Page 21 of Merry with a Single Dad

“Mm-hmm.” Hudson kicked off his blanket.

“Let’s take it slow,” Chris said as Hudson stood up. “I don’t want you getting sick again.”

“Me either,” Hudson said.

“Enjoy your pizza,” I told Hudson, who appeared very eager to eat something of substance. “I’m going to take a shower,” I added before Chris followed him and the dogs to the kitchen.

“I’ll get some food in him and see how he does,” Chris said. “Enjoy your shower.”

The look in his eyes mirrored the thought I had—we’d both enjoy it bettertogether.

“It’s good to see him feeling better,” I said as we watched Hudson choose which piece of pizza he wanted. The dogs sat eagerly at his feet, hoping he’d drop a morsel for them.

Chris chuckled. “I better get in there before he decides to feed the dogs pizza, too.”

My shower was divine. I didn’t have the strength to stand up the past few days. I was barely able to take a bath the day before that. After washing and shaving from top to bottom, I felt like a brand-new woman.

Little did I know that blow-drying my hair would zap all my recently restored energy. By the time I was dry and moisturized, all I wanted to do was crawl into bed.

Like the miracle my man was, the bed was turned down and ready for me. Chris had changed the sheets all on his own. The scent of fabric softener and fresh, crisp linens was heaven-sent.

Chris was preoccupied with Hudson. The sound of his shower and their cute conversation made me smile.

Deciding to wait for them to finish, I turned the bedroom lights off and crawled into the comfy cocoon of Chris’s Cal-king bed. Try as I might to wait up for him, I fell asleep. I only knew this because when I woke up a little before midnight, Chris was fast asleep next to me.

Cuddling closer, I tucked myself into his side.

He sighed a happy sigh before saying, “It’s good to be back in our bed. It’s even better to have you back in my arms.”

Our bed, I thought as I closed my eyes again.

It was unbelievably amazing how much my life had changed since meeting Chris.

I went from having the only men in my life being four-legged to being in an amazing relationship with a wonderful man, his adorable son, and their precarious pooch.

My life wasn’t just about me anymore, and I couldn’t be happier.

Our bed.

Our life.

Chapter Eight

Chris

“What’s that?” Emily asked when I walked into the kitchen. Hudson rushed into the living room, still wearing his backpack. It was his favorite place to do his homework because the dogs kept him company.

I looked down at the large frozen bird in my arms and back up to her and Cassie. “It’s a turkey.”

“I can see that,” Emily said. “But why do you have a turkey?”

“Because I told you that I was going to get one from Mike.”

“Mike at the bank?” The wheels in her head were spinning so fast I could almost hear them squeaking.

“Yes. He brought it with him to work today. Remember I told you that his son is part of the farming program at school, and they raise turkeys as part of a fundraising thing.”

“It kind of . . . When did you tell me this?” Emily asked.

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