Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Foster
As soon as I saw the stunning, curvy woman fixing my daughter’s hair and wiping away her tears with such kindness, I planned on making her mine.
I didn’t know who she was, nor did I care. A woman that treated my daughter like her own would always be a winner in my book.
Hurrying back to my seat, I slid in next to my mother, who held my two-year-old daughter Joanie in her lap. “Daddy!” Joanie clapped and climbed into my lap as soon as I sat down.
“Is her hair fixed?” My mom whispered.
“Hair!” Joanie clapped again, and I chuckled while nodding at my mom.
“Shh, the show is going to start. Are you ready to see sissy again?”
“Sissy! Sissy!” Joanie singsonged, her pudgy hands clapping together. She loved to clap and sing lately, and it’s pretty much what she did all day.
The next performance began, and the children shuffled onto the stage. I found Livvie right away and pointed to her for Joanie. The song started, and the children sang, and I kept my eyes trained on Livvie, though I desperately wanted to search for her.
Zemia.
Who was the hot little number? And why had I never seen her around before?
Her kind, brown eyes threw my heart into turbo mode, the beast pumping like it never had before. Long wavy brown hair with a hint of red to it fell over her shoulders, and her tight leggings and long top showed off her delectable curves.
With a shake of my head, I brought my attention back to the present moment. I couldn’t get carried away.
Not when I had my girls to think of.
They would always come first.
The performance ended, and the audience clapped, the Christmas show now over.
Everyone got up and moved, reuniting with their children as they walked off the stage and down into the seats.
I passed Joanie to my mother, and we made our way over to Livvie.
I scooped her into my arms and twirled her around.
“What a great elf you were! Livvie, the princess elf!” I hugged her close as she laughed.
“Can we get ice cream now, like you promised?” Livvie asked, and I smiled.
“Of course we can. You did a great job.”
“Ice cream?” Joanie asked.
“Yes. Lots of ice cream.” Mom ruffled Joanie’s hair before admiring Livvie’s. “Your hair looks spiffy, Liv! Who did it?”
“Z!” Livvie announced proudly. “She’s a hair fixer!”
I chuckled. “I think you mean hairdresser, love.”
Livvie shrugged, her attention now taken by her friend walking by. We made small talk with a few families, and on the way out, Livvie’s teacher, Mrs. Howland, greeted us and said her goodbyes, praising Livvie for doing a good job.
We made it to the door when I realized Livvie didn’t have her jacket. “Do you mind waiting here for a second, Mom? I need to grab Liv’s jacket.”
“Sure love. Come over here, Liv, take Nonna’s hand.” My mother led the girls out of the crowd as I walked off in search of my daughter’s coat. I checked by the cubbies, and around the classroom, her coat nowhere in sight. Where did we take it off?
“Need help looking for something?” That voice…her voice.
My head snapped up. There she was.
Standing only a few feet in front of me and looking as gorgeous as ever.
“Uh, yeah, sorry, my daughter’s jacket.”
“What’s it look like? Or I can ask my sister. I’m sure she’d know better than me.”
“It’s purple. Don’t worry about asking your sister. I’m sure she’s got plenty on her plate right now. I’ll find it, eventually.”
“Purple, hmm? Good taste.” Zemia smiled and, dare I say, it was a bit flirtatious, her eyes sparkling.
I forced myself to look away and instead look for my daughter’s jacket. Women didn’t make me feel anything, at least not lately, and I wanted to keep it that way. I had two young girls to worry about it. No one else.
A few minutes later, I spotted the purple fabric along with her hat and gloves. “Here it is. Phew, another crisis averted. Seems to happen a lot when you’re around.”
Zemia’s cheeks flushed. “Oh good! No need to call the jacket squad then.”
“Jacket squad?”
“It didn’t sound as stupid in my head.” Her long eyelashes fluttered, and so did my heart.
I appreciated her humor, and I titled my head to the side as I studied her. Really took her in. She was so fucking beautiful. So put together. From sexy red heels and an even sexier dress, to styled hair and freshly done makeup- shit, I could stare at her all day.
“I didn’t think it was stupid at all.”
From the pocket of her dress, she pulled out a bag of Sour Patch Kids and popped some in her mouth. “Want some?”
I burst into laughter. “Do you really have a bag of candy in your dress?”
“I can’t help it. I’m addicted to sour candy.” She grinned. “Easy way to win me over? Bring candy.” Her cheeks flushed a deeper red, and I fucking loved it.
“Thanks for the tip.” I teased. I think I love this woman already.
We stared at each other, and I so badly wanted to kiss her. It’s all I could think about it. My body physically ached for it.
Kiss her. Kiss her.
What the hell is happening?
I shook my head again, something I needed to do often around this woman, and backed up slowly. “Well…uh…nice meeting you. Take care.”
“Bye Foster. See you around. And tell that cute daughter of hers if she ever needs her hair done. Here’s my card.” Zemia walked over to me and held out a business card.
Our fingertips brushed against one another and a sheer shock of passion exploded between us.
There’s no way I can ignore this.
She’s…
“There’s my coat, mommy!” A little kid’s voice echoed through the room and the two of us jumped back, as if they caught us kissing. Ha! I wish.
A child rushed in, their mother following behind, both of them distracted by their search.
I took it as my cue to leave. “Thanks. I’ll be seeing you then.” I smiled again, but this time, there was a lot more meaning behind it. I poured my feelings into it, into my stare, into my posture, into everything. Could she tell?
“Good.” Her eyes reflected exactly what I felt.
Whatever this was between us, it was only just beginning.