Page 42 of A Moon Lake Christmas Hero

“For putting you in danger.”

She chuckled. “You didn’t put me in danger.” She turned her head and my grip tightened when she looked at the guy.

I still didn’t know his name, but he was at least conscious again, and upright.

“He did,” Erin said, her voice sad. “I think he might’ve caused the fire, as well.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Just something he said. That if he can’t have me, nobody can.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure. Help me up? It's cold and wet down here.”

“You sure you’re not hurt?”

She grinned. “I’m not.”

So I helped her up, but I didn’t let go.

ERIN

Isat down in the storage and rec room behind Alan’s office, pulled out my packed breakfast burrito and was immediately thrown back to the first morning after Bob’s attack.

James had turned his protectiveness and nurturing up by several notches.

That morning, he made me breakfast in bed, then didn’t allow me to eat it; instead, he fed me one delicious bite at a time, which made me feel pampered and cared for. All the while, he devoured me with his gaze and told me about what would be happening with Bob at the same time. He would hopefully get jail time, and James intended to pull some strings to talk to the fire investigator who handled the case, as well.

At first, it had completely thrown me—those mixed messages he’d been sending—looking at me like he wanted to kiss me, then making small talk and keeping his distance. But his self-control these last two weeks had given us the chance to really get to know each other.

To connect on a much deeper level.

It showed me that he respected my wish to cool things off and made me forget why I’d even been wanting that in the first place.

If I was being totally honest, it made me fall head over heels in love with him. I missed his kisses—missed the added intimacy a physical relationship could provide. Crazy, since I was the one who’d suggested being intimate had been a mistake.

I took a bite, and the perfect mixture of scrambled eggs and spicy potatoes hit my tongue. James was the king of breakfast. And a far better cook than me.

“Got one for me in there?” Alan stepped inside and took the chair next to mine.

I smiled, grabbed the one James had packed for Alan, and handed it to him.

“You have to give it to him. He’s amazing in the kitchen,” Alan said before he took a hearty bite.

I nodded and smiled. “Yes, he’s pretty awesome.” And not only in the kitchen. Every time I watched him with Abby and Marley, I was a more convinced of how amazing a father he was.

Even though being a parent to those girls wasn’t really a hardship. Abby and Marley were beyond sweet. We’d bonded more over the last two weeks than I ever could’ve imagined. Bonded? I scoffed. I’d been falling head over heels for those two girls, and we made sure we spent some quality playtime together every day.

Yesterday it had been building blocks—Marley’s choice—and today, Abby would get to decide. They even offered for me to choose tomorrow. That was how well-behaved they were.

Though tomorrow was Christmas Eve, so I was pretty sure James had plans for him and the girls.

I really needed to move out, and stop imposing on them.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Alan asked before taking another bite.

“I was just thinking about Abby and Marley,” I said. I didn’t intend to air my complicated relationship with James to my boss. “I really need to move out.”

Alan nodded. “Did Jessie ever tell you our story?”

I shook my head.

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