She knew this was real. She knew what they were building was powerful and wonderful and could last.
But he was going to leave. And their little bubble would burst.
And then what?
He must’ve read her expression because he kissed her again and said, “One step at a time.” He wrapped an arm around her. “Now, let’s make the magic for our girls.”
Our girls.
Yes.
ChapterEighteen
After they’dunwrapped presents and stuffed their bellies with waffles, they gathered around the hearth in the living room to relax. Firelight flickered, and the girls chattered happily. Hailey could practically hear the house sigh in contentment.
She nursed her coffee while trying to look interested in the conversation between father and son, but mostly, she was fighting back emotion. Sure, it was because she was living the holiday of her fantasies. That was awesome.
But it was painful, too, because it wasn’t hers to keep. She wasn’t the mother to these two beautiful, spirited, funny, smart little girls. And—her breath hitched hard in her chest—she didn’t get to keep that gorgeous man who surprised her at every turn.
Especially, the gift he’d given her. She’d expected a pair of luxury slippers. Maybe a gift card to a spa. Anything but what he’d done.
This wonderful, thoughtful man had created a studio for her.
Astudio.Complete with vintage and modern dress forms, a caddy with all the right scissors, textile chalk, curve rulers, and a rotary roller. He’d found a brush holder and filled it with every size of rounded and flat brush on the market. Colored pencils, watercolors, and sewing machines. Not just one or two, but a computerized one, a manual one, and one for embroidery.
I mean, come on. He’d thought of everything.
She didn’t even know how long she’d be staying here, but he’d told her he wanted to make sure she had everything she needed to replace the inventory her mom had taken.
And what had she given him? A collage of photographs that spanned his life including this most recent time with the girls. He’d loved it, for sure. But it didn’t compare to how he’d nailed her gift. Heknewher. He knew what mattered most.
Did she even know him that well?I mean, come on. A collage?That was the best she could do? Or maybe he was so used to getting so little, he didn’t bother revealing what he needed.
She would pay more attention. He had seemed to like the collage, though, especially the shot she’d gotten of him on the floor playing dolls with them. He was braiding hair and buttoning dresses, chatting with the girls as though it was the most normal thing in the world. As if he didn’t have a single care in the world.
Not like a team captain who was missing out on a big chunk of his hockey season to take care of his high school friend’s children.
She was amazed by him.
And she didn’t know what to do about it.
She’d dated plenty of guys, but she could always tell pretty quickly that it wouldn’t lead anywhere. With Cole, she thought about him all the time. Her body reacted to his nearness.
No one had ever meant as much to her as he did.
She tuned back into their conversation. His dad listened intently as Cole talked through his concerns about his team. The front line wasn’t gelling with the guy who’d replaced him. Part of him wanted to fly out there and offer support, but he knew it was a question of how the guys worked together, and that wasn’t something he could help with.
The girls played happily with their new toys.
They’d given the girls a wonderful Christmas, and she wouldn’t ruin it with negative thoughts. She’d enjoy every moment of it.
Because it was beautiful and perfect. And if Trevor and the girls weren’t there, she’d crawl onto Cole’s lap and show him with her hands and her mouth exactly how much she loved his gift. How much she—
Her heart squeezed so hard she got off the couch. “Anyone want anything? I’m going to get more coffee.” Her voice sounded rough, and she hoped the men didn’t notice.
In the kitchen, she set her mug on the counter and lowered her head. She didn’t want more coffee. She wanted this day to last forever. And that was so confusing because she had a life waiting for her in New York. She had an apartment and a job—well, maybe not with Abbott’s. But if she needed to get another one, New York was the place to be.
All the lines had blurred, and she was so damn confused.