If Only We Knew by Ancelli Page B

curly.”
    “I guess you better cancel your date.” He walked over to the crib, kissing Matthew. “Bye, Shannon.”
    She gr ipped his arm. “Can you stay with him?”
    “No, not for you to go out with that guy.” He took her hand off his arm.
    “Matt, you have a wife. You found your soul mate.” His eyebrow arched. “I haven’t found mine yet. I thought you wanted the best for me.”
    “He’s not the best for you.” He cupped her face.
    “You don’t know that. Give me a chance. Just two hours.”
    He moved in closer to her and leaned down , staring at her luscious lips .
    “Shannon, are we still going to lunch?” her date yelled from the other room.
    She looked at Matt. He released her. “Okay.”
    “Okay what? ”
    “I’ll stay, but just for two hours.”
    “Thank you,” she whispered, walking out of the nursery. “Yes, David, we’re going!” Matt was right behind her. “Matt, this is David. David this is Matt, my friend and my son’s father.”
    Both men remained silent. She grabbed her purse, pulling David’s hand, and headed out the door. “See you in two hours.” She closed the door.
    Matt went back into the nursery, picked up the baby, and walked back out to the living room. “What’s wrong with me? I almost kissed your mommy.”
     
***
     
    Three hours later, Shannon strolled into her house. Matthew was asleep on Matt’s chest, sucking his thumb.
    “You said two hours.” He said arching his brow.
    “Sorry, time passes by really fast when you’re having fun. Thank you.” She walked over and picked Matthew up from his chest. “How’s my prince doing? I missed you.” She kissed his chunky cheeks.
    Matt got up, stretched, and slowly mov ed to the door. “I hope you had fun.”
    “Matt, wait,” she said, putting Matthew in his bassinet. “What’s wrong?”
    He turned around and rushed toward s her. “This is what’s wrong.” He cupped her face, leaned down, and kissed her.
    He felt Shannon’s hesitation at first, but then she placed her hands on his chest and eventually opened up for him. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, tasting every corner, feeling the electricity pass between them.
    He gently pulled away from her. “That’s my problem, and I don’t know what to do about it.” He turned.
    He looked back at Shannon. She just stood there in shock, touching her swollen lips. “What just happened?” she whispered.
    He opened the door and walked out.
     

Chapter Twenty
     

Three months later.
     
    “Da da!” Matthew tried the new word, bouncing up and down on Matt’s lap, giggling. He was now crawling and trying to walk.
    “That’s my boy. Say Dad-dy.” Matt laughed at his son. “Pa-pa.”
    Karen came in the room. “Hi, Matthew.”
    He looked up at her and began crying.
    “He doesn’t like me. That’s why I don’t touch him. Every time I touch him or talk to him, he cries,” she said.
    “Because you don’t even try, Karen. He doesn’t know you.” He left the family room.
    She followed him. “I tried.”
    He turned around and tried to hand her the baby. “Hold him.”
    After a few seconds of staring at the baby, she took him. “Matthew, you’re getting so big.” She held him away from her.
    Matthew looked at Matt, stretching his hands out for him. “Da-da.” He cried when Matt didn’t take him.
    “Here he goes again. Take him .” As though he were a rag doll, she placed the baby in his arms.
    Matt held him, and he stopped crying. “Yeah, you’re really trying.”
    “I do try! All he does is cry.” She looked at him, agitated, rolling her eyes.
    “With you, because he senses the same thing I sense—dislike,” he said, kissing him.
    “I’m going out!”
    “What’s new?”
    “I need some more money. I’m getting my nails and hair done.”
    “Karen, that’s all you do: spend money. Instead of spending time with me.” He sat down.
    “Whatever, Matt. You said you’d take care of me. That means giving me anything I want,