Page 9 of Winter Frost

“Um…”

“Yeah…”

“We’re back,” Noelle and Autumn call out as they open the front door.

“We’re in the living room,” he says.

They look down at the tea cups from this morning and I’m glad they’re still there because we sure as hell were busy. “I hope that’s decaf,” Noelle says.

“Of course it is.”

“I’ll set this in the kitchen,” Autumn offers.

“Bring it on over. I can’t thank you girls enough. I wouldn’t have been able to survive these past three years without you.”

“We’re all just glad that you’re alive to spend another day together,” I say.

“What is this?” Jacqueline asks, breathing it in.

“It’s apple pie from Griselda Gonzalez’s bakery. Her pies are phenomenal.”

“Oh my goodness. I love apple pie,” she cheered. Fuck, I love pie, too and I lifted my fingers to my lips, licking them.

“Yep, I love it too,” I whispered. Her eyes widened, and she looked absolutely delectable as she blushed. I wanted to kick everyone out of the house so I could have her spread out. Autumn cuts the pie and we all have a nice slice. It’s perfect, but all I can think about is the taste of Jacqueline. God, I want her on my tongue again. This pie annoys me because it’s taken away her flavor from my tongue.

“Do you want to go to dinner with us?”

“I don’t know if I should.”

“Please. That would be awesome.” Having Jacqueline at dinner is a sweet torture when my daughters are right there. I’m trying to concentrate on the conversation when I want to reach under the table and squeeze her thigh, or lean over and whisper how gorgeous she is. Every time she smiled or laughed my chest burst with excitement and my slacks tightened.

“So Jacqueline, are you going to join us for Thanksgiving?”

“Well, I suppose I can, but I’m actually working Friday morning, so I have to leave right after Thanksgiving dinner.”

“That’s a bummer, but at least it will be our farewell meal with you.”

“Farewell?” Owen asked.

“Yes, I’m only here temporarily. I have other patients that need me,” she says. Why am I so damn jealous about that?

After we left the restaurant, I sneaked a slight touch on the small of her back, using it to guide her out. She presses in, allowing me those brief stolen moments. As we drive back to the house, I’m trying to find a way to ask her to stay the night. “Jackie, how about you spend the night? We have plenty of spare bedrooms,” Noelle offers as if reading my mind.

“You should spend the night, Lynn,” I echoed her, wanting to give her a high-five. “It’s too dark for you to be driving back into town and then home.”

Noelle turns to me and adds a valuable piece of information Jacqueline neglected to share. “Dad, do you know her drive home is like twenty-five minutes away?”

“Are you serious?” I snarl. I had no fucking idea she was making such a long trip to see me every other day. If that was the case, I would have gone to see her.

She waves it off, but the thought of her getting hurt especially when the weather was rough the other day wasn’t acceptable to me. “Yes, but it’s no big deal.”

“No, we insist. This house has lots of rooms.”

“I suppose I can. If it’s not too much trouble.”

“It’s not at all.”

“So what are you going to do when you’re done taking care of my dad?” Noelle questioned, digging a little too much for my liking. I’m not ready to discuss our relationship. Not that the girls are aware of anything going on between us.

---