh, by the way, I spoke to Mrs. Langston, your boss at the diner.
She was devastated, of course. She’s back in Dallas and wanted me to let you know that you’ll still have a job once the place is rebuilt if you want it. It’s gonna take a while, though.”
“She’s sweet.”
“You’re sweeter,” he shoots back so fast that I barely register it.
I stare at him for a hot second. “Thank you.”
“I’m gonna miss coming in for breakfast and a coffee. You were the highlight of my day after a long shift,” Eric says, never taking his eyes off me while he plows through his yogurt.
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere, mister,” I giggle, but I can feel a fire spreading from my cheeks all the way down to my core.
Eric was always the sweet guy who lit up the whole room.
My gaze found him no matter where I was in the restaurant—it didn’t matter if I was serving five or six other tables.
I’d never shy away from stealing a glance at him, and he would often gladly reciprocate.
Now that I’m safely—and unexpectedly—under his roof, I guess he feels more comfortable around me.
I certainly feel more comfortable around him.
I’m not sure when this emotional transition happened, but I’m fine to go with the flow. After almost dying in that fire, I think any moment can turn into an opportunity; any chance might turn into the adventure of a lifetime.
“I’m really glad you’re okay,” Eric says quietly. “When I saw you up there, the flames burning all around you… I have to admit, it rattled me.”
“But you went up the ladder anyway and saved us. You’re a hero,” I reply, my voice slightly trembling.
“I didn’t like the idea of a world without you in it.”
Whoa. His words are so kind, so heartfelt.
And they’re having quite the effect on me because my knees are getting weaker with every breath I take.
When did this happen? Was I not paying attention back at the diner?
Was I too busy drooling over this hunk of a man to notice that he, too, was developing an attraction toward me?
“I’m just sorry I wasn’t awake for the whole thing. You know, me holding onto you for dear life, you, the dashing firefighter, carrying me out of the flames. They make movies and write books about that kind of stuff, ya know,” I chuckle.
Eric gets up and comes around the counter.
“What are you doing?”
“Hold onto me for dear life,” he says, his arms out, biceps and shoulders bulking and eager to hold me while a playful twinkle dances in his eyes, a smile spreading across his lips.
“Wait, what?”
He scoops me up off my feet. I’m weightless in his arms. This man is something else, and I can’t help but giggle like a flushed teenager as I put my arms around his neck. “Like this, right?” I ask jokingly.
“Is this how you hold on for dear life? Try harder,” he says.
I tighten my grip and it brings me closer to his face, closer to his lips.
Time stands still, his fingers digging into my flesh. I breathe him in. Our eyes are locked on each other, and I forget to breathe.
“Like this?” I ask again, quieter this time.
He kisses me then, and every emotion that I’ve held back, every thought and dirty idea, every sinful figment of my imagination, it all unravels like a ball of yarn as Eric’s mouth commands me into submission.
I moan against his lips, our tongues clashing and swirling in heated conflict.
I slide from his arms and lean into him while he hugs me tightly against his chest, deepening the kiss. I keep my arms locked around his neck, my breasts pressed into his rippling pecs. His hot breath tickles my lips, his taste making me drunk and hazy.
We’ve lost control. It’s sheer madness, yet neither one of us can find the strength to stop.
“Oh, wow,” I mumble as I take a deep breath. I don’t know how I managed to pull back, but I did. My body is close to melting, my throat dry, and my core tingling. Liquid heat has already pooled between my legs, and I don’t know what to do with myself. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not,” Eric replies with a cool grin. His breath is ragged, his chest rising with every inhale. “In fact, I’m down for round two. I think we can do better.”
“Oh no, this is wrong,” I manage, panic rushing to take over and ruin everything. “No, you’ve been nothing but kind and welcoming, helpful and… no, I can’t. I don’t want you thinking that I’m taking advantage.”
“Halle, wait?—”
It’s too late. I’m already rushing up the stairs and straight to my room, my heart thudding painfully in the merciless clutches of anxiety. Where did the bubble burst, exactly? Have we been struggling with this sexual tension from the moment we met?
It doesn’t even matter.
I’ve got two kids to take care of, an abusive ex-husband who I need to hide from, and a new life to rebuild from the ground up.
Again. I don’t have the energy or the bandwidth for something like this.
And even if I do let Eric in, the day will inevitably come when I will have to take Luna and Sammy and leave.
It’ll be better and safer for everyone. Colby has a way of always finding me, of hunting me down and haunting me.
I need to focus.
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