Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
PARKER
N ine days until Christmas, and I think we’re making progress. Between me, Mom, and Amelia, Maddie seems to be coming around to the idea of the holidays. Amelia swears blind she heard Maddie humming a Christmas song the other day.
And that kiss underneath the mistletoe? I think I died and went to heaven.
Never in my life have I ever had such a visceral reaction to someone.
It just makes me know, down to the marrow of my bones, that Maddie is the one.
The one who’s going to complete me. I just have to stop being such a sap and show her.
You’d think a thirty-nine-year-old man would have his shit together by now and not be falling hopelessly in love with a grumpy bookstore owner, but here we are.
“What’s got that grin on your face, or should I even ask?” Mom pipes up as she walks through the kitchen, a knowing smirk on her face.
“There’s no grin, Mom.” I roll my eyes but can’t get rid of the goofy smile.
Mom sighs, and I know shit’s about to get real. “Just go carefully, hon. You have a habit of falling in love with the wrong girls.” I start to protest, but she keeps going. “You know I like Maddie, but go easy, hmm? I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“Trust me, Mom. No one thinks my past decisions are more of an embarrassment than me.” I rake a hand through my hair, bracing my elbows on the table.
“There’s just something different about her.
I can’t explain it. Something that started as helping her get into the Christmas spirit swiftly became wanting to get to know her more. ” I shrug, not sure what else to say.
Mom walks over and places a hand on my shoulder. “I get it. I felt that way about your father when I met him. If Maddie is the one, then you know I’ll be happy for you.”
“Gran,” Amelia cries, running into the kitchen, shoving everything out of her way. “Where’s my coat? I’m running late to the store, and Maddie will kill me if I’m not there on time.”
“It’s hanging up on the coat peg,” Mom says, ushering her toward the table. “Grab yourself something to eat, and I’ll get it for you.”
She walks off to find the coat while Amelia steals a slice of toast that was sitting in front of me.
“Hey! I was gonna eat that,” I exclaim, eying my daughter. She’s getting more and more like me every day. Other than having the same hair coloring as her mom, she’s a carbon copy of me.
She looks at me, a twinkle in her eye as she takes a big bite. “ Was , but it’s mine now.”
“Brat,” I exclaim in outrage, but she just flashes me a grin and continues eating. “Want a lift to the store?” I ask, standing up and grabbing my coat.
Amelia had spent the night, yet again, with my mom.
I cracked on with more renovations for the house but came over early this morning to help Dad with his car.
It needed an oil and filter change, and I refuse for him to take it to the garage, where he’ll pay an unholy amount when I can do it for free in my spare time.
“Oooh, yes please,” she says around a mouthful of food.
She runs to find my mom as I shrug my jacket on and head to the door. Saying goodbye, we make the short trip into town, Amelia talking a mile a minute while I sit back and listen.
“How’s it going working for Maddie?” I ask, after she finally took a breath long enough for me to get a word into the conversation.
It was a pleasant shock when I came home to a very excited teenager telling me that she was going to be working for Maddie.
Apparently, Amelia had run home to my mom since she was unable to wait for me—my daughter has zero patience for things.
Mom knew I wouldn’t have a problem with it, so she called Maddie to arrange everything.
Amelia works there every Saturday and a couple of days in the week, but so far, she’s spent every single day there, even the days she’s not working.
With Amelia at the bookstore and me working and doing renovations on the house, I feel like I haven’t been spending as much time with her as I’d like. I’ve always wanted my daughter to have her freedom, but the dad guilt kicks in, and I make a vow to do better.
“So good.” She beams. “Maddie’s teaching me how to use the till as well as inventory. I’m not allowed near the back of the store as that’s where she keeps her books for over eighteens.”
“Huh, wonder what she’s got hiding over there?” I scratch my head in thought .
“I don’t know.” She pouts, crossing her arms over her chest. “She won’t let me look.”
Chuckling, I reply, “That’s a good thing, squirt. You don’t need to be reading anything that’s not appropriate for your age.”
“Fine.” She drags the word out, like she’s put out by the conversation, but it’s just another thing to add to the list of why Maddie is incredible. She’s setting boundaries and making sure young children aren’t reading anything they shouldn’t be. It’s commendable, really.
Finding a spot outside the shop, I pull in and turn the engine off. Amelia grabs for the handle, rushing out and running to the store. “Bye, Dad.”
“Love you,” I shout after her, but she’s long gone.
I give her five minutes before I get out of the car and follow her inside.
Walking through the bookcases, I find the woman I’ve been searching for, placing books delicately onto the shelves like they’re the holy grail.
Leaning against a bookcase, I cross my arms and just watch her. Maddie looks like she’s in her element, her brunette hair tied up in a ponytail that showcases a slender neck I’m dying to nuzzle my head into so I can smell the vanilla scent of her skin.
This, right here, is what makes me think there’s someone happy and full of joy hiding underneath the layers of grumpiness. She cares, but she doesn’t want people to know that.
Maddie’s head snaps up, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I smile back before strolling toward her. Maddie’s breathing quickens the closer I get. Leaning down, I place a kiss on her lips. “You look beautiful today.”
Her body relaxes as she kisses me back. “You don’t look too bad yourself.” She scans me up and down, biting her bottom lip.
I didn’t think I looked that good in my jeans, Henley T-shirt, and jacket, but by the way her eyes light up, I think she likes what she sees.
“What are you doing tonight?” I ask, cupping her face in my palm. I can’t help it; I have this crazy urge to touch her all the time.
“I was gonna stay home and read. There’s this new book out called Haven by Wren Willoughby that I’ve been dying to read.”
I marvel at the way she rushes out her words, the excitement clear on her face.
“And there was me wanting to take you out,” I huff, pretending to be upset. I’m not, but from the way she’s talking about the book, there’s a high chance that she’ll stay in, and I need to show her another thing to love about Christmas.
Maddie bites her bottom lip. “What about Amelia?”
“She’s at my mom's again.” I roll my eyes jokingly.
“Won’t she be upset about you… dating?” she asks nervously, shuffling around on her feet, a slight pink tinge to her cheeks.
I grin. “Amelia’s been begging me to start dating for a while now. Says it will give her more time to spend with my mom and dad. At this point, I’m starting to feel like she prefers them to me.” I chuckle before adding, “Besides, something tells me she’d be happy about this.”
And that’s the truth. The times I’ve managed to tie my daughter to the house, all she’s talked about is Maddie. How much she loves spending time with her. How Maddie treats her like a grown-up and not a child .
Watching Amelia form a bond with Maddie both scares and excites me.
Maddie could be the greatest thing to ever happen to us, but if things don’t go the way I hope they will, then Amelia will be crushed.
Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll be just as crushed, but as her dad, it’s my job to protect her.
My gut is telling me this will all work out; I just need to have faith.
“Well, in that case…” she says, tapping her lip in contemplation. I raise an eyebrow at her. “I guess I could start the book tomorrow.”
“Good answer, sweetheart. I’ll pick you up later.” Stealing a quick kiss—because not kissing her, not touching her, feels impossible—I wrap my arms around her, soaking in the moment, reluctant to let go.
Finally, I draw back, a final kiss to her forehead before I make my way back to the car. The next phase in my plan whirls around my head, and I can’t wait to get started.