Page 19 of Dad Bod Secret Santa

I’m about to tell her there’s more to it, that I wanted to make something that could contain whatever she holds dear, but before I can find the words, she stands and wraps her arms around me. Her face is close, so close, her breath brushing my cheek. Then she kisses me, a soft, tender kiss that grows bolder as I respond, pulling her closer, letting everything I feel for her pour into this moment.

Her lips taste like warmth and peppermint, and I lose myself in the softness of her mouth, in the way she fits against me like she belongs here. When we finally pull back, I can barely catch my breath, and from the look in her eyes, she feels it, too.

Holding her close, I murmur, “We need to be alone…”

She tilts her head, her smile playful, her eyes bright with anticipation. “Oh?”

But before I can say another word, Wendy skips over with a grin and hands me a small, red envelope. “Mom left this with your present,” she says innocently, glancing at Vivian and looking like she’s suppressing a giggle.

Maggie is clearly startled. She clears her throat, glancing at Wendy with a knowing look that only mothers and daughters share. “Oh, that’s…right.” Her cheeks pinken, but she doesn’t say anything as I open it.

I pull out the card inside. It’s simple, festive, and hand-signed,All my love, Maggie.

Maggie’s face softens, and she laughs a little, her eyes shy but unguarded. “I didn’t… that was an extra card. I didn’t mean to…”

“Maggie,” I say, closing the distance between us and reaching for her hands. “I feel the same way. In fact, I think it’s my favorite card.”

“I have another gift for you, Mom!” Wendy exclaims, and Maggie and I look at her.

Maggie regards her daughter. “What? I thought we exchanged everything at home?”

Maggie and Vivian share a conspiratorial look and giggle, and I don’t know what this gift is, but I have an idea about the meaning of the gift.

Wendy comes over and hands Maggie a slim package, wrapped in the shiniest of paper and covered in bows of various sizes.

Carefully, Maggie opens the box, then gasps. “Oh, Wendy.”

I look over and my heart thumps in my chest. It’s a print of one of the group photos Wendy took a few nights ago. In it, we look exactly as the family I so desperately want us to be. Maggie and I share a look, and it’s plain on her face that her reaction mirrors mine.

“Thank you, Wendy,” Maggie says, pressing the photo against her chest. “This is very sweet of you.”

“I agree with Maggie. That’s a fine picture.”

With our daughters giggling in the background, I gaze into Maggie’s green eyes and savor this moment. Christmas keeps getting better and better.

CHAPTER 11

MAGGIE

Aknock at the door startles Hank and me, and we reluctantly pull apart. When he opens the door, a tall man with a friendly smile stands there with two women and a young girl.

“Merry Christmas, Hank!” His booming voice fills the doorway.

“Merry Christmas, Jax. Come on in,” Hank says. “Maggie, this is my boss and friend, Jax, and his sisters. Everyone, this is Maggie.”

“It’s wonderful to finally meet you.” Jax smiles. “Hank’s told me so much about you. It’s about time we met.” He gestures to the women beside him. “These are my sisters, Olivia and Andrea, and this is Olivia’s daughter, June.”

My cheeks warm, wondering exactly what Hank has said about me. “It’s wonderful to meet you all,” I say, suddenly nervous.

“Hope we’re not interrupting anything,” Jax says with a smile, glancing between us. “We’re heading down to the ice rink in Jefferson,” Jax announces, mercifully changing the subject.“Thought the girls might like to join us? June’s been asking about Vivian all morning.”

My eyes meet Hank’s, and in that moment of perfect synchronicity, we both speak:

“That would be great for the girls—”

“—we’ll stay here, though.”

Jax nods in understanding. Our daughters get ready to go out, and in a whirlwind, Hank and I are on the verge of having some proper time alone. There is so much to say and so many things I want to do with him that anticipation overwhelms me.

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