Page 19 of Coastal Rewind

My books were the closest I would ever get to the life I would never have.

eight

Mason

I punched in the code to the front door and swung it open quietly, assuming everyone would still be asleep. I placed my duffel bag by the front door and perked up at the smell of fresh coffee wafting through the house.

I followed the smell to the kitchen and froze when I glanced out the back door. Ryleigh was positioned on a yoga mat with her plump ass in the air—directly in my line of view.

“Dad!” MJ yelled, forcing me to pull my gaze away from Ryleigh. “Look! We’re dogs!”

I chuckled and walked out into the bright morning sun.

Ryleigh placed her knees down and wiped her hands on her thighs. “Downward facing dog. It’s a yoga pose,” she clarified.

I tilted my chin and said, “Ahh,” as I took in my son who shifted into a different pose.

“This one is called warrior.” His face was focused as he moved his arms into the correct position.

“You look great, little man,” I said as Ryleigh walked over to him and adjusted his stance.

“Do you want breakfast now?” she asked him.

He jumped out of his position and ran for the kitchen. “Yes! Come on, Dad! Ryleigh made your favorite!”

I glanced at Ryleigh who looked more timid than I’d ever seen. She fiddled with her fingers but nodded before taking a few steps past me. I followed her into the kitchen and my jaw dropped as I watched MJ placing plates on the dining room table. There were placemats I had bought but rarely used, silverware arranged neatly on each side of the plates, and cups of orange juice at three seats.

Ryleigh walked up the oven and pulled it open before slipping on oven mitts and grabbing a glass baking dish that smelled like cinnamon heaven.

“Did you make cinnamon rolls?” I asked in shock.

“She made them from scratch! And we have fruit, too!” MJ piped up as he appeared next to me.

What the fuck is happening?

Ryleigh placed the hot dish in the middle of the table and scooped a roll onto each plate. There was also a big bowl full of various berries. MJ forked a strawberry and shoved the entire thing into his mouth.

“Did he just eat fruit?” I turned to Ryleigh. “Willingly?”

She laughed and scooped some fruit onto her own plate. “We’ve tried lots of new foods this week.”

“We went to the farmers’ market yesterday. Ryleigh got so many cool foods for us. She got this one that was green and all mushy inside, but it was so yummy. And then, we got this cool fruit that was pink, but when we cut it open it was white! It was like magic, Dad.”

My eyes bounced between my son and the ray of fucking sunshine to my left until my gaze locked with hers.

“Marry me,” I muttered, which caused her to burst into a laugh. Fuck, I might’ve been serious.

I’d had a dozen nannies for MJ over the past few years and not one of them had ever gone out of their way to fill this house with fresh pastries or healthy foods. I couldn’t deny it was a nice feeling to come home to a house that smelled like baked goods and fresh roses.

We ate our breakfast and I helped clean up before Ryleigh disappeared into the guest room to pack her bag. She emerged a few minutes later dressed in black leggings and a cropped tee. Her hair was braided down her back and her camera was slung around her shoulder like she couldn’t go anywhere and risk not photographing it. Her duffel sat at her feet.

The girl was so fucking stunning, it hurt.

“Thanks again for watching him. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it,” I said, fighting the urge to beg her to stay.

“Anytime. We had a blast.”

“Do you need a ride home?”