"I'm trying my best," he said, giving her an innocent look. He sauntered back into the family room and called out, "Who likes Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?"
"The nice version," she hissed behind him.
Once the boys were finally asleep, Alexis and Tyler sat comfortably on the couch, watching A Christmas Carol in the family room. The lights were dimmed and the tree lights twinkled happily in the background.
"So do you think you'll ever write poems again?" asked Tyler. "Maybe we could collaborate."
"What makes you think I stopped? Maybe I've been filling notebooks and stuffing them under my mattress for years."
"Oh, you stopped," he said knowingly. "Maybe you dabbled a little in college, but I'll bet you never wrote anything after that."
"When did you decide all that, Agatha Christie?"
"That first night you came into the bar."
She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "You're right. I gave up that part of myself a long time ago."
"The poet's still in there, you know." He patted his own chest. "Takes one to know one. You should release the hounds. If you write as well as you kiss, you could be the next Maya Angelou."
She covered her face with her hands, embarrassed by his casual reference to their make out session. "Tyler," she protested.
"What's the matter? Alexis, you have nothing to be embarrassed about, believe me. The way you tilted your head at just the right angle. Your tongue was like a hot, wet…"
Her face grew hot. "Tyler, if you say another word on the subject, so help me
God, that tree will find its way up your..."
He leapt away from her, grinning mischievously. "Your lips were like red rose petals glistening with dew. I've never experienced a kiss like that in my life."
Alexis couldn't resist a smile. "You're a lucky man, Tyler Barnes."
Tyler eyed her. "I could be luckier."
"And persistent."
He dropped back down beside her and covered her hand with his. "I do get a rise out of watching you squirm." And out of everything else you do, he wanted to add.
"So glad you find me entertaining."
They sat in mutual silence for a moment, enjoying the ambience.
"Do you think this is what it would be like?" he asked.
"What?"
"Having kids."
Alexis stared into her lap. Although she'd told her mother the whole dreadful story, she wasn't ready to confide in Tyler, partly because her emotions were still too raw and partly because she feared his reaction. He stirred such positive feelings in her; she didn't want to risk losing that.
"I don't know," she finally whispered.