Unexpected

Five

Knox POV

Snow White was the perfect way to describe the gorgeous woman sitting in the booth next to me, my little girl absolutely nailed it on the head by calling her that.
She had the fairest ivory skin I had ever seen, long pitch black curls that fell down her back and ruby red lips made for kissing. But it was when my eyes finally met hers I felt like I could actually drown in them - they were unlike anything, blue - like the deepest parts of the ocean and so expressive it was almost like I could see in them everything she was feeling and like she could read into every part of me - even the darkest parts.
She was beautiful, stunning, she was everything.
4 years it had been since a woman had managed to catch my attention - 4 years since I had wanted to have a woman's attention on me. After all the shit that had gone down with Evie's mother, the absolute shit show of a battle with her parents for Evie and working full time to give her the best life possible it hasn't really left a lot of time for anything else - but this woman - was different - and I don't even know if I could tell you how I knew in that moment, I just knew.

I held her hand possibly a minute longer than I should have not wanting to lose the feeling of her soft skin against mine and I couldn't help but expand my smile as her cheeks tinted a gorgeous shade of pink.

"So Maya here is holidaying in our gorgeous town all by herself" Jake spoke, his grin wide.

"Is that right" I looked at Maya who smiled and nodded

"Hmmm, I got here late yesterday afternoon"

"And how long are you staying?"

"I'm not really sure, as long as I'm back before school starts the new term - I haven't really made my mind up yet"

"You're in school?" I asked,

"No" she chuckled "I'm a teacher - 1st grade - thank you for the compliment though"

Her ruby red lips curved up into a bright smile which I couldn't help but return - our eyes locked together watching each other I finally had to force myself to turn away from her as we were interrupted by the waitress placing plates of food in front of us,

"You know I was starting to think you all had forgotten about us" Miss Jay winked as she finished dropping the last plate on the table

"Not possible Jay" Jake spoke "Just been busy - you know how it gets"

"Hmmmm, well don't let it happen again - I miss you boys when you disappear"

"Promise we will do better Jay" I told her

She patted my hand and looked over at Evie,

"And you little Miss Evie, you make sure you tell you Dad to bring you by more often, I swear every time I see you - you are at least a whole foot taller"

Evie looked up at Jay from her pancakes and smiled at her, nodding her head.

"I will Miss Jay, you make the bestest pancakes ever"

I was startled by the sound of laughter to my right, Maya was watching my daughter and laughing, then she leaned over the table and grabbed Evie's knife and fork,

"Would you like some help cutting these up Miss E?"

Evie nodded at Maya, picking up a strawberry and eating it as Maya set about cutting up her food. I watched, listened as the two spoke about Disney Princess stories and shared little quotes from Frozen. The entire thing was mesmerising. I felt Jay's hand gently pat my shoulder her eyes soft as she smiled before walking away. Jake muttered quietly,

"Well I'll be damned"

I turned my head and looked at him, he smiled at me and nodded slightly. His way of letting me know he knew what was happening without me saying a word, that he knew where my head was at and what I was starting to feel and silently telling me that it was ok.
I had been so closed off to feeling like this for so long - but I just knew I didn't want to fight this one - I knew there was something there - and the fact that Evie was clearly on the same page as me was just about enough to seal the deal.