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“Smells delicious,” I finally say, breaking the quiet. I’m not trying to flatter him, the food does smell like a bite of it will steal my soul. Is there anything this man isn’t good at? He cooks, he is such a great father, and he’s handsome. If perfection were a person, it would be him.
He smiles. “Well, I aim to please. Figured you could use a good meal.”
I nod, grateful for his thoughtfulness. It was rough with Kira's fever spiking, and having Brandon here taking care of us made everything seem a little easier. Thanks to him, I was able to get enough sleep, and now he’s even making me brunch.
Brandon sets two plates on the kitchen table, each loaded with crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and buttered toast. He pours a glass of orange juice for me and a cup of coffee for himself before joining me at the table. As we eat in companionable silence, I steal glances at him, admiring the way his tousled hair falls over his forehead and the way his eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles.
“What are your plans for today?”
I shrug. “I don’t have any.” I lean toward him. “Why are you asking? Don’t tell me you’re planning to take me out. Before you get any ideas, remember what happened the last time we did that.”
“We had the most beautiful girl in the world as our daughter.” He cocks his brow as his gaze meets mine. “I don’t have any regrets, Anya. Not one.”
Tears prickle my eyes. I’d been so worried, and it had all been for nothing. It feels good to finally have someone in my corner. Someone who loves Kira just as much as I love her. “Thank you.”
He tilts his head. “For what?”
“For loving our daughter this much.”
He reaches for my hand across the table and squeezes it gently. “You don’t have to thank me for anything. If anything, I should be the one thanking you. Which brings me to the topic of breaking the news to everyone else.”
My stomach churns. “Everyone else? You mean your family?”
He nods.
I’m still not confident enough to face them. I wonder what his parents will think of me, and Spencer is going to hate this. But that childish asshole is the least of my problems right now.
I’m nervous, but I know there’s no better time to tell them than now. “When?”
“Tomorrow evening. I’ll pick you girls up.”
As the words leave Brandon’s lips, a mix of nerves and excitement swirl in my stomach. Meeting his family formally has been a long time coming, and despite my fears, I know it's the right thing to do. Kira deserves to have both of her parents and her grandparents present in her life, and if that means facing scrutiny from Brandon’s family, then so be it.
I nod, trying to keep the anxiety at bay. “Tomorrow evening it is then.”
Brandon’s smile is reassuring, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of my hand. “Everything will be fine, Anya. My family already adores you. Especially Alessa.”
I chuckle lightly, feeling warmth spread through me at his words. “Let’s hope they do.”
Brandon insists on doing the dishes when we’re done eating. I offer to make him a fresh cup of coffee since he barely had enough rest after taking care of Kira this morning.
I walk toward the cabinet where I keep the mugs. “I need a cup.”
We both reach for the cabinet at the same time. Our hands brush against each other, sending a jolt of electricity waltzing through me.
Our eyes meet, and for a moment, time seems to stand still. There's a shift in the air between us. It crackles with an energy that I can’t ignore. Brandon's gaze drifts from my eyes to my lips, his thumb grazing my hand softly.
Without breaking eye contact, he takes a step closer, his breath mingling with mine. I can feel the heat emanating from his body, drawing me in like a moth to a flame. And just as I part my lips to speak, he leans in, closing the distance between us.
“You are so beautiful, Anya. I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long, stay with you and look after Kira” he whispers in a husky tone.
My heart races in my chest. I’ve dreamt him too— dreamt everything about him.
The world around us fades away as our lips meet in a soft, tentative kiss. His touch is both familiar and electrifying.
His lips are warm and inviting, fitting perfectly against mine, as if they were made to be there. The kiss deepens, igniting a passion that had been smoldering beneath the surface. I feel myself melting into him, my hands finding their way to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my touch.
In that moment, there is only Brandon and I, lost in a whirlwind of emotions. The world outside ceases to exist as we stand there, locked in an embrace that speaks volumes without a single word being uttered.
