“Okay.”
“And I want to kiss you more. Lots more.”
“Oh,” she breathed. Then she looked down at my crotch. “I don’t know if you should go try to distract them looking like that.”
I grinned at her. “It’s all your fault. If you weren’t so tempting, I wouldn’t have this little problem.” I adjusted myself.
“Not sure I’d call that little.”
I chuckled and had to kiss her again, which didn’t help with my raging hard-on.
I stepped back and grabbed the folded newspaper on the counter, holding it in front of me. I winked at her. “Don’t want to scare anyone.”
She covered her mouth, giggling. With a smirk, I dropped another kiss on her head before walking back to the dining room. Luckily, Seth was bent over, helping Noelle with her coloring. I took my time getting another cup of coffee, giving my erection a chance to soften. I stared out the window at the piles of drifting snow. It was as if the entire world was covered in a thick, white blanket.
Seth reached across the table, grabbing a mug. “Hey, Dylan. Morning.”
“Morning.”
“Sleep well?”
“Well enough. Unlike some people, not like the dead.”
He laughed but looked bashful. “Alex told me Noelle escaped again last night. Sorry.”
I sighed. “Seth, Alex trusts you. You need to make sure you live up to that trust. You can’t keep falling asleep while you’re looking after Noelle.” I met his eyes. “You’re old enough to be more responsible.”
“I was tired.”
I sighed, rubbing a hand across my face. “And you don’t think Alex is tired? She runs this place, looks after the both of you and George, cooks, cleans, does laundry—” I paused, tired simply at the thought of everything she handled. “And God knows what else. She’s run ragged, Seth. She needs help.”
He glanced behind him at the kitchen door and exhaled. “She never says anything.”
I put my hand on his shoulder, squeezing it lightly. “She never would. She’s strong. But I’m telling you, she needs your help. Try staying awake on the nights she needs you.”
“I will. I’ll try to help more.”
“Good.” Unable to resist, I ruffled his hair. “You’re a good kid, Seth.”
His cheeks flushed, and he dropped his gaze in embarrassment. “Thanks.”
Alex came through the kitchen, carrying a tray. “Dylan, I have your breakfast.”
I sat down and, without hesitation, dug into the stack of pancakes. Noelle “hepped” me drown them in syrup, and she grinned when it dribbled down my chin. Alex sat down, sipping coffee, and Seth rambled on about snow days and no school. Noelle had lots to say on the subject of snow, and I ate my breakfast listening to them all talk. I didn’t have much to add, but I talked about how I’d never seen that much snow. That led to many stories of the blizzards they’d been through over the years.
It was a strange sensation, sitting with them like that. It felt right. Listening to their stories, with Noelle back on my knee, coloring, and twisting around to make sure I was listening to her when she spoke. Often, she would tap at my cheek to get my attention, the gesture making me smile. Seth got up and filled all our coffee cups, and brought Noelle some more juice.
Alex frowned and looked out the window. “George won’t get back for a couple of days, and I’m pretty sure you’re stuck too, Dylan.”
I wasn’t surprised. Normally, I would be impatient, hating to have my schedule disrupted, but the news didn’t bother me in the slightest. I shrugged. “Nothing to be done except weather the storm. What do you do when you’re snowed in like this—besides trying to shovel your way out of it?”
Noelle clapped her hands. “Games!”
Seth grinned. “We have power, so we eat popcorn and watch movies.”
Alex smiled. “We try to make it fun.”
Fun. I couldn’t remember the last time I had ever had fun.
I returned her smile, reaching for her hand under the table. “Can I join in?”
All three of them answered in unison. “Yes!”
That one word made my entire day.
I SAT BACK, CHUCKLING AS I watched Seth and Noelle battle it out to see who would win the highly competitive game of Snakes and Ladders that was happening. I had held my own pretty well, but they were too good for me.
Today had been one of the nicest days I could remember in a long time. After I ate my breakfast, I went upstairs to change when Alex informed me snow days meant casual. My dress shirt and pants were not going to cut it, she told me in no uncertain terms. When I confessed to not having any more casual-type clothing, she handed me a Sleepy Moose Inn T-shirt. I spent the day in my plaid sleep pants Arlene had given me as a joke for Christmas and the logo-emblazoned shirt. I wore my socks since my dress shoes looked stupid with pants. They were all dressed casually like me, and we spent hours in the lounge playing games. After lunch, I had offered my gifts hesitantly, not wanting Seth to use his worn boots when I heard him tell Alex he’d do more shoveling after we had eaten.
Noelle’s exuberant shriek when she saw her slippers left me no doubt of her love for the fuzzy foot-warmers. Seth announced his boots were “sick,” and judging from his delighted grin, I decided that was a good thing. Alex’s eyes widened and that warm, appealing smile of hers lit her face when I handed her the box of chocolates. The girls gave me hugs and kisses, and I received a double fist pound from Seth, accompanied by repeated thanks. Alex’s quiet protests, I stilled instantly with a hard kiss when the kids weren’t looking. She stopped objecting once she had eaten a chocolate, and I heard no more “you shouldn’t have” from her.
Noelle threw her hands up in victory. “I won! I won!”
Seth sat back with a grin. “You did, kiddo.” He stood and stretched. “I’m going to clear a little more.”
I started to stand. “I’ll help.”
He grinned. “Yeah?”
I nodded. “Let me get my boots and I’ll shovel while you use the snow blower.” I picked up my glass and followed Alex into the kitchen. “What about the rest of the grounds? The driveway and parking lot?”
She smiled at me, taking the glass from my hand. “As soon as the highway is clear, Mr. Johnson will be around to do those and make sure the front is good. It might not be for a couple of days, though. Since I pay him in trade, we aren’t the first on his list, but he is usually pretty fast.”
I frowned. “Trade?”
She smiled sadly. “Jeff knows money is tight, so we trade.”
I stepped in front of her, resting my hands on the counter, effectively pinning her in. “And what, exactly, do you trade?”
Her brow furrowed. “Seriously, Dylan. His wife isn’t a good cook. I make them some meals, he keeps the snow clear.”
“Lucky man.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “What did you think I traded?”
I had the grace to look ashamed, and she frowned. “You live in a different world.”
Dropping my head to her shoulder, I turned my face to her neck, pushing the edge of her shirt out of the way with my nose. I teased the delicate skin with my lips, swirling my tongue along the edge of her jaw. “Jealous,” I whispered. “I can’t stand the thought of someone else having your attention.”
She moaned, a low noise in her chest, as I pulled her tight in my arms.
“I can’t stand the thought of you kissing anyone else. Letting them hold you.”
“No one has in a very long time.”
I covered her mouth with mine. “Good.”
Fiery heat ignited between us. Alex’s fingers tugged on my neck, holding me close as I explored her mouth, groaning at her taste. The richness of the chocolates she’d been nibbling lingered, heightening the sweetness that was her—all Alex.
Seth’s voice startled me. “Hey, Dylan! Are you coming?”
I groaned, pulling back. “I’d like to,” I muttered. “But not much chance while you’re aw
ake.”
Alex giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.
I grinned and kissed her forehead. “I have shoveling to do. Stop distracting me, woman.”
“Dylan . . .”
I cupped her cheek, stroking it gently with my thumb. She looked nervous. “What is it?”
“I was wondering, instead of eating dinner in your room tonight”—she took in a big breath—“if you wanted to have dinner with us, in our room?”
“I’d like that very much.”
“Me too. Six o’clock, in case I’m upstairs when you come back.”
“I’ll go work up an appetite.” I kissed her again—long and hard. “Of a different sort.”
She was giggling again as I left. The sound made my chest warm.
After I helped Seth for a while, I leaned against the handle of the shovel, watching as he finished cutting another wide pass through the thick snow. When the engine cut off, I walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. “Good job.”
He grinned shyly.
I glanced at the still thick sky. “I’m not sure it’s done yet.”
He lifted his shoulders in agreement. “Probably not. But I like doing this. It’s something that makes me feel like I’m helping.”
I felt a slight pang of guilt for scolding him earlier. “I’m sure you do lots to help, Seth.”
“I try. Alex and Noelle . . . they’re my family. I hafta look out for them, you know?”
“I know.”
He stepped forward. “Dylan, can I ask you something?”
His voice made me a little anxious. I swallowed, hoping he wasn’t going to ask me anything about Alex.
“Sure.”
“I, ah, I need some advice.”
“Advice?”
“Yeah. There’s, um . . . a girl.”
My eyebrows shot up. “A girl?”
He nodded, moving closer. “I like her, Dylan. I really like her.”
“And?”
His voice dropped. “I feel . . . stuff when she’s around. We text every day, and I think about her . . . all the time.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Shouldn’t you, ah, talk to Alex about this?”
He frowned. “She’s a girl. She doesn’t understand about this stuff.”
“This stuff?”
“Guy stuff. You know . . .”
My brow furrowed.
“I think about her all the time,” he reiterated. “I wake up thinking about her . . . and, um, I have, ah, problems . . .”
Jesus. Now I understood.
He was talking about sex. Seth was looking for advice about sex. And morning wood.
I tried not to laugh. I could imagine how Alex would react to those conversations.
Then I realized he was serious. He needed to talk, and he wanted to talk to me. I draped my arm over his shoulder.
“Let’s talk about respect, Seth.” Then I grinned. “We’ll move on to long morning showers and learning to do your own laundry after that.”
I left a somewhat shell-shocked Seth outside and went to my room. After my shower, I flung myself on my bed and looked at my phone, surprised I had a signal. Weak, but it was still there. A message waited for me from Arlene.
You snowed in, dear boy?
It had come in a few moments ago, so I answered her.
Yes.
Going crazy? Or is the Courvoisier keeping you sane?
I smirked.
I’ve spent the day in my sleep pants and a T-shirt, playing games, eating pancakes and chips, and having a sex talk with a seventeen-year-old while we shoveled snow. So far, it’s been highly enjoyable.
I’m sorry. I thought this was Dylan Maxwell.
Of course, it’s me.
The Dylan Maxwell I know would never play games or eat chips. He dislikes pancakes, and he is far too snooty for lounge pants, T-shirts, or snow shoveling. I won’t even address the sex talk.
I wondered what she would think if I told her about kissing Alex. And wanting to kiss her again.
Guess you don’t know me as well as you thought.
Or perhaps . . . you didn’t know yourself as well as YOU thought.
Stop with the mumbo jumbo, woman. You told me to try new things. I’m trying. And guess what?
What?
I love tater tots. Can you get me some for my condo? I’m not sure where one purchases them. You have to ask Alex how to make her casserole too. It’s awesome.
I think it’s a good thing I’m retiring. I don’t think I can take this change in you.
Whatever.
Well, it’s definitely you, rude man. But I think I approve of these changes.
Just going with the flow.
Words I never thought I would hear from you. On that note, I’m going to get a drink. I think I need to lie down.
I’m going to have a nap, then have dinner with Alex and the kids. I’m hoping for pie.
Nap? Kids? Pie? When the real Dylan Maxwell shows up, ask him to get in touch.
I started to laugh.
See you in a few days.
Be safe, Dylan. Let me know if you need anything.
I stared at the screen. There was nothing I could think of that I needed or wanted. Right now, it was all right there. I signed off simply:
Talk soon.
At six o’clock, I knocked on the door to Alex’s . . . place. I wasn’t sure what to call it. Apartment? Hotel room? Ten minutes after she opened the door and I was on her sofa, I knew exactly what to call it.
Her home.
She had taken two large rooms and made a modest quarter for her family. A tiny but functional kitchen held an old wooden table that was set for dinner. The rest of the space was filled with furniture and toys, books and games. Noelle dragged me into the next room and showed me her “princess place”—a bedroom full of frills and tulle, dolls, and pink things. There was the usual hotel functional bathroom and the smallest bedroom I’d ever seen, if you could even call it that. More like a closet. It held a single bed, a stand-up lamp, and a tiny dresser, and it was where Alex slept. I knew she hadn’t meant for me to see it, but Noelle had been thorough in her tour. I nodded and smiled, even though I was horrified at the thought of Alex having so little space or comfort for herself. Seth, Alex told me when I returned to the living room and accepted a glass of wine from her, lived in the room across the hall, giving him the privacy he needed.
She leaned forward conspiratorially. “He’s at that age. You know, Dylan.”
I nodded, not wanting to tell her exactly how well I knew. I knew Seth wanted our little talk from earlier to be private, so I kept it to myself.
“What about you?” I asked, indicating the small room down the hall.
She shrugged. “I only sleep there. Once my day is over, I relax in here. It’s not a big deal.”
She got up and went to check on dinner. My gaze followed her every movement.
How much time did she ever really get to relax?
Regardless of what she said, it was a big deal. At least, to me. But I knew I had no right to say anything.
A fact that made me sadder than I realized.
Dinner was loud and entertaining. Unless it was business-related, or the occasional meal with Arlene and her husband, I was used to eating alone, and my meals were quick ones.
But not tonight. Alex’s pot roast was, without a doubt, the best thing I’d ever eaten, and there was indeed pie for dessert. Seth and Noelle teased and joked, doing much more laughing than eating, although Seth did manage two helpings. When Alex rolled her eyes and pursed her lips, I pulled Noelle onto my knee and brought her plate close, handfeeding her mouthfuls while she chatted and giggled. It didn’t even bother me when she fed me off her plate—something I never would have imagined in my life. But it was Alex’s pot roast, and I had already eaten three plates, so I felt asking for a fourth seemed rather greedy.
I helped clear the table and assisted Seth with dishes, while Alex bathed Noelle. When she returned, we had
coffee on the sofa, and Noelle snuggled up next to me, tucked under my arm as though she belonged there. Alex put in a movie and we all watched, full from dinner and a long day of shoveling and games. Noelle grew heavier, leaning into my side until I shifted and carefully lowered her head onto my knee. Seth stood, yawning.
“I’m going to go catch up on homework. I might read after I’m done. I’m tired.”
Alex smiled knowingly. “Sure, kiddo.”
I glanced at my watch, seeing it was barely after nine. I hid my smirk, wondering if homework meant he’d be texting his dream girl for a while before “reading” in bed. From the smile on Alex’s face, I was confident she knew exactly what would happen once he was alone.
Seth waved as he walked out the door, and Alex stood, reaching for Noelle.
“I’ll get her,” I whispered and slid out from beneath her sleeping form. I lifted her into my arms, liking how she curled into my chest, nuzzling the little old rag doll still clutched in her hands. I grinned at her bright nightgown and the red polka-dot slippers on her feet. Following Alex, I waited as she drew back the blankets, and I hesitated. “Should we take off her slippers?”
“No. Trust me. She’ll want to sleep in them. She won’t take them off until she absolutely has to.”
Grinning, I slipped her under the warm covers and pulled them up around her shoulders, and without a thought, kissed her forehead, then ran my hand over her curls. “Night, Little Owl.”
Turning, I saw the bemused expression on Alex’s face before she bent, kissed Noelle, and turned off the light. She closed her door, then we went back and sat on the sofa.
“Her lisp,” I began hesitantly. “How did she lose her teeth? I don’t know much about kids, but don’t they usually stay in longer?”
“Oh,” Alex replied. “Yes, they do. She was on the swings at the playground and fell off. Face first into the ground and knocked out both her teeth. I rushed her to the dentist, but the cost of any type of repair was more than I had in the bank. He assured me she could do without them for a couple of years, and I really had no choice.” She smiled sadly. “Her speech was quite good before, and once her teeth come back, it will be again, or at least I hope so.”
Christmas Sugar ~ Melanie Moreland Page 7
