Page 17 of Single Mom's Christmas Wish

“Not really. He’s about eight months behind at this point.”

My brothers and I exchange glances. While we may not utter the words aloud, I can tell the three of us are thinking the same thing. Dakota has been on the receiving end of a whole lot of shit throughout her life, including that no-good ex-husband of hers. Yet she keeps her spirits high, her smile on, and her attitude as sharp and as bold as ever. I like that about her. She’s got spunk.

“I’m sorry you’re having to deal with such a schmuck,” I say, then switch gears completely to lighten the mood. “How’s your cocktail?”

“It’s pretty good, actually,” she chuckles softly. “He used my recipe, from what I can taste. I left them some pretty detailed notes after my last shift here because I had customers telling me that mine were better.”

“Oh, I believe it,” I reply. “You strike me as a passionate woman.”

“I am.”

“In all senses?” Reed asks.

That has Dakota flustered, but she doesn’t bat an eye as she replies, and I like her even more for it. “Yes.”

“How’d you like the Single Dads Club?” I change direction again, curious to see how she keeps up. I do enjoy surprising her. Mostly, I enjoy how her brown eyes widen and twinkle whenever she’s faced with a challenge.

“It was an interesting experience, albeit not something I had expected. I came in focused solely on the CPR thing.”

“You could stick around next Friday as well. Single mom, dad… It’s all the same. We’re all in the same boat,” I say.

“Fair enough. Though that first session was kind of weird,” she laughs.

“It was cute.”

“Cute?”

“No,” Dakota whispers.

Time stands still for the longest minute. None of us moves. Reed watches her closely, his eyes scanning her face, lingering over her slightly parted, glossy lips. Maddox shifts in his seat, his gaze fixed on hers. I’m so fucking close that all I have to do is press my lips against hers, and it’s game over. Instead, I let my hand slide under the table, subtly resting it on her thigh for a few seconds.

A gasp escapes her.

“Do you want me to stop?” I ask in a low voice.

She keeps looking around, but when she realizes that nobody’s coming, she shakes her head slowly. “I’ve never been in a situation like this before.”

“But it is obvious to you, right?” I reply. “I want you. And I’m not the only one.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” Dakota says. “But I don’t know what to make of it.”

Reed reaches out and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. His touch has goosebumps dancing across her bare, soft arms. “We’re brothers. We share everything,” he says.

“Oh.”

“Do you want us to stop?” I ask again.

“No.”

“Do you want more?” Maddox asks.

She looks at him and holds her breath before her head nods in a tentative yes.

“We need to start somewhere, though,” I say, my hand moving down her thigh until I find the slit in her dress. I move it back up, but beneath the fabric this time, my fingers reveling in the sensation of her silky skin. “We don’t want to move too fast.”

Dakota is helpless. She looks up at me, and I can see the wonder in her eyes. The curiosity. She may have never done anything like this before, but she is definitely responsive. Hell, I think she might take it all the way with the right incentives.

It’s a gamble, what we’re doing here. But the chemistry between us cannot be denied. It was instant. For a moment, it was even fucking terrifying. I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way about anyone, and certainly not this quickly.

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