Page 42 of Daycare Dad
He frowned and stroked his beard.“I’m not gonna lie.I have a lot going on, but you were still prepared to let me into your life.The truth is, I didn’t know how to appreciate what you were offering.”
“What changed?”she asked, finally looking at him.
“You.”He cleared his throat.“You made the difference.Not only did you give a job to someone you didn’t know from Adam, but you cared enough to try and keep me from sliding into the hell of my own making.
“I admit, some of this is from my family situation.”He raised both hands.“But I’m making an effort.My relationship with my mom has improved.Chelle helped to make that happen.And you … you’ve taught me, just by being you, about the things that matter.”
“So, what are you saying?”
He blew out a long breath and leaned toward her.“I guess I’m begging you to take me back, if you can find space in your heart to deal with a man who’s learning to open himself to something new, different, and immensely valuable.That something being you.Me.Us.”
Lizette tapped her index fingers together for a while before raising her gaze to his.“What you’ve shared could have happened to anyone.You’ve been carrying around a cross of your own making.Beating yourself up over someone else’s choices, instead of focusing on the here and now.If I’m to let you back into my life, you can’t just flake out and go MIA the next time something goes wrong.”
“I accept that, and I’m willing to try and do things differently.It’s just that the disaster with Christy, plus having to work for you, and then being interested in you … it was kinda hard to wrap my head around.”
“Trust me.I understand.I’ve had moments where I wondered if I knew what I was doing with you, but I came around and was willing to test the waters.”She shook her head.“I wasn’t looking for romance, but there’s something about you …”
A smile broke over her face.“I don’t fall easily, so you’d better come good if you expect to keep me happy.”
Hand to his chest, where his heart skipped to a joyful tune, he said, “All I ask is that you forgive me for being a fool.I’ll work on the rest one day at a time.”
He walked around the table and helped her to her feet.After scanning her face, he dropped a soft kiss on her forehead.She snuggled into his chest, and his arms closed around her.With his next inhale, he prayed his faults wouldn’t get in the way of what could be the best thing that ever happened in his life.
In between pressing kisses from her cheek to her lips, he whispered, “Thank you.”
After a thorough kiss that left them both breathless and wanting more, she answered, “And thank you for being persistent because I was prepared to let you go.”
“For real?”he asked, as his heart dropped into his stomach.
“You weren’t ready for anything I was prepared to give you, so the wise thing was to take a hands-off approach.If you were meant for me, you’d follow your heart and find your way back.”
His throat clogged, and he warned himself not to give in to his emotions.Instead of listening to that advice, he pulled Lizette closer and spoke into her ear.“This will be the best Christmas I’ve had in years.Thank you.”
Giggling, she slid her arms around him.“Don’t thank me yet.Christmas around the Winters is not for the faint of heart.”
He chuckled, releasing the tension that still held him in its grip, and spun her around.She clung tightly to his arms and squealed.“Put me down, you silly man.You’re just as bad as the twins.”
Eyes closed, he kissed the spot where her neck met her shoulder and whispered.“This is just the tip of the iceberg.In case you haven’t noticed, I’m crazy about you.”
Cupping his face between her hands, her eyes shone as she said, “That makes two of us because I’m mad about you, too.”
