Page 37 of Daycare Santa
Zack’s glare didn’t deter Eli, who laughed. “I’ll have a better fix on things once I meet his lady.”
“She’s not my lady. Yet.” He flicked a glance at Eli. “I’m not swift, like someone who will remain nameless.”
“Children.” Their father’s rebuke ended the exchange—although Zack wanted to say they were too long in the tooth to be addressed as such, sometimes their behavior said something different, like now—and they went back to talking about Liz’s trip.
The family gathering on the weekend was one thing Zack loved about the Winters. He no longer took their affection and togetherness for granted because he missed them more than he imagined he would while living abroad.
After his breakup with Alana, he knew a family of his own was in his future. He just needed to get there when the time was right. Meeting Gina and Luca was the catalyst he needed to jumpstart his life again.
He wasn’t sure how much longer he’d be on the island, but wouldn’t leave without making significant progress with Gina. Luca was a good kid, bright and inquisitive. The two were a package deal, but it didn’t matter. He didn’t want to have one without the other.
Zack hadn’t lied when he told Gina she’d made her mark on him the moment he saw her—eyes wide and embarrassed about Luca’s declaration. The memory of it made Zack laugh.
He smoothed his beard and met his gaze in the mirror. This was an adventure he looked forward to, and there wasn’t any better time than the holidays. From the table by the front door, he picked up his keys and was on his way in a few minutes.
Eli and Zack agreed to pick up their dates and meet at a new cocktail bar. From there, they would head to the theater for the premier of a romantic comedy.
When he called to tell Gina he was nearby, she apologized several times. “I’m running a few minutes late. Work.”
“That’s fine. I wanted to beat the traffic, so I’m early.”
Strings of winking pepper lights made her house a beacon on the street, plus the reindeer on the front lawn. Few of their neighbors had bothered to decorate, but he guessed the ones who did were parents with young children.
He knocked once, and the door swung open.
“Uncle Zack!” Luca pulled him inside at the same moment Gina’s sister walked into the living room.
“Good evening. Good to see you again.” She held out one hand, which he shook as he greeted her. “You can call me Valencia, or Seya.”
When the formalities were over, Seya faced Luca. “What did your mother tell you about opening the door when someone knocks?”
“Wait for an adult,” he mumbled. “But Uncle Zack isn’t a stranger.”
“How would you know with the door closed?”
“Mommy said he was coming.”
Seya tapped him on the chin. “You win, kiddo, but next time ...”
“Wait for an adult,” Luca finished, wagging one finger while Zack bit back a smile.
With one hand wrapped tight around his wrist, Luca dragged him to the sofa and told him to sit. Then he positioned a tablet on Zack’s leg and launched into an explanation of the game he’d been playing.
Zack scanned their living space while listening. They had decked the Christmas tree with red and gold globes and a mixture of ornaments, including miniature Santas and tiny reindeer, strung on a golden cord. Gold tinsel provided the finishing touch, but the overall effect of the crowded tree told him Luca had a hand in decorating.
Zack was engrossed in a virtual obstacle course for a few minutes when he sensed someone watching him. The greeting dried in his throat when he met Gina’s eyes. She stole his breath, posed in the doorway in chunky heels and a navy dress with tiny rhinestones that flattered her curves. As his gaze slid over her clothing, she dropped a shawl over her shoulders and shifted her gaze. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.”
“You’re leaving in the middle of your turn?” Luca asked, his voice mournful.
“Sorry, maybe next time I’ll get to finish.”
“You promise?”
Zack’s attention went to Gina. “That depends on your mom. If she says we can.”
The boy launched himself off the sofa and grabbed Gina around the waist, tipping his head back as he pleaded, “Can we, Mommy?”