Page 68 of Seduction

“Boy.” Ellen shakes her head. “This Sophia sure is a… she sure says a lot.”

“She’s my best friend and she says mommies and daddies kiss.”

Mommies and daddies. He already sees me as his daddy. Being here with him and his mom, Ifeellike a daddy. Like I have the family I’ve always wanted.

I walk over to Ellen, sliding my arm around her waist.

“What are you doing?” she demands.

“Well, we can’t disappoint the little man, now can we?”

I place my other hand on her back, smiling at her shriek when I dip her. Leaning in, I press a soft kiss to her lips. Mikey giggles, clapping excitedly. Ellen stares up at me, her chest heaving.

“Later,” I tell her, watching her eyes widen at the promise in the word. Straightening, I release her and she goes back to her cooking.

I take a seat at the table, lifting Mikey onto my lap when he attempts to climb up. Ellen sets a steaming cup of coffee before me, then a plate loaded with eggs, pancakes, bacon, and hash browns. There’s a smaller one for Mikey, his pancake cut into small pieces.

“Chocolate-hazelnut pancakes,” she announces with a wink.

I don’t even know how she knew I liked the stuff. My coffee is just the way I like it, too—cream, no sugar.

“Thanks, babe.”

“Thanks, babe!” Mikey repeats in a high-pitched voice.

Ellen and I both laugh while I ruffle his hair. I dig in, suddenly feeling starved. “What are you up to today?” I ask when she joins us.

“Party planning. I need to handle some stuff for the office, and then I have fifty goodie bags to pack. You?”

“Picking up Gage and Raven at the airport. Knowing your brother, he’ll want a download right away.”

“No work?”

“I took a few days off. I’ll come by later?”

She glances up, looking genuinely pleased at the prospect. “I’d love that.”

“Good.”

While I pour syrup on my pancakes, Mikey pushes his plate toward me.

“Can I have some, too?” he asks.

“May I,” Ellen corrects him.

“May I have some, too?”

“Sure, buddy.”

I catch him watching me, mimicking my actions just like last night. Now I understand why Ellen doesn’t curse. I need to watch what I do and say around this little boy; he’s like a sponge, soaking up everything around him.

After breakfast, Ellen clears the table, loading the dishwasher. Mikey tries to drag me to the TV, but his mom stops him.

“It’s time to get ready for school, baby.”

“Nooo,” he whines. “I wanna stay with Ice-tie.”

Ellen looks to me for assistance. A part of me is elated, but the rest of me is a bit scared. I wanted a family, but I have no idea how to handle kids. I certainly know nothing about disciplining them.