Book One: Chapter 18


    Early in the morning Macey’s bedroom door quietly swung open. Two sets of eyes peered in to see


    their parents intimately entangled under the sheets. There was no trace of embarrassment even as one


    raised their mother’s phone and snapped a picture before they quietly closed the door.


    Juliuszily stirred. Blinking he found himself staring at a field of red hair. He smiled recalling the


    previous night. Macey still snuggled closed to him her face nestled against his neck. Her soft breath


    fluttered against his chest. He caressed her gentle curves, squeezing her butt as he pulled her closer.


    Silently he told himself it wasn’t a dream. This was real. She was back in his arms. He would do


    anything to keep it that way.


    Macey stirred shifting her hips causing Julius to groan as they rolled against him. He could already feel


    himself stiffening. Macey sighed shifting again.


    “Macey, sweetheart, you might want to stop that unless you want to finish this,” Julius whispered


    kissing her forehead.


    Her eyes fluttered open. She stared at him. At first he saw confusion then surprise and finally


    realization as she blushed. Julius chuckled leaning over and kissing her.


    “You are beautiful in the morning.”


    “You’re biased.”


    “Yes. I am.”


    Macey rxed as his fingers lightly traced the contour of her back. His body was always so warm she


    hardly needed nkets. It had been years since she felt so rxed. Suddenly she stiffened and her


    eyes went wide with shock.


    “What time is it?”


    “Umm,” Julius raised his head to glimpse the clock. “Seven.”


    “The kids!” Macey pushed away looking toward the door. Caden woke up at six thirty every morning


    without fail and though Ariained she was never far behind.


    “It’s all right,” Julius pulling her back to spoon her. “They’re probably still asleep.”


    “No. They are up,” Macey insisted.


    “Well…I don’t smell anything burning so I think we’re fine,” Julius smiled.


    Macey stifled augh and pped his arm but there was no force in it. Julius chuckled. As much as he


    wanted to stay in bed he knew they had to get up. He still had to drive home and change before he


    headed to work. Mentally he chastised himself for not being prepared but how could he have known the


    night would end like it did?


    “Okay. Why don’t you take a long, hot shower and I’ll check on the rugrats,” Julius kissed her shoulder.


    “Are you sure?”


    “Of course. Besides if I stay here while you freshen up I won’t be able to stop myself from joining you,”


    Julius kissed her again before rolling out of bed.


    Macey averted her gaze covering her face as it reddened with the image he evoked. Grabbing his


    pants Julius briefly disappeared into the bathroom emerging after he relieved himself and dressed. He


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    grabbed his shirt and leaned over her kissing her deeply.


    “Take your time,” he whispered before leaving.


    Maceyy several minutes calming her racing heart. How did he have such an effect over her after six


    years? She had to be crazy and what wasst night? How could she have lost her self control so


    easily? Was she really just sex starved as Vicki loved to im or was there something more between


    them? Would it be wrong to hope for thetter?


    Her head muddled with contradictory thoughts she forced herself out of bed and headed to the


    bathroom. She only intended to take a short shower but the rxing steam kept her in much longer.


    When she was done her thoughts were just as muddled as before.


    * * *


    Julius pulled on his shirt as he stepped down the hall. He paused at the kids’ door to see it was open


    and their beds empty. Aria’s bed covers had been recklessly tossed aside while Caden’s was neatly


    made. Macey’s motherly instincts were not wrong. Impressed he continued to the living room to see


    them kneeling at the coffee table. Aria was quietly coloring with her hair a tangled mess. Caden tapped


    at his mother’sptop. His early morning hair sported a cowlick.


    “Good morning,” Julius greeted.


    “Bonjour,” Aria smiled. Now that hernguage skills were out in the open she was happy to use them.


    “Are you two hungry?” Julius asked.


    “Yes!” Aria gave a characteristically enthusiastic answer that made Julius chuckle.


    “So what do you normally have?”


    “Mommy usually makes oatmeal.”


    “And do you like oatmeal?”


    Aria made a face and stuck out her tongue. Caden scowled. Their mother dressed it up with fruit but it


    always tasted the same and they weren’t fond of the texture either. Julius chuckled. He hadn’t liked


    oatmeal as a kid either.


    “How about French Toast?”


    “What’s that?”


    “You’ve never had French Toast?” Julius looked from one to the other in surprise to see the same


    curious gazes. “Well, let’s fix that right now.”


    They trailed him to the kitchen and hopped onto their step stools as he dragged out a griddle and


    ced it over the stove burners. Grabbing a mixing bowl he cracked several eggs into it adding milk, a


    generous amount of cinnamon and vani before whisking the contents. Once mixed, he dipped bread


    in it thoroughly coating both sides beforeying them down on the now hot griddle.


    Aria and Caden watched the process in fascination. Their aunts Vicki and Dillon asionally made


    them waffles but they never saw this sort of preparation before.


    “Are you’re sure this is French?” Aria asked.


    Julius chuckled as he flipped the toast, “Probably not. I’m not sure how it got the name actually.”


    Caden whispered in Aria’s ear after a moment of thought. She nodded saying, “It does sort of look like


    pain perdu.”


    “What’s that?” Julius asked.


    “It’s French for lost bread,” Caden exined. “They use stale bread to make it so it doesn’t go to


    waste.”


    “Ah…yeah I can see that,” Julius nodded. “This would be a good recipe for stale bread. Okay do you


    want maple syrup, honey or fruit on your toast?”


    “Syrup!” they both eximed earning a chuckle from their father.


    “All right. Go sit at the table.”


    Aria and Caden hurriedly climbed off their stools and dashed for the table. They watched him cut the


    toast and add a generous amount of syrup before bringing them their meal. He followed that with


    sses of apple juice. They dug in immediately enjoying the sweet breakfast their father made.


    “More please!” they both eximed holding out their tes when their first serving was done.


    Chuckling Juliusplied with second helpings full of pride at how readily they enjoyed the meal he


    provided. He couldn’t help but wonder if every day would start like this once he convinced Macey to


    stay.


    “Mmm….what smells so good?” Macey asked emerging from the bedroom. Her hair was still damp


    from her shower and pinned back with barrettes. She wore simr mid-rise jeans as yesterday this time


    topped with a turtleneck sweater that Julius was already mentally peeling off.


    “French Toast!” the twins eximed at the same time.


    “What about your oatmeal?” Macey asked. She tried to provide them with the most nutritious meals she


    could though Vicki imed there was no joy in such food.


    “It was vetoed,” Julius said handing her a te with a stack of toast topped with honey and kissed her


    temple. “It’s their vacation. Let them live it up.”


    She sighed but there was no denying their contented looks. It was fine for now she supposed. The


    French toast did look good and he even remembered to top hers with honey.


    “Shit…” Julius muttered looking at his phone.


    “What is it?” Macey asked as she set her breakfast on the table.


    “Something’s happening at work. I have to get going.”


    “You can’t stay and y with us?” Aria asked.


    “’Fraid not, peanut,” Julius leaned over her and kissed the top of her head. “How about Ie back


    tonight?”


    “Yeah! Then we can cook for you!” Aria announced. “And you’ll stay and y with us after?”


    “Absolutely,” Julius smiled circling the table to grab his jacket, tussling Caden’s hair as he passed.


    Caden snickered. Usually he hated when others messed up his hair but he didn’t mind if it was his dad.


    Julius circled an arm around Macey’s waist and kissed her temple again. He really wanted to kiss her


    like he hadst night but thought it best to keep it PG in front of the kids.


    “See you tonight,” he whispered.


    Macey managed a nod fighting her fluttering heart. She was already looking forward to his return


    wondering if he would spend the night again. Her body almost shuddered with anticipation. What was


    wrong with her?


    “Okay, you two, let’s finish breakfast and we’ll get dressed.” Macey sat down finally ready to eat.


    “Okay!”


    * * *


    After dressing in cargo pants and a tee-shirt Caden returned to theputer. Aria joined him awhile


    rainbow leggings along with a ck shirt. Like their mother her hair was tamed with braids and


    barrettes.


    “Whatcha looking at?” Aria asked seeing her brother still on theptop.


    “Pictures of us and daddy.”


    “Really?” Aria eagerly joined him.


    Caden paged up to the top of the site. There he showed his sister pictures of their parents. In one their


    parents were kissing holding each other in a passionate embrace. In another their father was giving


    their mother his coat. Aria happily giggled. Their parents were getting along so well.


    Her brother continued to page down to get to the pictures of them and their zoo trip. There were shots


    of them as they looked at the sea lions, the tigers and goris as well as petting the alpaca. There was


    even a picture of them on the bench with their Icees.


    “Those are really nice,” Aria said. “Can you save them?”


    “Ah-huh,” Caden nodded. He had already saved the files to theputer.


    “What are you two looking at?” Macey asked seeing how engrossed they both were.


    Wide-eyed the twins looked up caught red-handed. They didn’t realized their mother had returned to


    the living room. Caden looked to his sister terrified not knowing how to exin without revealing their


    n. His sister on the other hand was always a fast thinker when put on the spot.


    “We’re looking at pictures of Mister Jules,” Aria answered truthfully.


    “You’re what?” Macey circled around them to peer down at theputer screen.


    Biting her lip she knelt reading the article apanying the pictures. There was nothing inherently


    wrong with the images themselves. They were actually rather sweet. The article was concerned with


    the identity of the children and why Julius DaLair was with them. Julius was considered something of a


    yboy so it was natural to wonder why he was suddenly babysitting children.


    “Mister Jules is very handsome, isn’t he mommy?” Aria prompted.


    “…Yes. He is,” Macey sighed. “What do you think about him? Do you think he’s nice?”


    “He’s really nice! And he’s a good cook too!”


    “What about you Caden?”


    It wasn’t always easy to get him to speak with Aria around. She was far more excitable and vocal when


    expressing herself so Macey learned to ask Caden questions directly to get answers from him.


    “I like him,” Caden said. “Do you think I’m as handsome as he is?”


    “Yes, yes I do,” Macey hugged him reaching a decision. “Do you know why?”


    They shook their heads not sure where their mother was going with her questions. Could it be possible


    she knew what they were up to?


    “Well…it’s because he’s your father.”


    Caden and Aria shared a look. They weren’t sure if they should admit they already knew or not. It


    seemed their mother was still unaware of their n so Aria decided to y it safe.


    “Is he really our daddy?” Aria asked.


    “That’s right,” Macey nodded waiting for their questions.


    “Has he always been here?” Aria asked, happy to oblige. “Why doesn’t he live in Paris too?”


    “Well…”