Page 48 of Keep This Promise
She chuckles, and Eden comes running out of her room. “Mummy! Did you see the snow?”
“I did. Once it stops, maybe we can play in it for a bit. I brought home gloves and a snow suit from the youth center.”
This snow storm came without much warning, and I didn’t have time to go get snow gear, so I’m glad she was able to find some.
“Yay! I want to build a big snowman,” Eden says with bright eyes. “Can we?”
Sophie nods. “Absolutely, darling.”
“Bug, why don’t you let your mum in the house so she can warm up?”
“Okay! I get more makeup!”
Anything but that. I watch her as she runs into her room and closes the door with a giggle. Sometimes, I look at her, and my heart aches. I don’t know how I lived in a world without her, and I pray I never know anything but this.
Over the last few months, we’ve settled into a comfortable rhythm. We work, Sophie stays late two nights a week, and I get one-on-one time with Eden. During the day, Mama James watches her, falling deeper and deeper in love with her as well.
And my feelings for Sophie keep changing too. We are friends, but there’s this underlying sexual tension that I am slowly losing my ability to ignore.
“Would you like tea?” I ask her, clearing my throat and the thoughts of how I’d like to warm her snow-kissed lips with mine.
“That would be lovely. I’m going to change and check on Eden.”
She heads into Eden’s room first, but then comes out seconds later with a smile. “She’s already asleep.”
“Already?” I ask.
“You must’ve worn her down. Did you only paint nails?”
“We read a few books, watched a show, and she supervised making dinner and cleaning up. She ate everything and had some juice. Overall, it was a normal night together.”
Sophie shrugs. “Whatever it was, it wore her out.”
“Mission accomplished then. I’ll be in the living room if you want to watch a movie still.”
“Give me about ten minutes.”
She heads off, and I go in the living room, searching through the list of possible movies to watch. There’s the typical girly crap, but I haven’t had to endure one of those since my ex-wife. We could go superhero or thriller, but I have no idea if she likes those.
I’m saved when she emerges in a pair of cotton shorts and a sweater that hangs off her shoulder. Her blonde hair is piled up on top of her head, and she’s wearing her glasses. The sexy-girl-next-door look is in full effect.
“Did you find something to watch?”
Yes, your incredible legs.“I was waiting for you.”
She smiles, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose and grabbing her tea. “I like just about anything.”
I like you. I like your legs. I’d like to kiss you until you can’t fucking breathe.
Dear God. How the hell am I going to get through this without embarrassing myself?
“How about a mystery then? There are a few new ones that are kind of suspenseful,” I suggest.
Shoving down the ever-growing desire, I smile and pray she takes the other couch.
However, nothing seems to be going my way, and she sits next to me, tucking her legs underneath. “Wonderful. I love suspense.”
I get up, needing to stop myself from staring at her bare legs, flip the fireplace on, and grab the blanket off the back of the chair for her.
