“It’s after eleven,” he said, taking her into his arms again.
“I don’t want to go, but you have to get up for work tomorrow.”
She snuggled closer, savoring his muscular arms around her, the beat of his heart against hers. She felt cherished. It’d been a long time on her own. She loved this man, loved being half of a couple. She hated to say goodnight.
“So before long, you and I won’t have to say goodnight and part,” he said, practically reading her mind.
Or was it he felt the same?
“I can hardly wait,” she said, tipping her face up for another kiss.
The next evening, Anna came home to find Myles had arrived a few minutes ahead of her. He was talking with Edith while Zack played with some toys on the floor of the living room.
“Hi,” she said, tossing her purse on the small table and shedding her coat.
Myles smiled that sexy smile of his and rose to cross over to kiss her.
Zack ran to greet her, too. After Myles’s kiss, Anna picked Zack up and kissed him on the cheek. “Hello to you, my man. How was your day?” She shifted her gaze to Myles.
“Me and Edith went to the park. I went way high on the swing.”
“Good for you.”
“I’ll be running along. Myles and I had a pleasant chat. I had best get started weeding through things I don’t want to move and getting ready,” Edith said with a happy smile.
Once she was gone, Anna carried Zack into the living room and sat down, holding him on her lap.
“Myles and I have something to tell you,” she said, smiling at Myles.
“What?” Zack asked.
“We are going to get married. Myles will live with us after that and we’ll be a family.”
Zack swiveled around and looked at Myles.
“Are you my new daddy?
Myles glanced at Anna, then nodded.
“I’ll be your new daddy,” he said.
Zack looked at his mother.
“He doesn’t look like Daddy. I have a picture. Myles’s not my daddy.”
“No, he’s not Tom. But when we get married, he’ll be your new daddy,” Anna explained. “Your first daddy went to heaven, remember? Now you’ll have a second daddy.”
“I’ll always love you, Zack. You’ll see how good I can take care of you and your mommy,” Myles said, reaching to ruffle his hair.
“’Kay,” Zack said.
He struggled to get down and went to play with his toys.
Anna laughed nervously.
“I guess it hasn’t sunk in yet. Once we’re living together, I think he’ll understand better.”
As Anna prepared the meal that evening, she thought about the changes coming. She’d never liked this poky little apartment, but it was the best she could afford. Now Myles was talking about moving to Long Island and buying a house with a yard, and an in-law unit for Edith. She wouldn’t have to work outside the home if she didn’t want to.