Page 10 of Merry Little Midlife Matchmaker

I huffed a laugh, gaze catching on the darkness of her eyes. I wondered if she knew how pretty they were, those endless pools of brown. Wondered if she’d worn that lipstick because she knew it made her mouth look so kissable. “Smells good in here,” I said, tearing my gaze away from her.

She was Aaron’s sibling. There was no way I could lust after her, even though something about her had caught my attention. My oldest friend would murder me if I sniffed around his little sister. I’d come here to gain a community, not blow it up.

“Turkey’s going well,” she said, leaning over to peek through the oven window. Because I couldn’t help myself, I watched the way her jeans revealed the lush curves of her ass. She stood up, and my gaze was dragged up her body to the curve of her neck. I wanted to taste her. “I’ll pop the extra stuffing into the oven in…” She checked her watch. Her tongue poked out the corner of her lips as she tilted her head back and forth for a few moments, and I found myself caught up in the sight of her again. Cute. And pretty. And sensual in a way that seemed completely effortless. “Twenty-five minutes,” she finally said, and I snapped out of my daze.

“Anything I can do to help?”

“Very kind of you to offer,” she said, “but all you have to do is enjoy yourself. I know Aaron is thrilled to have you back in town.”

I found myself not wanting to leave Lizzie on her own in the kitchen to do all the work. Hanging with Aaron and the rest of the family had made me feel at home for the first time in years, but being with Lizzie was like entering a calm, peaceful oasis. Besides, the light that came through the back window kept showing me new facets of her face that I wanted to study.

There was that slight dimple that appeared in her cheek when she tried to hold back a smile. Or the way her dark-brown hair curled around her nape, making my fingers itch to brush that patch of skin. Or how her sweater dipped down between her breasts, giving me the barest hint of what lay beneath.

I wasn’t breaking any bro code. I wasn’t chasing after my best friend’s little sister. I was just keeping the host company while I made sure my son was doing okay. That was all. And if I enjoyed what I saw, what was the problem?

“It’s been weird being back,” I admitted.

“Oh?” Lizzie grabbed a neglected glass of wine from beside the stove. “How so?”

“Everything is different and also the same.”

Lizzie lifted her glass. “I think that’s called life.” She took a sip and tilted her head. “So you’re settling in with Mikey okay. And your wife…?”

A familiar pain pierced my breastbone. It frustrated me that even years later, the mere mention of Melody made my body tense. I wanted to move on. I’d gotten custody of our son and made a life with him. She’d chased the career she’d always wanted. We were both happier apart than we’d ever been together.

But still…

“Divorced,” I told Lizzie. “Just over three years.”

“Sorry,” she said with an understanding smile. “For me, it’s been five and a half…nearly six, actually. Still feels like I’m trying to pick up the pieces.”

I huffed and took a sip of my beer. Not wanting to get caught up in those dark eyes of hers, I let my gaze drift out to watch my son chase after another boy as they both cackled. In the corner of the yard, a girl twirled in a red dress while another did the same in her jeans.

“Mine’s the one your kid is chasing,” Lizzie said, moving closer to point. “And that’s my daughter. Zach and Hazel. Eleven and nine years old.”

Her body pressed into mine as she gestured to the children, all soft and giving. I wondered if her skin was as silky as it looked, if her body would feel as good to touch and hold as I imagined.

Clearing my throat, I pulled away a couple of inches. “Beautiful kids.”

She stiffened for a moment, her smile losing its tenderness, then gave me a beaming smile. “They’re the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said, then turned at the sound of the front door opening. She didn’t touch me again.

“Hello! Happy Thanksgiving!” a voice called from the foyer.

“In here!” Aaron’s voice called out, and a moment later an older woman marched into the kitchen. When she saw me, her face brightened.

“Sean! Aaron told us you were in town.” Sandra, Lizzie’s mom, came to give me a tight hug. She was a short woman who’d always treated me like one of her own, and I didn’t hesitate to hug her back.

“Hey, Mrs. B.”

“So good to see you,” she said, patting my cheek. Her face was more lined than I remembered, but she had the same vivacity as years ago.

The older woman turned to Liz and placed a peck on her daughter’s cheek. “Smells good, honey.”

“Thanks, Mom. You brought the green beans?”

“Of course. How long until we eat?”

“Probably just over an hour.”

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