Chapter Two
Chris
“There’s my angel,” I said, wrapping my arms around Emily’s waist. “I missed you.”
“You just saw me a couple of hours ago.”
“I know.” I grinded against her to let her know I couldn’t help thinking about our afternoon delight. “I still missed you.”
She giggled. “Me too,” she said, turning around to kiss me and prove just how much she missed me.
Thump! Whack! Woof!
“Yeah, yeah, okay,” I said, breaking away to give Moose, Rufus, and Luke some attention.
Wagging tails, lolling tongues, and happy barks welcomed me home after a long day at the bank.
“Hudson just finished his homework and is taking a shower,” Emily said.
I pulled her to me and asked, “How much longer do you think we have?”
Her laughter made me smile even as she pushed at my chest. “Not that long.”
“I can be quick,” I said, waggling my eyes.
She pressed her lips to mine. “That’s very tempting, but I’ve been working with dogs all day and feel gross.”
I ran my hands up and down her body. “You feel perfect to me.”
“How is it you can make me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world when I’m covered in slobber?”
“Because you are the most beautiful woman in the world.” I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her again.
The squeak of Hudson’s bathroom door opening let us know our time was up. I allowed myself one more moment of her lips on mine before stepping away.
“Hudson!” I called. “I got pizza for dinner.”
“Okay, Dad!” he yelled back.
Emily and I shared a smile as our dutiful dogs surrounded us and my amazing son ran into the kitchen.
“Do you want milk, water, or juice?” Emily asked Hudson.
I watched them work together to set up the pizza, garlic knots, and salad I’d brought home for dinner.
It was moments like these that still took me by surprise. Life as a single dad wasn’t what I’d planned. Losing my wife when Hudson was just a baby changed me forever. It wasn’t until I met Emily that I thought I could have a life beyond that of a broken-hearted widower.
Emily wasn’t at all what I expected.
Love wasn’t even on my radar.
But one night with her changed my life.
It changed Hudson’s life, too.
Emily was an angel.
As scared as I was about dating and bringing someone into our lives, Emily made our world better. She wasn’t a replacement for what we’d lost, she was a gift sent when we needed her the most.