Carissa: Merry Christmas, sexy ;)
A smile forms across my face. She thinks I’m sexy. I think she’s sexy as fuck. Do I dare ask her for a picture right now? Nothing scandalous, of course. I just want to see her pretty face and gorgeous smile.
Me: I miss you… send me a picture of your pretty face… please?
She replies with a smiley face emoji followed by a picture of her in scrubs. Still, she’s damn gorgeous. Before I have a chance to reply, she texts me again.
Carissa: And I miss you, too, by the way. I keep thinking about kissing you…
Oh, this could be so dangerous. My cock stirs to life. Fuck.
Me: You don’t know how badly I wanna kiss you again, too.
Me: You are so beautiful… is that pic from now?
Carissa: Yeah, I’m at work… early shift. No holidays off for the hospital crew ;)
Damn, I didn’t even think about if she might be working. But it’s true. Doctors and hospital staff rarely have off on holidays. I know she’s not a doctor or nurse, but in order to run the hospital, they have to have their staff present, even if only a few of them at a time.
Me: So, you know what I’m going to ask you now, right?
Carissa: What’s that?
Me: I wanna see you again. Come by my house tomorrow night? Let me cook for you again. You work too hard… come by my place, chill out on the couch, and I’ll rub your feet for you :)
Carissa: That sounds wonderful. I’ll be there.
Smiling again, I think of Carissa laid out on my couch in some sexy pj’s while I rub her down. Damn, I need to stop.
I text her back to find out what time works for her, and we set a date for seven again.
Perfect. I can’t wait to see her. Getting through this day is going to drag.
“Daddy!” I hear Gianna’s screaming voice as she jumps onto my bed and wraps her arms around me.
Actually, I think I’m going to really enjoy today until it’s time to see Carissa again.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” I say, placing kisses on her head.
“Daddy! Santa came! Come, let’s go open presents!”
“She burst into my room, tugging on my sleeve. Get up, Enz,” Max says from my doorway, rubbing his eyes. Knowing him, he probably got to bed late and now is in desperate need of an espresso.
Marianna walks up behind him and peeks in. “Merry Christmas, guys.”
“Merry Christmas,” I reply. I gently move Gianna over and say, “Okay, let Daddy get up, and I’ll meet you in the living room. Go with Uncle Maxy and Auntie Mari to see if Nonno and Nonna are up.” I know my parents are already up. They’re in the kitchen having coffee. This is just what they do.
“Okay, Daddy!” Gianna shouts excitedly, jumping off the bed. She darts toward my brother and sister and grabs them both by the hand. “Come on, Uncle Maxy and Auntie Mari! Let’s go!”
I smile as the three of them head down the hall.
It’s going to be a good day.
Chapter Seventeen
Carissa
I don’t know what’s been going on with me. One minute I’m holding back, not trying to fall for his charming good looks, amazing personality, and humungous biceps. Yes, I said it… humungous biceps that drive me crazy whenever he wraps his arms around me. And the next minute, I’m really liking him.
Like, super really liking him.
Like on the verge of falling in love with him.
It scares me. God, does it scare the shit out of me. I haven’t been here in so long, and I swore up and down, left and right, and all ways possible that I would never do it again after the way things ended with Steve.
“So things are good?” Daniela asks me through the phone, bringing me back to reality.
I’m currently throwing on some jeans, getting ready to leave the house to see Lorenzo tonight. The nerves in my belly have been going wild all day long. I’m so nervous, and excited, and anxious, and, oh my God, every good and nerve-wracking emotion possible.
I step back and take in my reflection in the mirror, cocking my head to one side. “Yeah, girl. Things have actually been so good… like it scares me.”
She chuckles. “Yo, you’re falling for him. Hard.”
Falling…
I’m afraid I may have already fallen.
I sit on the edge of my bed and look out toward the window. “Yeah, I realized that this morning when I first woke up. It hit me… like lightning, and since then, I’ve been scared shitless. But at the same time, it’s kind of nice.” I shrug.
“Of course it is, girl! After the shit you’ve been through with Steve? You deserve everything good. And why not with a super-hot guy who’s a UFC Heavyweight Champion?” She chuckles. “Oh my God. I still can’t believe you’re dating Lorenzo Trevano. Do you know how many women would kill to be in your shoes? Me included.”
I let out a short laugh. “I guess. I mean, yeah, it’s awesome he’s this hotshot, but the part of it that makes it the best of all is he’s this super sweet guy… like no joke. And he’s a great dad. His daughter is the cutest thing around with big blue eyes and long dark curls. She seriously looks like a porcelain doll.”
“I wasn’t even aware he had a daughter. How old is she again?” she asks.
“Five.” Thoughts of the day I met Gianna come crashing into the front of my mind. She is so precious. To think, Lorenzo is raising her all on his own. He did so well. Okay, yes, he said he has family to help, but I’m sure they’re not always around. He lives alone with her, so when she’s sick or wakes up in the middle of the night from a nightmare, he’s the one there for her. He’s the one who cooks and takes care of her mostly.
But if this thing with him goes any further… If he and I actually get to the next step with one another, will I be able to fill the shoes of stepmother? Yeah, I know I’m thinking way ahead in the future and it would mean we’re married, but I have to consider it as a possibility, maybe. I have to take it into consideration because being with someone who already has a child is important. I know Gianna means the world to him, so if he’s going to be with me, he’s trusting me to be around her and with her. And that, I know, is the most important thing to him.
Will I be able to be a mother?
I’ve always wanted kids and have pictured my life as one day becoming a mom, but it was under different circumstances. I’d be married and my husband and I would have a kid together. I never imagined I’d be with someone who already has a daughter from a previous relationship.
Or marriage.
I can’t believe he was married. Am I ever going to measure up to who his wife was? I know nothing about her, but I can only imagine how hard it was on him when she passed. Is this something I want to get myself into? Am I ready to give my heart to someone who’s loved and lost someone so dear to him?
I rise from the bed and leave the bedroom. If I want to be on time, I need to hurry, and my hair still needs help. I enter the bathroom and wrap my first section onto the curling iron. Good thing I had turned it on a few minutes ago, and thank God for AirPods. Knowing me, I probably would end up burning myself if I had to be on the phone and use the iron at the same time.