Page 32 of Surprised By Love

I walk to the stairs. “Emily, Jake, come on, kid’s time to go home.”

“Okay Daddy, give us a minute,” Emily shouts from Amelia’s room.

“Thank you so much for coming and helping with the tree decorating. I hope you all had a good time,” Sam says, coming up behind me. I could tell she was behind me before she even said a word. She smells like cinnamon and vanilla. I’m not sure if it’s because of the baking or if it’s just her, but damn. It smells good.

I turn to her as I wait for the kids. “We had a blast. Thank you for inviting us.”

“Okay Daddy, we’re ready, let’s go,” Emily says as she descends the stairs, Jake on her heels.

“Let’s get your boots on.” I lead them to the side door where we took off our boots when we got here.

Sam squats down and helps Jake get his boots on, and it makes me wonder what it would be like to have someone to help with the kids on a daily basis. My mom is great, but seeing how wonderful Sam is with my kids, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like. Not that I’m ready for that yet. Or if I ever will be. Of all the women I have been with, no one could compare to Christine. Not until Sam.

Dammit, my head has been on a rollercoaster ride for the past week. One minute I’m picturing what it would be like to have someone in my life for more than a night and the next minute I’m yelling at myself, telling myself I’m not ready for that yet.

“Don’t forget these.” Sam walks over to the counter and I can’t help but rake my eyes up and down her body one more time. Those leggings she has on form perfectly to her round ass and shapely thighs.

Sam turns back around and I quickly avert my eyes.

She passes me the tin of goodies and our fingers touch. Again, the electricity shoots right through my fingers and travels to every part of my body.

She looks up into my eyes as she pulls her hands away, and this time I can tell she felt it too. I get a glimpse of her pink cheeks for a second before she looks away.

“Tank you,” Jake says, smiling up at Sam. “You’re the best cookie maker ever.”

“Well, thank you for saying that. It’s the nicest thing I’ve ever heard.” She ruffles his hair.

“You’re great with kids.”

She looks up at me and grins. “I love children.”

“I can tell.”

She gives me this shy smile that confirms the fact she’s not used to compliments. I may have to change that.

“Bye bestie,” Amelia says, hugging Emily goodbye.

“Thank you again for inviting us over. I had a… we had a blast.” I correct myself.

“So did we.” Sam opens the door, Emily, Jake and Max head outside.

I smile and nod as I follow my kids outside. This was the best night I have had in a long time and being with Sam and her family makes me second guess my decision to remain single.

Sam

Jenna and Amelia are upstairs playing when I come back and take a seat on the couch beside Vicki.

“Soo…” Becca grins. “What’s with you and Josh?”

I look at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

She barks out a laugh. “You like him.”

“Sure, I like him. He’s been so nice to Amelia and me,” I say, taking another bite of the pecan snowball cookie on my plate.

Vicki laughs. “You know it’s not what she meant.”

“You like him, like him,” Becca says.

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