Page 13 of A Moon Lake Christmas Hero

Then, both simultaneously gave her a syrupy kiss on the cheek, which made her laugh and wipe at her skin.

The twins approached me, and I wet a paper towel. I cleaned them up, took their aprons and hats, collected my kisses, and then they were out the door.

Silence stretched between us.

“You have great kids,” she finally said, started stacking the dishes, and brought them over to the sink.

“Thank you,” I said, my eyes never leaving her.

She stopped when she saw a picture of the twins and me on one of the cupboards.

“Jessie told me you’re a single dad….” She fizzled out.

I usually didn’t talk about my family with strangers. Don’t get me wrong. Everyone around here knew about my situation, so I wasn’t really surprised that she knew. But somehow, I would’ve preferred to spin my own story.

At least to her.

“Their mother left.”

Her eyebrows shot up in shock. “Left? As in, not dead?”

Why would she think Trish was dead? “Yep.”

“Why?”

She settled her ass against the counter and crossed her arms in front of her chest. The movement stretched the shirt over her breasts and pushed them up, and her delicious curves made her look feminine and sexy.

For a moment, I forgot the question, forgot everything. Every single fiber in my body wanted to bridge the gap between us, hike her into my arms, settle her on the counter, step between her thighs, and feel those curves pressed against me.

“James?”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry for being nosey. I didn’t…”

I shook my head. My hands clamped the counter behind my back.

She thought I was hung up on my ex, when I was fantasizing about devouring her for breakfast.

“Do you still have contact?”

I shook my head.

I’d hired a PI to do regular check-ins. Regular reports. But I never inquired about her. And the girls couldn’t even remember her. So…

“I’m sorry. It must be hard to do it all alone.”

I shrugged. I was used to it by now. “What about you?”

“Me?” She looked panicked.

“Don’t you have anyone in your life?”

She shook her head, and the sadness in her eyes nearly broke me. “No. I’m all alone.”

And her loneliness was palpable.

I almost opened my arms again. Almost offered another hug. Would she be okay with it?

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