They spent most of the evening down by the water, talking about far deeper things than they had that first night in his room. It was more comfortable than before- a little more relaxed and gentle, so they were both almost an open book with one another.
Lindsey told her about his two daughters, who were still out in California- one of them celebrating her first year of marriage, while the other came to the end of her college career... He talked about them like they held the moon in the palms of their hands and in many ways, they did in their fathers eyes. He also told her about his job and she wasn't totally shocked to learn that he was a record producer in LA with a band that he performed with part time.... when he wasn't busy raising his kids, obviously.
The only thing that he didn't talk much about was his wife and since Stevie already assumed that they had gotten a divorce, she didn't ask... She figured that if he wanted her to know, he would tell her and he might not have been as open as she had been about her rocky relationship.
Anyway, it was late when they made it back to the Inn, both of them were all laughs after Lindsey had slipped on a little ice out front. He didn't fall, but he did stumble, which caused Stevie to giggle so hard, she had tears rolling down her rosy red cheeks all the way up the stairs.
And after a few more minutes outside the doors, chatting lightly, they bid one another a goodnight... reluctantly.
Lindsey wanted to ask if she would come in for a glass of wine and Stevie was very tempted to invite him over for a cup of tea, but after spending most of the night with each other and sharing so much, they both got a little too anxious to ask for a nightcap.
So, they went their separate ways, both of them lying in bed well into the morning, thinking about each other...
Lindsey couldn't get over that laugh, those eyes, the way she talked about life... it was all fascinating to him. And Stevie was fixated on his little smile, the way he spoke, how he actually listened, but most of all, how caring he seemed. He was so kind and gentle... It made her weak in the knees, almost.
It had been a long time since she had felt like someone actually wanted to hear what she had to say and Lindsey definitely put up a good act.
So much in fact, the next morning, she was the one knocking on his door, asking if he wanted to come over to have breakfast, which had him rushing to find clothes and slip over.
"This is really good, Stevie." Lindsey was sitting across from her at the circle table, using his fork to cut a sliver of his French toast.
She hadn't slept well the night before, which encouraged her to roll out of bed before seven to start making muffins, and pancakes... Her mind was moving so fast, she felt like she needed to as well.
Smirking lightly, she sank back in her chair as she sipped from her cup of coffee. "I'm glad you came over, I know it was a late night." She admitted, even though she had inkling that he wouldn't pass the offer up, even though it was partially the crack of down on a Saturday morning...
He chuckled softly, blue eyes scanning over her face. "Who could pass up french toast with the most beautiful company...?" Lindsey wasn't actually a nervous man, but being in her presence made him feel soft... He wasn't sure he had ever been as enticed with anyway as he was with Stevie.
She was beautiful, really beautiful and that morning, even with her reading glass on the edge of her nose, not an once of makeup resting on her cheeks, and in just a silk nightgown with a robe wrapped around her, she was still breathtaking.
She giggled softly, shaking her head as she began to playfully bat her eye lashes. "You are such a charmer." She had the softest little smirk, brown eyes locked with his blue ones as she spoke. "I bet you impress all the ladies with those sweet complaints." She teased, a light wink following her words as she kept her mug pressed to her bottom lip.
Nodding softly, he shrugged a shoulder. "There's only one lady I'm interested in impressing." He cracked another little smile, knowing already that it would make her blush a little more than before and he was right.
Raising a brow lightly, Stevie couldn't help but laugh once more... really surprised that he had said that. "Very cute." She whispered, heart fluttering softly as she pursed her lips to the side. "Why are you here, Lindsey?" Her voice was quiet, but not in an weird way... in a very gentle way. "I mean, it's wonderful that you're here, but all alone during the holidays...?" She was curious and comfortable enough to ask.
And it wasn't to be nosy, but because he had talked about his kids and how much he adored them- she figured he'd be home, celebrating with them...
He paused for a second, taking a drink of his orange juice as he causally thought about how he wanted to respond to that. "My youngest daughter is in Maui with some of her friends for the holidays and my oldest daughter went to her in laws that live up in the mountains." He let out a sigh a moment later, not intentionally... He knew they were moving on in life and like any parent should be, he was very proud. "This is just my first Christmas being alone in twenty- six years and home felt a bit strange." Lindsey wasn't going to sugarcoat it, even if it wasn't his favorite topic of conversation...
Life was weird for both of them at that time.
"Everything changes so fast, huh?" Stevie really felt for him, and not only because she had been there a couple of times too. "Seems unfair." She added as her mind began to wander back to her own children, who had also created lives of their own and no longer needed their parents like had before... Letting them fly is always the most difficult challenge.
He chuckled lightly, nodding in agreement. "Time just slips away and-" just as he was getting ready to continue, the sound of the house phone ringing caught their attention, causing him to stop.
"One second, honey." She wasn't sure she wanted to answer at first, but there was only a hand full of people that called her that early- the kids and their father.
Smiling softly, Lindsey's eyes followed her through the room, watching as she ran her fingers through her long blonde hair and pushed her glasses to the top of her head before she picked up the phone.
"Hello?" She answered on the last ring, subconsciously hoping it would go to voicemail before she got there to pick it up.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes, Steph." Her husbands voice rang through the speaker a second later. "Meet me downstairs."
