Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Ethan runs over to me. “Hey, Dad!”
I drop to my knees and hug the boys. “Hey, kiddo,” I say into his ear.
Gianna turns the music off and stands with her arms wrapped around herself in a hug, watching us. I don’t have to ask her if she knows what an amazing moment this is. She wipes at a tear on her cheek, and I hug my boys a little tighter. I clear my throat because it’s thick with emotion. “Hot dogs sound good to me. And how about s'mores for dessert?”
Both boys cheer, and I need a minute to get myself together. “I’m going to grab the stuff out of the kitchen, and I’ll be back. We’ll just go out to the fire pit and cook dinner together.”
The boys are happy, and I walk toward the kitchen. As soon as the door closes behind me, I put both hands on the counter and lean onto it. My son is talking. It’s been three years, and even though the doctors and therapists assured me that he would talk again, I still wasn’t sure. The feeling of happiness is immense, but it’s overwhelming at the same time.
I feel Gianna’s presence before I see her, and when she reaches out and puts her hand on my shoulder, I automatically turn and pull her into my arms. I hug her tightly, wanting her to know what this means to me.
Her voice is muffled because she’s pressed into my chest. “Are you okay?”
I nod, resting my chin on the top of her head. I know none of this is appropriate, and she’s just met me so I’m sure she wasn’t expecting this embrace, but at the same time, I’m glad I can share it with her. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
I bury my nose in the top of her hair and breathe her in. I want to remember everything about this moment. I mean to tell her about my appreciation, but the hug feels like something different. “Gianna… Gia…” I start.
She pulls back and looks up at me. “Yeah, Dalton?”
I look into her big, trusting eyes. “Thank you. I don’t know what you did or how you did it, but thank you.”
She wipes at her eyes. “I didn’t do anything. Evan and I were taking turns reading, and I asked Ethan if he wanted to take a turn. It was nothing—”
I cut her off and pull her back against my chest. “It was everything.” We stand here in the silence for a few minutes, taking the warmth from each other. I can feel her everywhere, and her body fits against mine perfectly. It doesn’t take long before appreciation turns into something else. The attraction I feel for her is undeniable. I take in the way her breasts press into my chest, the way her body trembles with the ragged breaths she’s taking, and the way her curves fit into my palms like they were fuckin’ made for me. I pull back again and look into her eyes.
She’s looking at me, and when her gaze travels to my lips, I know I’d give anything to kiss her right now. I’m leaning in, about to do just that when loud laughter comes from the other room. I shake my head. “So hot dogs for dinner. Is that okay?”
She puts her hands at my waist and tugs playfully at my shirt. “And s’mores. I heard something about s’mores.”
I put my hand at her neck and squeeze her gently. “Yeah, s’mores too. Right now, you could ask me for anything and I would say yes to it.”
Her hands press against my chest, and her eyebrows raise with her question. “Anything?”
I can see the question in her eyes, and if we were anywhere else and if my boys were not in the other room, I would see how far this would go. But I can’t. I have responsibility on top of responsibility, and two impressionable kids could walk in at any minute. Instead of kissing her like I want to, I release my hold on her and step back. She looks surprised, and I regret it the second I do it, but I know it’s the right thing to do. I’m caught up in the moment, Gianna is too young for me, she’s a stranger that is pretty much stranded here, and no matter how much I want her, I know I can’t have her.
“I’m going to grab the things for dinner.”
She puts her hands together and looks at the counter. “Sure, I mean, yeah. Sounds good. Load me up and I can carry some stuff out there.”
I start pulling things out, setting them on the counter, and between the two of us, we get everything gathered up and walk out to where the boys are in the yard. I set everything in the outdoor kitchen area, and then the boys grab Gianna as I start the fire.