Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
And suddenly, I wanted to be close to him.
Throwing back the covers, I slipped from the bed and pulled on one of Simon’s T-shirts and a pair of leggings I had left there. I headed downstairs, walking into the kitchen and smiling at the sight. Simon by the stove, helping Mia pour the pancake batter into the pan, gently coaching her.
“Not too much, Sweet Pea, or we won’t get many in the pan.”
“Like that, Daddy?”
He kissed her head. “Perfect.”
Then he caught sight of me, and a wide smile broke out on his face. “Look who’s awake.”
Mia turned her head, smiling and looking so much like Simon it made me grin. “Amy!” she exclaimed, clambering off the stool and rushing my way. “Daddy and I are making pancakes,” she said, throwing herself into my arms. “I was gonna come wake you up.”
“Well, I smelled the deliciousness coming from the kitchen, and I couldn’t stay in bed any longer.” I straightened, still holding Mia to my side.
Simon handed me a mug of coffee, bending over and kissing me. “Good morning, Chippy.”
“Hi.” I smiled against his mouth.
He kissed me again. “Hi.”
“You guys kiss a lot. More than a dating kiss. Is that ’cause you’re in love?” Mia asked, rubbing the end of her nose.
Simon grinned, ruffling Mia’s hair. “Yeah, kiddo. Something like that.”
“I am not kissing boys.”
“Good!” we both exclaimed.
Laughing, she ran from the room. “I’m gonna get dressed!”
I sipped my coffee as Simon returned to the pancakes.
“Your phone has buzzed a few times,” he said, indicating the counter. “I plugged it in for you.”
“Oh.” I grabbed it and groaned as I read the messages waiting.
“Problem?” he asked.
“No, it’s my mom, reminding me I promised to go into Halifax tomorrow and have lunch. My brother, Sheldon, will be there as well. He’s home for a visit.”
Simon looked disappointed but shrugged. “Well, we’ll have to make the best of today, then.”
I hesitated, then wrapped my hands around my mug. “Would you like to come with me?”
He paused. “With you?”
“You and Mia. Come with me for lunch.” I swallowed. “Meet my family.”
He carried over a plate of pancakes, setting them on the table. He sat beside me, taking my hand. “Are you ready for that, Amy? To introduce Mia and me to your parents?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
He broke into a smile. “Then I would love to meet them. We’ll do a picnic around here today and head into Halifax tomorrow.”
“Okay. We can stop at the bedding store to pick out a duvet for Mia before we go to my parents’. I’ll call my mom after breakfast.”
“She won’t mind?”
I laughed. “She will go insane. More people to cook for and a little girl to fawn over? It’ll make her day.”
He pulled me close. “And meeting her future son-in-law? She’ll like that too, right?”
My heart rate picked up hearing him say those words. To believe in our future that strongly.
“I might not use those exact words when introducing you,” I said carefully.
“Did they like your ex?”
“No. They didn’t like how he treated me.”
“Then they are gonna love me. I plan on treating you like a queen. My queen.”
“You already do.”
He leaned forward and kissed my neck, sending a delicious shiver down my spine. “I’m only getting started, Amy.” He trailed his lips up to my ear, teasing the sensitive area behind the lobe. “And if my daughter weren’t about to appear and demand pancakes and your attention, I would show you how incredibly sexy you are in my shirt. But I’ll take a rain check for later.” He covered my mouth with his, kissing me hard.
Mia appeared, skidding to a halt by the table, her deep sigh of annoyance separating us. “You’re still kissing? That’s even more than Uncle E and Auntie Holly. I thought they kissed a lot.” She shook her head. “Why?”
“More dating rules,” Simon said, standing with a droll wink. “I have to kiss Amy lots so she likes me. The more I kiss her, the more she stays with us.”
“Oh,” she said, her eyes wide. “Okay, then. You can kiss her.”
Simon nodded sagely. “Good plan.”
To say my mom was excited when I called her to tell her I was bringing not only a man but his sweet little daughter with me for lunch would be an understatement.
“Daughter?” she asked. “How old?”
“Eight.”
“Amy, is this serious?”
I looked out the window, watching Simon and Mia play tag on the front lawn. He was endlessly patient with her, and he had no problem being a fun, silly dad. I was never able to stress to parents enough the importance of playing with their kids—the bonding, the memories they would create. It was important. Simon got that. He loved spending time with Mia.
“Yeah, Mom, it is.”
“You never mentioned him when you were home last visit.”
I smiled ruefully. “It kinda happened fast. I met him a few times at social gatherings, then suddenly, we were a thing.”