Both girls pout, their bottom lips sticking out and faces long, as they file out of the kitchen and into the small half bath in the hallway to wash their hands.

“If you keep your face like that for too long, it’ll stick that way!” I call out to them and smile when I hear them giggle.

Caleb smiles as he approaches me, pulls the lid on the sauce off so he can smell the aromas of tomato and thyme, and then replaces it.

“Looks like I’m right on time.”

“If you like spaghetti, yes you are.” I pour the pasta into a colander and pull the garlic toast out of the oven. “I already set you a place at the table.”

“Thank you.”

I nod and turn away, but he grips my arm and pulls me back around to face him.

“Are you okay?”

“Fine.”

“Having work done on my house, am I?” The dimples in his cheeks wink at me as he smiles.

“I didn’t know what else to say. I don’t want to scare them.”

“My hands are clean!” Maddie announces as she dances back into the room.

“We’ll talk later,” Caleb whispers down to me and helps me get the rest of the dinner on the table. “This smells great.”

“It’s my favorite,” Maddie tells him proudly. “I got to pick tonight because I got all the words right on my spelling test.”

“Good job,” Caleb commends her and holds their chairs out for them.

“Why are you doing that?” Josie asks with a scrunched up nose.

“Because that’s what a gentleman does. He holds the chair out for a lady when she sits.”

“I’m not a lady,” Maddie giggles. “I’m a little girl.”

“You’re little ladies then.” Caleb winks at them and stands patiently by my chair, waiting for me to set the large bowl of spaghetti on the table and take my seat.

“Thank you, sir,” I say primly and sit in the chair.

When was the last time a man sat at our dinner table with us? Besides holidays with the family, never.

Never.

Caleb helps the girls dish up and then waits for me to fill my own plate before digging in himself. As he and the girls eat heartily, I sit back and watch the three of them, laughing and talking, and my heart catches.

Is this what normal is?

“…right mom?” Josie looks at me expectantly.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“We get ice cream for dessert tonight.”

“Oh, sure.” I nod and take a sip of my red wine.

For the rest of the meal, I watch Caleb interact easily with my kids. He is quick to laugh at their antics, and even Josie thaws to him, fighting Maddie to talk about her day.

God, he’s so damn handsome. Like all of the Montgomery men, he’s tall and broad. His hair is a dark blonde, but his eyes are ice blue and when he pins me in his stare, I swear he can see right into the heart of me.

He’s in a gray t-shirt, tucked into faded blue jeans and black socks.

And I can’t help but wonder what he looks like naked. For more than a year now, I’ve wanted to feel him over me, holding me.

Inside me.

And there have been moments when I know he felt the same way, but he’s never crossed the line of friendship.

Damn him.

“Who’s job is it to clean up?” Caleb asks when we’ve all finished our dinners. I’ve barely touched mine, but who can eat when Caleb “Hot Navy SEAL” Montgomery is sitting next to them?

Not me.

“We all help,” Josie tells him. “You can sweep the floor.”

“That’s your job,” I remind her. “It’s her least favorite thing,” I tell Caleb with a smile.

“Darn,” she whispers and takes her plate to the sink.

“We all get KP duty,” Caleb informs the girls.

“What’s cape duty?” Maddie asks.

“K.P.” Caleb scrapes the left overs into a plastic bowl. “It means kitchen patrol.”

“We have to do it before we get ice cream.” Josie scowls.

“Sounds fair to me,” I laugh and begin to load the dishwasher as Caleb and the girls clear the table and wipe down the counter tops.

Before long the kitchen is clean and I’ve scooped everyone ice cream with chocolate sauce and sprinkles for the girls.

“Can we sit outside on the patio?” Maddie asks.

“No, Mads, it’s winter,” I remind her.

“I want summer. When will it be summer?” She asks.

“A few more months yet,” Caleb answers and kisses her head as we all sit at the dining room table to eat our sweet treat.

“It’s not raining,” Josie points out.

“No, but the patio furniture is put away and it’s cold outside.”

“Dumb winter,” Josie pouts and takes a bite of her ice cream.

***

“Are they in bed?” Caleb asks as I descend the stairs to the living room.

“Yes.” I sigh and sit heavily on the couch next to him. “I love them, but dear God they’re exhausting.”

“They’re beautiful,” Caleb murmurs as he hands me a beer.

“We’re drinking?” I ask with raised eyebrows.

“We’re sharing this one.”

“Okay.” I take a pull on the brown bottle and then hand it back to him. “You know, you don’t have to stay, Caleb. The girls and I are safe.”