Page 82 of Something Like Shelter

But eventually, we both decided to move at once, him sliding away, and me pushing myself back up.

By the time I turned, Owen had his pants back in place and was holding out my shorts and panties with this devilish little look he’d totally earned.

“That was worth the wait,” he said as I pulled my clothes back on.

“Took the words right out of my mouth,” I said.

Then he was reaching for me, pulling me against him, and kissing me long and deep until, inevitably, Adelaide let out a wail from up in her nursery.

“She needs to nurse.”

He nodded at that. “How about you do that, then meet me back down here for a cup of coffee to end the night?”

“Decaf?”

“Decaf.”

“Looking forward to it,” I said before rushing up the stairs to grab my baby, taking her with me to the glider to nurse.

“I know it’s early,” I told Adelaide, my voice whisper-soft, “but I think he might be the one.”

Not the one I’d planned.

Not the one who checked all the boxes I used to think were so important.

Not the one I could have seen coming.

Yet, somehow, everything I could possibly need.

No, he didn’t wear a suit to a corner office every day. But he owned his own business. He was busy and successful by most metrics. Maybe not rich, but I had every faith that he could be much wealthier if that was what he wanted. But he didn’t aspire to that.

And to be honest, the more time I spent at home with my baby, and with my family when they came to visit, the more I was seeing that maybe I’d placed a little too much emphasis on my career.

Over the years, I’d been cognizant of the fact that I was missing out on family gatherings or nights out with my friends. I told myself that it was necessary for advancement, that it would all be worth it, that at some point, I would be in a place in my career that I would have abundant free time.

I never stopped to ask myself important questions. Like why I thought it was necessary to sacrifice the joy of the present moment for some unknown, not promised future.

It was funny how a baby could really ground you in the moment. There was no future when you were in the trenches of sleeplessness, feedings, changings, and just trying to get through the next few moments when you are so tired you can barely see straight.

I mean, I wasn’t saying I was suddenly going to give up my career or anything like that. But it was becoming much more important to me to protect my free time. No more late nights because a client was in a different timezone. No more working twice as hard as my peers just to get half the recognition they got.

I was seriously going to start looking for a new job once I was off of maternity leave. Something solid and well-paying without requiring more from me than I was willing to give.

I wanted to be home to see my baby for more than an hour or two before she went to bed. I wanted the flexibility to chaperone school trips, be home when she was sick, take vacations. The important things.

And those important things… they were going to include Owen.

Owen with his calm nature, his capability, his devotion, his ability to soothe my anxiety, his softness, and, yeah, his handyman skills. Which were unexpectedly hot.

“I think he will be good for us,” I told a milk-drunk Adelaide as I set her down in her crib before making my way downstairs to find Owen waiting for me.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked as we curled on the couch together.

“I was just thinking about life. The future. Changes I want to make.”

“What kind of changes?”

“A better work-life balance, mostly.”