“It’s an outdoor mall,” Abby added, “with a Ferris wheel and places to eat. I thought it might be better to avoid the water today.”
“Good idea.”
“You could come,” Jack said, looking hopeful.
“I can’t today, bud.”
“What about tonight? We’re going out for pizza and it has swings outside it. You could come then.”
“Well,” Matt hesitated.
“Don’t you like pizza?” Jack asked.
“Sure I do.”
Jack cocked his head. “Don’t you like us?”
“Of course I do, bud.” He smiled, messing Jack’s hair, hating the hint of insecurity in the boy’s voice. “I’m just not sure tonight is the best—”
“You should come,” Abby said.
Surprised, Matt looked over. “You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” He never took his eyes from hers, even as Jack cheered. It was probably a mistake, but he wasn’t ready to give up this feeling yet, this rightness that settled over him whenever he was close to her. “What time should I come down?”
“Five-thirty?”
“Sounds good.”
Abby’s flustered side reappeared as she gathered up the kids and said goodbye. That was fine. She needed time to regroup. So did he.
—
Matt had joined them for pizza and ice cream, then he and Abby had somehow gotten roped into watching a movie before putting the kids to bed. Not that it was a hardship to sit on the couch next to Matt.
And now the kids were in bed.
The night was clear. A nearly full moon reflected on the water and a cool breeze greeted Abby when she returned to the living room. The balcony door stood open, allowing the sound and scent of the ocean to fill her condo.
She stepped outside, just able to make out Matt’s big body in the dark. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said, turning his head. “Kids asleep?”
“Almost.” The way his arms were braced against the rail, he looked poised to vault over at any second. Ready to save the world, and no doubt more than able.
Chill bumps covered her arms and she shivered—due partly to the ocean breeze, partly the man beside her.
“You’re cold.” Matt pushed off the rail and ushered her inside, his hot hand at her back shooting tingles up her spine. He slid the glass closed and turned the latch.
She’d watched him move all night in jeans that hugged his muscled thighs and a black polo-style shirt that outlined every bit of strength. Then she’d sat beside him, her head resting against his shoulder, trying hard not to imagine more nights.
“Do you want a Coke or something? Water? Milk?”
“I’m fine.” He sat on the couch, looking completely relaxed, stretching one arm across the back like he’d had it during the movie.
“Oh, okay.” She stood in the middle of the room, unsure what to do next, which way to go. “I might have apple juice, but it’ll be in a box and you’ll have to use a little straw.”
“Relax.” He patted the couch beside him. “You don’t need to play hostess.”
She sat but left a bit of space between them. It’d been easier to give in to the pull of the couch when they were sitting in the dark. She picked at a ball of fuzz beside her leg. “Matt…yesterday when I said…I’m sorry—”
“You already apologized.”
“I know, but— Whoa.” She covered her stomach with both hands.
“You okay?” Matt scooted toward her, instantly on alert.
“Yes, just kicking. But that was the biggest one yet. Guess someone’s feeling left out.”
Matt leaned closer, his thick dark brows furrowed.
She smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m not in labor.”
His eyes remained intent on her belly.
“Do you want to feel?” He didn’t wait for her. His large hand covered her entire belly. With her small hand over his, she adjusted his placement to match the baby’s movements.
At the first strong kick, Matt sucked in a breath. “Amazing.” His voice was just a whisper, like he didn’t want to wake the baby. “It’s hard to imagine there’s really a little person in there. But feeling it…That’s incredible.”
She was suddenly struck by how close they were. How intimate the moment. How special and…rare. His arm around her on the back of the couch, his hand on her body. The two of them experiencing something so incredible, so magical happening inside her. She felt herself being sucked in, as if he were a vacuum and she were a tiny dust bunny, helpless and all too happy to go along for the ride.
But she wanted to be closer, wanted to run her fingers over his smooth-shaven cheek, down his neck, and over his shoulders. To press her nose at the V of his shirt and breathe in the scent of aftershave, put her lips to his hot skin. Even if she couldn’t in her wildest dreams imagine why he was here with her.
The heat emanating from his hand spread and warmed her until she felt him everywhere. The condo was like a refrigerator, but she was hot.
Their eyes met and held. Her heart pounded until she was sure he could hear it. Was his pounding too? “I think she stopped.”
He left his hand another beat before finally sitting back, as if he was reluctant to break the connection. So was she.
“It seems no sooner have I gotten news I’m going to be an uncle than my brothers are sending me pictures. Hundreds of pictures. You’ve never seen such crazy proud fathers.”