New York Surprises (Tayvin - AU)

Part 15

TAYLOR POV

"Thank you." Adam whispered to me.

I was confused.... Why was he thanking me?

"Wait...what? I was about to thank you for coming tonight and for...well...everything." I whispered back, letting go of him and ushering him down the hall to the living room, where I promptly pushed to door so it was almost closed.

"Well I got to the thank you first...." Adam teased slightly sitting down on the sofa across from me on a chair, "But seriously. Thank you for inviting me tonight. You didn't have to, and you didn't have to introduce me to Lia and Jay.... But you put the past behind you and let me meet those two little lights. I don't think I realised how much I missed family life, no matter how messed up mine was, until tonight. I am floored by you, Taylor, by the way you've brought up two amazing kids by yourself. If you'll let me I would love to see them again."

"I wasn't ever going to keep you away from them, Adam, I'm not a monster.... I'm just really protective of them. I've dealt with a few curveballs over the last few years, and seeing you again was definitely one curveball I wasn't expecting.... But I'm glad we are back in touch. Of course you can see them again! You can see them whenever. I heard them talking to you just then.... They love you Adam! It's like they have a subconscious radar that you are someone they can trust, because I know they can, and someone who will always care about them." I told him, looking down at my hands slightly. "I've never seem them, especially Lia, warm up to someone as quickly as they did tonight."

Adam just smiled at me with his slightly crooked, beautiful grin. I couldn't help but smile back at him. I felt butterflies in my stomach as we stared into each other's eyes.

I knew exactly what my body wanted me to do in that moment, but my mind was stopping it. If my body had its way I would be sitting next to him right now, or even on his lap, kissing that grin off his face, but I knew that was a bad idea.... Or was it?

ADAM POV

I watched a whole range of emotions play on Taylor's face as she spoke, using her hands to emphasise what she way saying. I was listening to her, but was more focused on just looking at her. The way her face lit up more when she spoke about the kids, how she avoided my eyes slightly when she was sort of complimenting me, how brightly her smile shone as we looked at each other in silence.

I watched her eyes flit between my eyes and my lips, and how her kept licking her lips subconsciously. It was weird to see the effect I had on her.... And I sort of hoped she didn't notice the effect she had on me as I kept crossing and uncrossing my legs.

I realised that if I didn't get going soon it might get uncomfortable.

"I think I should get going...." I said, watching Taylors smile drop for a millisecond.

"Oh, okay.... Yeah that's fine." Taylor replied, standing up and moving towards the door to the hallway.

I took a deep breath and stood up too, following her out of the living room.

"When are you next off work?" Taylor asked as I put my shoes back on, having taken them off before we made the fort.

"Well I usually work every evening during the week and all day on the weekends.... But I've been thinking of cutting back as the apprentices we were training are pretty competnent. So I will probably only work 2 shifts on the weekends, like just one full day, instead of 4 shifts and only 4 nights a week." I replied, telling her what I had been thinking about since we met in the café.

The restaurant was great, but it was a lot of work, and I wanted to be able to spend time with the kids too. Everyone we started training when we first got to New York were now doing really well and the restaurant was thriving so cutting back wasn't going to be disastrous.

"Well....um... let me know when you are free and we can organise something." Taylor said. "I'm sure the kids would love to see you" She said with a smile, adding quietly "and so would I."

I smiled at this.

"Definitely. Maybe you guys could come to the restaurant again sometime. I can take a break from the kitchen and hang out with you all." I suggested.

"That sounds nice." Taylor replied, going to open the door and smiling at me.

"Thanks for inviting me over tonight, Taylor. It means a lot to me to get to meet our incredible kids properly." I told her, leaning down slightly to give her a brief hug.

I could feel her heart racing as I hugged her, probably in time to my own, but I needed to take things slowly so made my way into the hall.

"Bye Adam." Taylor said, smiling slightly sadly as I walked down the hall and waved back.

TAYLOR POV

As soon as Adam had turned the corner to go down the stairs I closed the door and slid down the inside till I was sitting on the floor. My heart was racing and so was his when he hugged me goodbye. Maybe I need to let him in more.... Maybe what I had really needed over the last few years was a man in my life, and not just any man, one tall and handsome man in particular: Adam Wiles. I suddenly couldn't see my life without him from here on out, but I had no idea what he was thinking.