7
7
Sadie
I knocked gently on the front door of the cutest little house I’d ever seen. A large pile of leaves was in the middle of the yard with a dent on the side, about the size of three-year-old twins.
He has kids. A family.
I couldn’t believe my dad had roped me into babysitting. But I was furious with Bryce for lying to me. He had played me like a fiddle at the restaurant, acting respectful and gentlemanly. The asshole had totally fooled me. How could I have been so trusting and stupid?
Should I tell his wife what had happened? Warn her about her horrible husband? She deserved to know what had happened, didn’t she? But I could destroy a family, shatter his daughters’ lives. Maybe it wasn’t my place…
God, this was awkward. On second thought, I didn’t want to meet the missus.
After several long seconds, I knocked again.
The door opened, and my breathing hitched. “Morning. I barely heard you knock.”
Why did he have to be so dang ruggedly handsome? “I… I didn’t want to wake the girls if they were still sleeping.”
He considered me briefly. “Or maybe you don’t want to be here.”
I shrugged. “Well, I am here, but I can leave if you want.”
“Come in.” He stepped back to let me in. “I don’t have anyone else to babysit.”
“You don’t have to start the job today, ya know?” I moved stiffly into the charming home, anticipating his wife appearing. She was probably beautiful and sweet, like his girls.
“No. I need this job.”
I looked up at him. His brows were pinched tightly. Concern marred his handsome face. We were a few feet apart, staring at each other.
“We need to talk,” he said and took my hand, then tugged me through a doorway that led to the kitchen.
“Let go,” I whispered and pulled out of his grasp. Was he crazy? “Where’s your wife?”
“With her latest lover, I assume.” He backed me up against the counter. “Nothing is going to happen between us. Last Friday was a one-time thing, a hookup with a stranger I never thought I’d see again.”
Wow, his words hurt for some weird reason. “Agreed. I’m not staying in town long anyway.”
His blue eyes traveled over my face and landed on my lips.
“Stay focused,” I snipped as a tingle wormed its way between my legs.
His gaze lifted to mine. “Don’t hurt my girls while I’m gone.”
“You’re a jerk.” I shoved him back. How dare he?
“I’m a father who needs to protect his children. I mean it. If you aren’t able to watch them properly, tell me now. I’ve never left them with a stranger before. It won’t end well if something happens to them.” Jesus, the warning in his voice was stabbing me in the heart.
“I respect your protectiveness, but I don’t have to stand here and be insulted by you.” Harm a child? I would never. I slipped past him and headed for the door.
“Sadie, stop.”
I opened the door and left.
“Sadie! What’d you expect me to say? They’re my whole life, all I got, and I need to protect them.” He trotted after me. “I don’t know anything about you.”
I whirled around to face him. “So you just jump to me being evil and out to hurt your girls? No benefit of the doubt? I’m just good enough to screw in your truck.”
He dragged his hand down his face. “Look, I’m sorry. I’ve never left them with anyone other than my nana.”
Shit. I believed him. Could see the genuine worry in his baby blues. “Bryce—”
“Don’t go. I really do need this job. I’ll mind my mouth and trust you like Nana said to.”
“Your nana knows I’m watching your girls?”
“Yes. She trusts your dad and apparently knows all about you.”
I smiled. “I remember her. She was at my grandma’s funeral and gave me a white rose to hold.” My heart ached. I hadn’t had the chance to know Grandma Donna for very long after my mom had met my dad.
“Will you stay?” he asked.
“Yes, but to babysit. Nothing else.” It was a relief to know he wasn’t married. The sparks between us at the restaurant were alive and well, but I wouldn’t get involved with him. What good would it do if I was leaving the first chance I got? His girls might get attached. I might get attached more.
“Okay. Deal. Let me show you around before the girls wake up.”
I followed him back inside, less nervous than before. Bryce gave me a tour of his home, pointed out a menu on the fridge he’d made so I knew what the girls liked to eat, and had even prepared a pot of spaghetti for their supper if he got home late.
Leaning against the doorframe of the girls’ bedroom, I watched him gently wake them up. He kissed their heads, rubbed their arms until they opened their eyes, and smiled at him. It was the most endearing thing I’d ever observed.
“Do you remember me telling you Sadie was babysitting you today?” He was on his knees between their beds, a hand on each one. This man melted me. “She’s right there.” He nodded my way.
“Hi,” I whispered and waved.
“I remember,” Cat said.
“Not me.” Tori’s bottom lip quivered.
“Sweetie, you’re going to have fun with Sadie and Cat.” He took Tori out of her bed and cuddled her. “It’s going to be great, and when I get home from work, we’ll drink cocoa and watch a show. How’s that sound?”
She buried her face in his chest. “Sounds good.”
“I’ll help Sadie with Tori, Daddy.” Catherine wiggled out from under her blankets, came to me, and took my hand. “I know how to do everything.”
Bryce belted out a hearty laugh and lifted off the floor with Victoria in his arms. My insides turned to warm goo, watching this ruggedly handsome man with his daughters. “Cat could run the house if I let her.”
“He’s right.” Cat grinned up at me. “I’ll go potty, then help you get our breakfast.”
“That would be great,” I replied.
“Go with Cat, sweetie.” He put Tori down, then ran his hand along my arm and elicited goose bumps. “I can tell everything is going to be okay.”
A delicious shiver worked its way down my spine. “Are you sure? Wouldn’t want you worrying at work or asking the sheriff to stop in to check on me.”
“I’m sure.”
We stared at each other. My heart raced as he slowly licked his bottom lip.
I sensed he wanted to push me against the wall and ravage me. I wouldn’t object, but our connection was broken when Cat appeared.
“I’m done!”
“All right, girls. Let’s get you settled. I need to get to work.” He ushered the twins down the hallway, while I caught my breath.
He was a pretty incredible dad, and the feelings I’d had for him last Friday were roaring back. I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad.
After Bryce kissed his daughters good-bye, and I swooned for like the twentieth time in ten seconds, I sat with them at the breakfast table while they ate gluten-free waffles.
Tori had a gluten allergy, and even though Cat could eat regular waffles, Bryce had said it was easier to feed them both a gluten-free diet. It made sense to me. I rarely ate grains, unless I was down in the dumps, like when I ate cheese curds last week.
“Do you like kids?” Cat asked.
“Yes, very much.”
“What about my daddy?”
“He seems like a good dad.”
“He’s the greatest.”
Tori nodded in agreement.
“I can see that he is. What do you do after you finish eating?” I wanted to stay in control of the conversation, sensing it might go down a road that would be uncomfortable.
“We put clothes on and make our beds. Then watch a show for a little bit. Nana Bea always takes us for a walk at ten o’clock.” This child spoke like she was thirty, not only three. Her vocabulary and articulation were outstanding. She blew me away.
“Then we’ll do exactly that. A walk will be fun.” It was a brisk morning, but we needed to seize the good days before winter arrived with its subzero temperatures.
After the girls finished their morning routine, we went for a walk at exactly ten o’clock. And what I meant by walk; I was the only one walking. The girls rode in a red wagon as I pulled them around their neighborhood.
Each time Cat said turn, I obeyed, which might have been a mistake. I couldn’t imagine their nana had gone as far. They might only be three, cute and adorable, and little, but put them together and they were heavy for someone my size or an elderly woman.
The distance on my fitness tracker said a mile and a half by the time we arrived back at their home. Some muscles I hadn’t known I had in my back and arms screamed, not pleased with me for abusing them.
I was burning up despite the chilly air and panting, like I had run a mile instead of walking. As a ballerina, I could dance all day long, but this outing with the twins had kicked my butt.
I couldn’t wait for naptime to arrive so I could collapse on the couch. I might need a heating pad and a massage. The latter wouldn’t happen. Who would I ask to do the honors? Surely not the twins’ father…
Several hours later, Bryce sent me a text.
Bryce: How’s it going?
Sadie: Great. We just got back from a walk. I’m about to fix lunch.
Bryce: It’s almost one. They usually eat at 12:00.
Great. Already messing up, Sadie!
Sadie: We lost track of time, while playing in the pile of leaves in the yard.
Yes! Make it sound like we’re having a grand old time!
Bryce: Sounds fun.
Sadie: The girls were a hoot. I’ll show you pics later.
Bryce: Looking forward to it. Should be home by 6.
Sadie: Okay, see you then.
Feeling like a silly schoolgirl, I set my phone down and finished serving the girls tomato soup and gluten-free crackers.
“Why are you smiling?” Cat asked. “Did you get a message that made you happy?” What an observant little girl. I hadn’t noticed I was grinning.
“Nope, just a text from your dad checking up on us.” I set a bowl in front of each of them, then went to get mine.
“He never texts Nana Bea.”
“Well, I’m new, so he’s a little nervous.” I blew on the soup before putting a spoonful into my mouth.
“He worries a lot,” Tori said. She didn’t talk as much as Cat, but I could tell she was warming up to me.
“How do you know he worries a lot?”
“When he’s like this.” She scrunched her forehead and put her fingers on her temple.
“He does that a lot when he’s going through the mail,” Cat said. “He hates doing the bills.”
“I see. Well, I’m sure he’s got everything under control. Let’s eat. It’s almost naptime.”
They nodded and spooned soup into their mouths.
Those two were so cute and proved kids noticed everything we did, even when we didn’t realize they were paying attention.
Bryce’s worried expression flashed behind my eyes. I need this job, he’d told me when asking me to stay. Could he be having financial troubles? I doubted he’d tell me if he was.
After I put the girls in their beds for a nap, I cleaned up the lunch mess, then studied the pictures on the end table in the living room.
Most were of the girls when they were babies, but one was a picture of them, and presumably, their mom. As I’d thought, she was beautiful. Blonde shoulder-length hair. Blue sparkling eyes. Pink lips. How could she leave her babies?
How could she leave Bryce? He seemed incredible, but I didn’t know him. Other than, he made me laugh, gave me the warm fuzzies and a spectacular orgasm.
He hadn’t lied to me. She’d run off with her lover, apparently. She’d cheated on him. No wonder he didn’t trust women… trust me.