Dad Bod Secret Santa (Dad Bod Christmas)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

HANK

H ey, Hank! You alive over there?”

Jax’s voice slices through my daydream. I blink, realizing I’m standing in the middle of the Christmas tree lot, staring into the distance like I’ve never seen a silver pine before.

I shake my head and start moving again. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Just have some things on my mind.” A person is more like it. When you wake up and the woman you’ve lusted over for the last several years is on the other side of your bedroom wall, it gives you a whole fucking lot to fantasize about.

“Yeah, I can see that,” Jax says, hoisting a giant tree over his shoulder. “Just wondering if you were thinking so hard you forgot we’ve got a lot of work to get through today.”

I chuckle under my breath and fall into step beside him, helping him load the tree into the back of a pickup truck. The snow’s falling lightly, dusting the branches of the trees and making the air smell like pine and winter.

“Everything okay? You and Vivian doing alright after the storm?” Jax asks as we finish tying down the tree.

“Yeah, we’re good,” I say, pulling my gloves tighter against the cold. “Storm didn’t do too much damage up on the ridge, just knocked down a few branches. Power’s still on, and we have the genny if the power goes out.”

“You’re lucky,” Jax says, his breath coming out in clouds. “A lot of folks down in town weren’t so fortunate. Lines down all over. They’re saying it’ll be a week before they get everything back up.”

I nod. “Yeah, I heard. Vivian’s friend Wendy and her mom are staying with us.”

Jax gives me a surprised look. “Oh?”

“Yeah. They lost power last night, and Vivian insisted I invite them to crash with us until the power is restored.” I try to sound casual about it, but I know them staying means more than I want to admit, even to myself.

Jax grins. “And by Wendy’s mom, you mean Maggie, right? The Maggie?”

I busy myself with making sure the ropes are secure on the trees we just loaded. “Yeah, that Maggie.”

“Man, haven’t you had a hard-on for her for years now?” Jax asks, clapping me on the back. “You’re telling me she’s staying at your place, and you’re just gonna play it cool?”

“It’s not like that,” I say quickly. “They needed a place to stay. It’s temporary. It’s the right thing to do, especially this time of year.”

Jax lets out a low whistle. “Still, it’s Maggie. I don’t know, Hank, maybe this is fate giving you a little nudge. It’s time you acted on that crush of yours. You don’t need to live like a monk.”

I shoot him a look, but he’s already laughing. “Dude. Like you’re one to talk. When was the last time you even looked at a woman?”

“Relax,” he says, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Been a long time, but we’re not talking about me. I’m just saying, it’s not every day your dream girl ends up under your roof.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not like that. She got divorced a year or so ago, from what Vivian says. She probably doesn’t want a man in her life, much less a single dad like me.” I say, though even I can tell I’m trying to convince myself she wouldn’t be interested because I know it’s safer to keep my heart locked away. “It’s only for a week. It’s not like they’re moving in permanently. Not sure I could take living with three women.”

“Uh-huh,” Jax says, nodding, but the grin never leaves his face. “A week can be a long time when it’s the right company.”

I shrug, pretending not to care, but the truth is, he’s right. I’ve had feelings for Maggie for longer than I care to admit. Since Vivian and Wendy became best friends in school, I’ve run into Maggie more times than I can count. Every time, it’s the same. She’s warm, kind, but guarded. And until a couple of years ago, she was married. Now she’s not, but I don’t know if she’d even give me a chance. My body has seen better days and I like a beer in the evening.

Maybe Jax is right. Maybe this is some kind of sign. I’m not one to believe in fate, but there’s no doubt that sometimes things happen that feel destined.

“It’s time you stop playing it safe. Think about your own needs for once,” Jax adds, seeing the look on my face.

I glance at him, ready to argue, but the words don’t come out. Jax means well, but he’s been as much of a loner as I have for the last several years. It’s not like he’s wise when it comes to women. Doesn’t mean he’s wrong, though.

Before I can think too much more about it, another customer approaches, asking for help picking out a tree. Jax and I get back to work, lifting, cutting, and loading trees onto trucks as the afternoon moves along. It’s busy, but not enough to stop my thoughts from wandering to Maggie and Wendy at the cabin.

Around mid-afternoon, after we’ve loaded the last tree for a while, I step back to catch my breath. Jax comes up beside me, wiping the sweat from his brow despite the freezing temperatures.

“We’re doing real good this year. Waylon’s idea about running a Christmas tree farm was great. All the profits are going to Warrior Cares.”

We all know about Warrior Cares and the men who’ve gone through the programs there. I’m lucky because I got out of the Army with fewer ghosts than many of the men I served with.

“That’s good,” I say, meaning it. “They do a lot of good for vets. I’m glad Waylon made the call to do this.”

I nod, and we get back to work helping families pick a tree and secure it to their cars. I’m usually working with wood all day, either in construction or the occasional carving project, but participating in something like this, where I see the families and the looks of joy when kids see the trees? It cracks open feelings in me that make me want that kind of family again. Make me want a partner to share things with, and especially to build richer memories around the holidays.

It’s around five when I finally call it a day and hand things over to Ace, the sun already setting behind the ridge. Maggie volunteered to pick up both girls after school, so I don’t need to get home right away—but I want to.

I pack up my gear, wave goodbye to Jax and Ace, and head toward my truck. The drive back up to the cabin is quiet, the snow falling heavier now. But my mind is anything but quiet. I’m not sure how I feel about Maggie and her daughter being at the cabin for the next few days, given how much I’ve longed for Maggie over the years, but I’m not going to say no to someone in need, especially Maggie and her daughter.

Still, knowing that Maggie is under my roof makes my stomach do strange flips. A voice in my head suggests I’d have a chance with her, but no way am I going to be like some assholes I’ve known who expect a woman to put out because I did something for them. I’m a better man than that.

When I finally pull up to the cabin, the lights inside glow warm and inviting. I see Maggie and our girls through the window, laughing and clearly in the middle of something. The sight of the three of them makes me pause. I always wanted a larger family, but after Vivian’s mom left, I never thought that’d happen for me. But seeing what it might look like? Damn, if it doesn’t rekindle that desire with a sudden ferocity that surprises me.

I push open the door, brushing the snow off my boots as I step inside. My mouth immediately waters, and my stomach growls as a delicious aroma hits my nostrils.

“Hey, you’re back!” Maggie’s voice comes from the kitchen.

I glance over to see her standing with Vivian and Wendy, both stirring a pot on the stove.

Maggie wipes her hands on a dish towel, looking at me with a soft smile. “I hope you don’t mind. I figured we'd make dinner since you’ve been out all day.”

I blink, caught off guard. I can’t remember the last time someone cooked for me. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know,” she says, her eyes meeting and holding mine. “I wanted to. It was the least I could do with you opening your home to us.”

I look around the kitchen at the food they’re making and experience an emotion I haven’t felt in a long time. It’s not the aroma of dinner or someone else taking care of things for once. No, it’s the sense of family.

I clear my throat, trying to shake off the feeling. “Well, thank you. It was unnecessary, but it is appreciated. It smells amazing.”

Vivian grins at me, clearly pleased with herself. “We made spaghetti.”

The girls talk a mile a minute as they dump a large box of pasta into a pot of boiling water. Maggie moves around the kitchen with ease, setting the table and ensuring everything’s in place. I find myself watching her out of the corner of my eye, admiring the way she moves and how she interacts with the girls.

It’s strange but in the best way. Maggie catches my eye and smiles, and somehow, it’s like this isn’t the first time we’ve done this.

After dinner, as we clean up, the girls talk about the Christmas lights in the neighborhood down in Jefferson. There’s a whole display that people drive through every year, with lights timed to Christmas music. I’ve heard about it, but Vivian has never asked to go before.

“We have to go!” Wendy insists, her eyes wide with excitement. “It’s tradition! Mom and I go every year.”

Vivian nods along, just as excited. “Please, Dad? Can we go? It’s not that far away.”

I glance at Maggie, who looks at Wendy with a raised eyebrow and an indulgent smile. We exchange a look, knowing that if we say no, we’ll never hear the end of it.

“I don’t know—”

“Please?” Wendy pleads, drawing the word into several syllables.

Maggie looks at me again, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “I don’t think we can say no.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Looks that way.” I turn to the girls. “Alright. We can go.”

They cheer, running off to get their coats and scarves, leaving Maggie and me alone in the kitchen.

She looks up at me, her smile soft. “Thanks for agreeing. I know it’s a lot.”

I shrug, trying to play it cool. “Honestly, it’s fine. You know the way, right?”

“I do,” Maggie says, the lights picking up the green in her eyes.

Fuck. Hearing her say ‘I do’? I want to give her another reason to say those two words to me.