Page 5 of Mountain Daddy
Her brows lift. “Sorry?”
“It’s a blizzard,” I say plainly. “Roads are closing. Visibility’s shot. It’s going to be too dangerous to drive anywhere tonight.”
Elsie squeals. “Sleepover! Sleepover! Sleepover!”
I shoot Celia an apologetic look. “Sorry for the short notice.”
“It’s fine,” she says, smiling softly. “I don’t mind staying.”
I do.
And don’t.
And that’s the problem.
A strong whiff of chili and cinnamon washes over me as I re-enter the cabin after checking on the generator.
“Mmm,” I say without thinking. “That smells delicious.”
“Celia is making us chili and cinnamon rolls, Daddy.” Elsie bounces up and down in her seat at the kitchen table. “Did you know that they eat their chili with cinnamon rolls where Celia comes from?”
My eyes lift to the woman in question, who looks perfectly at home in our home. A little too perfect.
I swallow hard. “No, sweet pea. I didn’t know that.”
“Doesn’t it sound yummy?”
“Yeah.” I nod slowly, taking in the view of the curvy woman at the stove. “Delicious.”
And not just the meal.
Unable to resist drawing closer, I stomp the snow off my boots and hang up my coat, and cross into the kitchen. Reaching Celia’s side, I catch another scent that’s just as sweet.
It’s Celia. A scent that’s uniquely her and all too appetizing.
“Can I help?” I ask, rolling up the sleeves.
“Oh, that’s okay. It’s mostly done.”
I glance back at the table, which is covered with Elsie’s drawings.
“How about I set the table?”
I move to do just that before Celia can protest. I brush past her to reach for the placemats I keep on a shelf. Our hips brush. I suck in a breath at the brief contact. The hairs on my arms stand at attention.
“Sorry,” I clear my throat and pull back.
“It’s—it’s okay.” The slight shakiness in her voice and the flush on her cheeks tells me she feels it too.
I’m playing with fire here.
After the table is set and the soup ladled, the three of us at the tiny table. Steam rises from our bowls, while Elsie chatters about everything they’ve been up to that day. Her songs, her paper snowflakes.
Celia laughs, gently adding clarification when necessary. She’s patient. Warm.
She’s everything I want for Elsie.
And everything I wish I could want for myself.
