A floorboard creaks on the stairs, and I walk out of the kitchen to find Willa carrying Izzy upstairs to her room. My daughter’s long, dark curls mix with her wavy blonde tresses making such a beautiful contrast as both their hair falls over Willa’s shoulder.
I follow her up, stepping around them in the hall to pull down Izzy’s covers and make sure she has all the stuffed animals she could want. The quiet smile I share with Willa feels so natural. Like this is the inevitable outcome of whatever is happening between us.
After we get Izzy tucked in, we go back downstairs. She isn’t even fully off the last step when I sweep her into my arms, pressing her back against the wall and covering her mouth with mine. She parts her lips for me, immediately granting me access to that perfect mouth of hers. I slide my tongue along hers while my hands wander over her hips and down to her ass. She grinds her pussy over my hard cock, head falling back against the wall.
Just when I’m about to tear her clothes off, her stomach growls. We break our kiss sharing a smile and groan. It’s probably best that we stop so we can talk, but damn the timing sucks.
“Come on,” I say as her feet drop. “Let me make you something to eat.”
She giggles and follows me into the kitchen, perching herself on one of the stools. “Normally I’d tell you not to worry, but I am pretty hungry. I didn’t have time to take a lunch break today.”
“Oh yeah?” I open the freezer to see what I have as options. “Why’s that?”
“We had a rescue in the upper bowl. A snowboarder fell and broke his collarbone.”
“Fuck. That’s a painful break.”
“Especially when the only way down the mountain is being dragged behind a snowmobile.”
I wince in sympathy. “I have some frozen vegetables I can roast along with some andouille sausage or there’s ravioli with vodka sauce.”
She thinks for a moment and then requests the ravioli. As I start getting everything ready, she pulls out her phone.
“Damn. They closed the highway.”
I look over at her. “Really?”
“Yeah. You probably have an emergency message about it on your phone.” She rubs her hands over her face. “Guess I’m not going home for Christmas.”
“If it makes you feel any better, my parents' flight got canceled earlier tonight. I’m kind of glad Izzy passed out so early, so I didn’t have to tell her right before bed.”
“Is she close to them?”
I nod as I set the pot of water on the stove and turn up the burner. “She is. After I found the nanny posting photos online and acting like we were a couple online, my parents stepped up and started taking care of Izzy. During football season she probably saw them more than she saw me. It’s one of the reasons I retired.”
“Your nanny was doing what?” Her brows rise. “How did she not realize you’d catch on?”
“I have no clue. After everything Isabel went through losing her mom and then to have someone just using her job as a way to get close to me? I was disgusted.”
“I would be, too. I’m sorry that happened. I hope you know I’m not using you for anything.”
Here it is, the perfect opening. “I actually wanted to talk to you about this.” I gesture back and forth between us as my stomach roils with nerves.
“Oh?” She straightens.
“I like you.” Love you. “A lot.”
Her lips lift in a slow smile. “I like you a lot, too.”
Thank fuck. My chest loosens as I walk around the counter and lift my hand to the side of her face. “All I want for Christmas is for you to be mine.”
“Your what?” she teases.
“My girlfriend. My partner. Everything. Anything.” My fingers slip into her hair. “I know you might be gone this summer, but I’m okay with long distance. I just want you.”
CHAPTER 16
WILLA
