Page 5 of Dad Bod Secret Santa

“I do,” Maggie says, the lights picking up the green in her eyes.

Fuck.Hearing her say ‘I do’? I want to give her another reason to say those two words to me.

CHAPTER 3

MAGGIE

Everyone ready?” Hank asks, glancing at our girls in the back seat.

They nod eagerly, and Hank pulls away from the cabin, the soft glow of the dashboard lights illuminating his profile. He is a lot more okay with this outing than I’d have imagined.

Wendy and Vivian chatter excitedly in the backseat, their voices high-pitched and full of anticipation. They talk over each other animatedly, their happiness contagious.

“Mom, are we going to see the house with the giant Santa on the roof?” Wendy asks, practically bouncing in her seat. “You know, the one with the reindeer that moves and everything?”

I glance back at her, smiling at her enthusiasm. “If it’s still there, we’ll see it,” I say, experiencing a tug of nostalgia. Every year, I expect her to grow out of this tradition, and it makes me happy that she hasn’t yet.

Driving through the light displays was a family tradition before the divorce, and it’s been odd the last couple of years with just Wendy and me. But now, sitting here with Hank, his daughter,and my Wendy? This feels right in a way that catches me by surprise.

After Oliver left, I lost faith in men. There are women I work with—like my boss Beth Walden—who have amazing husbands, but it felt like good men were limited in quantity and I didn’t get a winning ticket in that lottery.

But with Hank? My view on men is changing rapidly. Hank isn’t a flashy guy, but he’s solid. He’s an excellent dad, a strong part of his community, and he’s just…steady. It’s no longer a low-burn lust I see when I look at him, but a deeper attraction that has me wondering if something real could develop between us.

“You two all right back there?” Hank’s voice breaks through my thoughts and I turn and look back at the girls. With all the time they’ve had to spend together so far, they’ve been in seventh heaven.

“Yeah!” Vivian pipes up. “I want to see all the lights! Dad, can we going to get hot chocolate after? Please say yes.”

Hank chuckles, glancing in the rearview mirror. “We’ll see. Depends on how well you two behave.”

Vivian giggles, and Wendy joins in. I smile. It’s hard not to be caught up in their excitement. If I’m honest, I’m starting to get into the Christmas spirit for the first time since Oliver said he was leaving me.

“How are things at the tree farm?” I ask, glancing at Hank. “Busy, I imagine.”

He shifts slightly in his seat and glances at me. “Busy is an understatement,” he smiles. “This is the first year we’ve run the farm, but it’s been good. Lots of families coming in.”

I nod, enjoying the warmth of his voice. I like that he takes pride in his work. “Sounds like you’re making a difference. Didn’t I hear that it’s a fundraiser?”

Hank’s expression softens, and his eyes light up. “Yeah, all the profits are going to Warrior Cares. It’s a local nonprofit that helps veterans get back on their feet. Waylon, the guy who owns the land, is a veteran and wants to support them. They’ve helped a lot of men, including a couple of the guys I work with.”

“That’s incredible,” I say admiringly. “My dad was a vet. He would’ve appreciated something like that.”

Hank’s eyes briefly meet mine and the look they hold makes my heart skip a beat. “It’s important,” he says quietly. “We’re trying to help. Community means a lot to all of us.”

Hank is different from other men. He is solid and grounded, and the more we talk, the more I want to know about him. We’ve been acquainted since the girls became friends, but this is the first time we’ve exchanged more than pleasantries or details about our daughters.

“What about you?” he asks after a few moments of quiet. “How’s work been? You work at the bank, right?”

I laugh softly. “I do. It’s mostly numbers and spreadsheets. It’s a lot of helping people get mortgages, which keeps us busy considering the area is expanding. I like it. It’s steady work, and helping people meet their financial goals is very satisfying.”

Wendy’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “Mom! Look! We’re here!”

I turn to the window in time to see the first house in the neighborhood, and my breath catches. I love visiting theseChristmas displays as much as she does, even if I haven’t felt the same level of Christmas spirit since my ex left.

Every roof is lined with twinkling lights, the lawns are dotted with glowing reindeer, and trees sparkle with even more lights and decorations.

Vivian gasps from the backseat. “Dad! This is so cool!”

Hank slows the truck, giving us time to take it all in. “They really go all out around here.”

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