Eligible Ex-husband - Marie Johnston Page 0,59

griddle. “Can you make Mickey Mouse?”

“That’s Dad’s thing.” He has the patience, fitting the role of fun parent much better than me. I get bogged down in the minutia and he lives for the minute.

“What’s my thing?”

I pop my head up at his voice. “You’re home early. I didn’t hear you come in.”

He catches both girls in a hug and they rush off just as fast. He crooks a brow at their dismissal. “Mom gave them each a new pack of Lego Friends to play with this week.”

“Right.” His suit coat is nowhere to be seen and his tie is long gone. He unbuttons his cuffs and rolls his sleeves up. “I was just thinking about these today. Want me to do my special thing?”

“Yes, but we’re out of whipped cream. Chocolate chips will have to do.” I dig in the corner cupboard, saying over my shoulder, “I’m making supper early so we can watch your interview.”

He pours a ring of batter, then two more at the top. His brows are drawn and I don’t think it’s from the concentration of making mouse shaped pancakes. “We should talk to the girls first—about us.”

I clutch the chocolate chips in my hands. “Is something wrong? Is it the interview?”

“No. I don’t think so, but she was asking about you and us and I couldn’t dismiss you completely.” He aims a scowl my way. “She assumed you were a nanny.”

I snort out a laugh. When Abby was first born, we couldn’t afford a date night, much less a sitter. The irony is that now we could hire a nanny, but I want to either delay my career until my kids are grown, or work it around their lives.

“Thank you for setting the record straight. So what’d you say?”

His jaw flexes. “I never really answered her question about whether we’re back together, but I don’t know what they’re going to air or what angle she’s going to take, and since how we deal with the girls is important to you, I cut out early.”

He rushed home to save our secret from getting outed on the local news before the kids knew? If I hadn’t fallen so hard for him already, that would’ve done it.

“I guess we’ll be telling them while we’re sticky with syrup.”

“You don’t mind?”

I set the chocolate chips by the spatula and risk burning the pancakes to slide my hand up his hard upper arm to his muscled shoulder until I cup his face. “Not when you came home early to make pancakes for them because you were worried about how it’d affect us.”

The corner of his mouth tips up and he leans down for a quick kiss. It’s the riskiest we’ve been with the girls awake, since that first time in the laundry room.

Once dinner’s ready, I call them down. They dive into their chairs at the table and dig in right away, chattering about the Legos and the food. Simon looks to me to begin the conversation.

“Dad and I wanted to talk to you two about something.”

“What?” Abby asks around a mouthful.

Simon jumps in. “Mom and I are… we’d like to… we want…” His pained expression makes me giggle. Maddy and Abby look between us.

“We’re trying again.” My explanation does nothing for them. They look just as confused as before. “We’re kind of… back together.”

Maddy’s eyes brighten. “You’re getting married again! Ooh, can I wear a big white dress and throw flowers?”

My mouth opens but I have nothing to say. Another wedding is so far down on my list of possibilities that it’s a nonexistent thought.

Abby pumps her fist. “I want to wear a dress too. Can we invite Kia and—”

“Abby.” Simon chuckles nervously. “We haven’t gotten as far as a wedding. We’re just trying to make it work again. Your mom and I care for each other. A lot. We always have.” His gaze is on me, its weight nearly tangible. “You’ve noticed that I’m staying here now. That’s a start.”

“You’re moving into the guest room?” Abby asks.

My cheeks warm as I answer. “He’s moving back into the bedroom, with me.”

Simon’s steady gaze says so much, but carefully reveals nothing to the kids about how often he’s been in the bedroom with me already.

Maddy wrinkles her nose. “No wedding?”

I haven’t thought that far ahead. Does that mean I think this is doomed? Or does it just mean that in my heart, I’ve always been married to this man?

Simon clears his throat. “Mom and I already had a wedding. But