This is the life.
“Thank you for today.” She traps her lower lip between her teeth for a moment. “You didn’t have to be here for me, but I really appreciate that you were.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” I reach out and stroke her cheek with the back of my hand. She closes her eyes briefly, before focusing her gaze back on me. “If you didn’t want me back here so soon, I’m sorry. Your children had other ideas.”
Emma nods. “I know. They all made that clear. You’re important to them.”
“They’re important to me.” I grasp her hand and give it a squeeze. “We need to talk.”
“We do.”
“After the kids are in bed?”
“Sounds good to me.”
She gives me a small smile, but her gaze shifts to Jason, and there’s so much hope in her eyes.
“I think he’s gone to sleep.”
Jason lets out a soft snort, and Emma laughs.
“I’ve got him.” I get up off the couch and scoop the little boy into my arms.
I want to be your dad so badly.
He stirs, but he nestles his head against my chest and I’m done for.
I need to protect this. All of it.
Making my way up the stairs, I lay him on his bed.
“Don’t worry about pyjamas. Just get him under the blankets,” Emma says from the door.
“Roger that.”
After making sure he’s tucked in, I leave the room. She’s just outside, a wistful smile on her face.
“I know I already said it, but thank you for today. What you did … especially with dinner and the way you are with my children …”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
She rests her palms on my pecs. “I am so thankful for you. I’m sorry I pushed you away.”
I shake my head. “No, I need you to be honest with me. If it all gets to be too much, I need to know.”
“So, how is marriage going to work when I’m still finding my way?”
I slip my arms around her waist.
“I’m not sure. I’ll sleep on the couch if it makes you feel more comfortable, but I want to be here for you—all of you.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“Then, let’s take sex off the table until you’re ready for it.”
Emma nods. “You know it wasn’t just the sex, don’t you? It was just … so intimate. It was a lot.”
“You’re not used to it.”
