Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Adilene
A man was sitting in my kitchen, eating and chatting with my children.
It didn’t feel real.
I pinched myself and blinked several times, but he was still there. How would the story sound to anyone? He showed up with my wallet, and I invited him inside.
Glancing at the clock, I knew my mother would be here any minute. Hopefully, she wouldn’t ask too many questions.
I mean, honestly, she could take one look at him and see what I meant. Shaw was a silver fox, and I wanted to wrap my arms around him and never let go.
Slow it down. You barely know the guy.
But damn, did his strong sexiness draw me in. I wanted to get to know him more, a craving I couldn’t ignore.
The front door to the cabin opened and closed, which could be easily heard from the kitchen. “Yoo-hoo! Nana’s here!” my mother called, and both of my kids broke out into huge smiles.
I snuck a peek at Shaw, but he didn’t look fazed one bit.
“I’m here! Finally, I’m here!” My mother rushed into the kitchen, her arms already open for hugs.
My kids jumped out of their seats and ran over to her, hugging her tight. “Hi, Nana!” Lenny said, with Lolly repeating hi over and over.
When the kids were done hanging all over her, she looked at me and smiled before turning her head toward Shaw. Her mouth formed a small O shape before she looked back at me with raised eyebrows.
Oh, she liked what she saw.
“And who is this fine-looking gentleman?” my mother asked, holding her hand out to Shaw, who promptly shook it. “I was wondering whose car was in the driveway. Introduce me to your friend, Adi.”
“Mom, this is Shaw. Shaw, this is my mother, Deb. He returned my wallet to me, so I invited him in for breakfast.” I passed Mom the plate of pancakes after she slid into the seat next to me.
“You found her wallet? And returned it on Christmas? How kind of you!”
“Thank you. It’s a pleasure meeting you. Your lovely daughter cooks a delicious meal.” Shaw smiled at me, and my insides melted like a girl whose crush sees her, like really sees her, for the first time.
“Doesn’t she? I taught her well.” Mom winked at me, and my cheeks flushed. I cannot believe she just said that. “Thanks. So, kids, tell Nana what Santa brought.” I shifted the subject to my children, needing the heat off me. There was already enough just from the way Shaw looked at me.
The weight of his stare pulsated through me, and I shifted in my seat.
If it were only him and me in this room, I don’t know if I’d be able to hold myself back.
Some type of magnetic force pulled me toward him, something I’d never felt before toward anything or anyone.
It was foreign and strange, but I wanted more. Needed more.
It would have to wait.
My kids came first. And it was time to make it a spectacular Christmas.
“So are you going to tell me this is really a movie set and that handsome man in the living room, currently playing game after game with your children, is really a paid actor?” Mom asked as she leaned against the counter and sipped on her mimosa.
She made a batch while I cleaned up, and Shaw got roped into opening toys and playing games.
“Yep. That explains it. It has to. Because I can’t believe it either.”
“Did you try this?” Mom lightly pinched my arm, and I laughed, smacking her hand away.
“Of course I tried the oldest trick in the book. I definitely am not dreaming, Ma. And neither are you. This guy showed up at my door with my wallet, and when he said he had nowhere to be, I invited him in.”
“I would’ve invited him in, too. Look at him. He’s like a perfectly made man from heaven. How the hell is he not taken?”
I shrugged. “Maybe he hasn’t found the right one.” I wiped my hands off and walked over to the doorway leading into the living room. Leaning against it, I watched Shaw interact with my children, the vibes genuine, a friendly smile on his face.
He turned around and met my eyes, his smile growing wider. He winked at me, and my knees wobbled. My breath caught in my throat. Did he feel me staring at him?
Lolly asked him a question, and his attention moved to her, yet my body still tingled as if he still looked at me.
“I’d feel the same way watching a handsome man playing with my children.” Mom’s voice drifted from behind me, and I jumped.
I whirled around, a hand on my chest, suddenly breathless. “Jeez, Ma, you scared me.”
Mom chuckled. “Oh, you’ve got it bad, child. Go make him yours.”
“That’s crazy talk. C’mon, let’s go enjoy Christmas,” I said, pulling her by the arm into the living room and away from her words.
We spent the rest of the day playing with my children, opening toys, and watching Christmas movies.
For dinner, Mom roasted a ham and made macaroni and cheese and broccoli casserole on the side, Shaw joining us for the meal once again. Everyone insisted he stay, especially my children, and he couldn’t say no to their cute faces.
Afterward, Mom said her goodbyes, and we took the children outside to play in the snow. We made snow angels and built a snowman, laughing and having fun.
From the outside in, it was almost like Shaw was sent by Santa to make my family’s Christmas a little brighter. And it was working.
An hour later, I rallied the kids up and got them inside. “Who wants hot chocolate before bed?”
“Me!” Both kids said in unison.
“Run upstairs and get your pajamas.” I nodded toward the stairs, and they took off toward them.
I turned to Shaw. “You probably need to go. But I’d love you to stay for some hot chocolate.”
“And I’d love to stay. But I totally understand if you want some alone time with your kids. I feel like I’ve imposed enough.”
“You aren’t imposing. At all. We like your company.”
Shaw studied me, his mouth parting as if he were going to answer me, but he remained silent.
Yet unspoken words passed between us, an understanding almost, that we both were very aware of what was happening between us.
I tilted my head upward and moved closer, an unseeing force between us.
Kiss me. Kiss me, please. Put me out of my damn misery already.
“Mama! Here are my pj’s!” Lenny said, and we sprang back, the moment broken.
I chuckled and focused on my children. “Good job! Let’s get you in your pj’s!”
“I can make the hot chocolate if you’d like,” Shaw offered.
I smiled at him. “That would be great.”
After mugs of hot chocolate, another Christmas movie, and many hugs and kisses, I wrangled the kids into bed. Shaw offered to help once more by cleaning up.
When I walked down the stairs, I watched him from afar, moving effortlessly about the kitchen as he put away dishes. As if he lived here all along. It was so surreal. So fucking surreal. How did this perfect man land on my doorstep?
It blew my fucking mind.
He was so tall, strong, and deliciously handsome, and he looked like a knight in shining armor showing up on my doorstep with my stolen wallet.
And now he was sitting next to me on my couch, my children sound asleep with full bellies and smiling faces in their beds, and I actually felt happy. For the first time in a very long time, the fog of sadness had lifted.
I couldn’t let him get away.
So I leaned forward and did what I was thinking of doing all day long.
I turned his face toward mine and kissed him.