Page 43 of Seal the Deal

Once the kids are strapped in, I slide into the passenger seat, sneaking glances as Jake navigates the city streets. His hand rests on the gear shift, but when we stop at a red light, he reaches over, gently placing it on my leg. The warmth of his touch seeps through the fabric of my jeans, grounding me.

“You okay?” he asks quietly, his thumb brushing my thigh.

I nod, turning to meet him. “Mhmm.”

His smile is reassuring, and I feel the tension ease in me. “Relax, Charlie,” he says, giving my knee a squeeze. “Today’s gonna be fun.”

***

At the zoo, it’s like watching Jake come to life in a new way. He’s in his element, guiding the kids from one exhibit to the next, his enthusiasm matching theirs. He lifts Meadow onto his shoulders so she can see the giraffes, and when Noah insists on reading every sign, Jake listens patiently, encouraging him. Noah’s only just started at his new school, and I’m so proud watching him sound out words, Jake cheering him on.

When we reach the penguins, Noah practically fizzes. “Jake, look! They’re swimming!”

Jake laughs as he watches Noah’s delight. “They’re pretty fast, huh?”

“Yeah! Do you think I could swim that fast?”

“I bet you could, buddy,” Jake says, ruffling his hair again. “Maybe even faster.”

I smile at the exchange, feeling a lump rise in my throat. This is what I’ve been missing. And seeing it now, it makes me realize how much I want this for them. Someone who’s present, who genuinely loves being around them.

As we move through the zoo, Jake effortlessly shifts between being playful with the kids and attentive to me, making sure I’m included in every moment. At one point, he catches my eye and winks, and I feel my cheeks heat, turning away with a sheepish grin. He knows he’s getting to me, and he’s enjoying it.

Later, we stop for ice cream, and Meadow takes an eternity to decide on a flavor. I’m helping her, crouched down by the display and explaining each one, when Jake leans down beside me, his hand finding my lower back.

“How are my girls doing? Too hard to decide?”

I turn my head slowly to him, raising an eyebrow.My girls.The twinkle in his eye says he knows exactly what he’s said.

“I can’t deciiiide, it’s too haaaard!” Meadow whines, and I brace myself for a meltdown.

I glance back at Jake with a mock grimace, signaling we’re treading into tantrum territory. As I turn back to try and cajole Meadow, Jake steps in first.

“C’mere, Princess. I’ll hold you up so you can see better.” His hands bracket my hips lightly as he brushes behind me, reaching for her to lift her up. She giggles, clearly a fan of his attention, and honestly, I don’t blame her.

It doesn’t take long for me to realize that Jake Brooks and Meadow Grace are a charm offensive. No one is safe—not even the server at the ice cream stand, who happily hands over sample after sample.

I clamp my teeth down on my lips. This man just saved me from a three-year-old’s public meltdown, and it might be the hottest thing anyone’s ever done for me.

Actually, second hottest. Because now he’s turning toward me, extending a sample of chocolate fudge ice cream on a tiny spoon.

“Open wide, Mama.” He smirks, using the name only Meadow calls me, feeding me the sample.

I can’t help what I do next. I hold his gaze as he places the spoon in my mouth, and I slowly close around it. His smile falters as I make a small moan in the back of my throat as I swallow, eyes dropping to my lips as I lick them clean.

I smile, teasing. “Mm, I’d definitely choose this one.”

He doesn’t look away. “Me too.”

Internally, I die. I know neither of us is talking about ice cream anymore. Externally, I keep my cool, reminding myself we’re in public, surrounded by families. It’s a miracle Jake hasn’t been recognized, and I realize that’s what the sunglasses and cap must be for.

Either way, I’m glad we’ve so far had his undivided attention, so I’m not about to draw attention to him now by jumping the man in public. And I’m hyper aware of Noah and Meadow seeing us interact, so I’m trying to keep it friendly. Apart from that one ice cream spoon moment, but I'm maintaining that he goaded me.

The rest of the day passes in a blur of laughter, and by the time we reach home, the kids are asleep in their seats. I glance at Jake, silhouetted by the evening light, and feel a surge of emotion so strong it almost takes my breath away.

When we pull up to the house, he cuts the engine, and we both sit in the quiet for a moment, the only sound the soft breathing of the kids in the backseat.

“Thank you,” I say softly, breaking the silence. “For today.”

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