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“I made some coffee. Want some?” I asked.
“That would be nice, thank you. My hands are still really cold,” she said.
“I don’t have cream, but I do have sugar.”
“That’s fine. I’m not picky.”
Reaching for the sugar, I craned my neck back to take her in. She was nestled into the cushions of the couch as the kids continued to play. Her voice was light and innocent but held a confidence beneath it. The contrast between her small stature and her slightly aloof nature burned me to my core, and I had to take deep breaths to quell the urges rising in my pelvis.
“Here you go.”
I walked her coffee over to her and she gracefully took it. I sat beside her on the couch as she brought the cup to her lips and I watched the way those plump beauties curved over the edge. My attraction to her was undeniable, but I had to shake myself from it. I had two children that were depending on me during what was looking to be one of the roughest snow storms Montana had ever experienced.
“What the hell were you doing out in this storm?” I asked.
Her eyes slowly panned over toward me, and she regarded me with a cool look that said she didn’t appreciate me questioning her.
“I met a friend for breakfast and didn’t quite make it back in time. Not that I owe you an explanation,” she added, with a hint of annoyance.
I bit back a smile. She was definitely an odd creature. At times, she seemed nervous and guarded, then she became indignant and confident. I was beyond intrigued.
I studied her, trying to keep my eyes off the parts of her my hands wanted to touch, while her gaze moved back over to the kids. There was an untamed sparkl
e in her eye as she watched them play, and it made something in my gut twist. For the briefest of moments, I allowed myself to imagine what it would be like to have this beautiful woman here with me and the kids. She seemed taken with them, her demeanor immediately changing when she turned her attention to them.
Liam climbed out of the playpen, leaving Hadley squalling in his wake. As I went to stand, Melanie beat me to it and strode over to pick up the crying baby. She bounced her on her hip and make soft cooing noises that had Hadley soon giggling instead.
I stood rooted to the floor as I watched how instinctually and easily Melanie calmed my niece, and I was entranced. As Hadley quieted and Melanie bent to put her back in her playpen, Liam reached his arms up and asked “Up?”
Melanie turned to him and smiled before lifting him onto her hip and doing a funny little dance that sent a fit of giggles erupting from the boy. It was equal parts heartwarming and sexy as fuck. After a few moments, Liam shoved his face into the crook of her neck. She bounced him around just like she did Hadley, cooing in his ear as she cradled him close. Her eyes closed as she pressed a kiss on the top of his head, and I started wondering if I was enough for these kids.
If I could ever be enough, given what they’d been through.
“They’re my niece and nephew,” I said. “I’m watching them for a while.”
Her eyes met mine again and she nodded. I wasn’t about to tell her the entire truth, but I knew she was curious about them nonetheless.
“Do you have kids?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No, I don’t, but I’ve always loved kids,” she answered. She bent over and deposited Liam back into the playpen with his sister and the two began to play once again.
“You’re really good with them,” I said, motioning to the kids. “I haven’t quite gotten the knack of getting them calmed down quite so quickly.”
She smiled as she looked over at them. “They’re like tiny little animals; they sense fear,” she chuckled. “If you act like you know what you’re doing, they will feel safe and will trust that you can take care of them.”
I nodded. “Sounds easy enough, though I’ve never been that great of an actor.”
She let out a soft laugh and stifled a yawn. I looked outside and realized that it was getting dark out.
“If you’re tired, I could show you to the guest bedroom and you can rest,” I said.
A quick look of suspicion clouded her beautiful blue eyes for a second and I held my hands up in front of me in a gesture of mock surrender.
“There’s a lock on the inside of the door and I haven’t been able to find the key for it,” I said to reassure her.
That seemed to get through and I noticed her shoulders relax.
“What I really need right now is a phone charger or a phone so I can call my father and let him know I’m okay,” she said.
