Page 37 of All I Desire

“Thanks.”

Matthew and I walk down the hall, my black heels clacking on the tile. I’m dressed up today in what I think of as my “uniform:” a black, linen sheath dress. I have five of the same dress, and I wear one every day to work.

“Sorry about that. When my brother found out that you were coming, he wanted to meet you. I hope he didn’t cut off circulation to your hand. He’s a little protective. Over-protective.”

“Why are you apologizing? I’m happy to meet anyone in your family.” He grins. Oh dear. Is he as smitten with me as I am with him? God, I hope so. There’s still that issue of him being a single dad, and I’m not sure I’m ready to be a part of that situation.

Still, my stomach feels fluttery in new and exciting ways.

“How’s your family, anyway? How’s your daughter feeling about the move? Any last minute-jitters?”

“She’s anxious, wondering if kids here will like her. If she’ll be bullied again. It’s so friggin’ hard. I never imagined we’d be dealing with this, you know? When your kid is born, you fall in love, and you assume the entire world will love her as much as you do.”

Why does he get more attractive each time he reveals more about how attentive he is as a father?

Our hands brush against each other’s and an electric zing shoots through my body. My soul feels warm when I’m around him, I swear. We’ve seen each other all of three times and I’m head-over-heels. But we’ve texted a lot, too. And talked on the phone. Video chatted. Doesn’t that count for something?

“What did your brother mean by some mermaid thing, by the way?” he asks in that velvety voice of his, interrupting my racing thoughts.

“My soon-to-be sister-in-law owns a mermaid lounge.”

“You have an interesting family. I think I heard about that place. Mermosa? Downtown? Where mermaids swim in a tank?”

“That’s it.”

And then, a brilliant idea comes to me. I stop in the hall and grab his hand. He looks down with those gorgeous, grey eyes.

“Matthew, does your daughter like mermaids?”

---