8
8
Bryce
When I got out of my truck, I could hear giggling from inside the house. I went behind a hedge of spirea to peer into the front window. It was five thirty, earlier than I’d expected. Admittedly, I couldn’t wait to get home to see my girls and Sadie.
My heart swelled at the sight of Cat and Tori dancing with her. They were being silly, wiggling their bodies and making goofy faces, which was the reason for the giggles.
Usually, I only got laughs like that when I tickled them.
Sadie posed with her leg lifted behind her, arms bowed above her head, and a dorky grin on her face.
Damn, she was gorgeous. And flexible.
Cat attempted to do the same pose but toppled over. More giggles ensued.
Tori was next. She held her position longer than Cat before she went down to the ground, laughing.
Sadie dramatically crumpled beside them. The twins were on her in a snap. I snorted when I heard Cat yell, “Dogpile!”That was my sign to get inside and rescue Sadie before she was kneed in the groin or elbowed in the chest. Been there, done that with these two. It wasn’t fun.
“I’m home!” I announced as I entered. “Where are my girls?”
“Daddy’s home!” they screamed.
I went into the living room and found them scrambling to get off the floor. They managed, leaving Sadie flat on her back with her legs spread.
Fuck. I wanted to dogpile her next and find out how many positions I could bend the ballerina into and get a look at her naked.
“How are my favorite twins today?” I patted their backs while they hugged my legs.
“Great! Sadie was teaching us how to dance,” Cat replied.
“Didn’t look that way to me.” I snorted, extending a hand to help Sadie off the floor. “You look exhausted.”
“Gee, thanks.” She accepted my hand, and I tugged her into a standing position. “They have a lot of energy after a two-hour nap.”
“Yep.” I chuckled, knowing exactly what she meant. Cat and Tori always woke up ready to play and run around. Nana Bea usually watched from the recliner, while they burned off their energy. “I saw you dancing with them from outside.”
“You did?” Her face turned red as she combed her fingers through her wild hair.
“Yes. I’d like to see more.”
“I don’t think so.” She went to the kitchen, and I followed her. “I’ll get your supper heating up before I go.”
“You can’t go,” Cat whined. “You have to eat with us.”
“Yeah.” Tori pouted. “What about our show?”
“Will you say something?” Sadie looked at me for help. She wouldn’t get it. I wanted her to stay too.
“I’ll pour us a glass of wine.”
“That’s not what I meant, Bryce. I have things to do.”
“What’s that, Sunshine?”
She gasped and shot me an angry look. “What are you doing? We already discussed this. Nothing is happening,” she whisper-shouted, her hands on her hips. She turned me on big time.
“It’s just supper, Sadie.” I removed a bottle of Merlot from the top cabinet and two stemless glasses.
“Fine, but I’m not doing the dishes, and I’m leaving right after we finish.” She turned toward the stove, and I felt victorious.
“Yay!” The girls clapped and jumped around.
It was nice to have a woman in the house, other than my nana. Being a single dad could be lonely. I did everything by myself: chores, cooking, the girls’ baths…
And at the end of each day, when they were tucked in their beds, the quiet consumed me. I’d bring out my friend, Jack Daniels, and turn on ESPN. For an hour or two, I’d watch sports, then go to my room. Not to sleep, but to jerk off to porn.
I fucking hated being alone, but women couldn’t be trusted.
Hooking up with Sadie last Friday had been a reminder of what I’d been missing. The warmth and soft curves of a woman, being wanted and desired. Although, I was pretty sure she had only wanted an orgasm, and from any old guy would’ve been fine. I just happened to have been there, willing, and ready. Jeez, I sounded pathetic.
I hadn’t stopped thinking about Sadie all day. Zander had talked about her, basically told me her life story. How he’d met her mom after he’d gotten a text from a stranger stranded at the airport. Jaynee, his wife, had been a dancer in Vegas and wanted to give Sadie a better life. He’d fallen in love with both of them. Months later, he’d adopted Sadie.
Their story had given me hope that maybe I’d meet a woman who would love me and my girls.
“Well, don’t just stand there staring at me. Set the table, please.” She smiled all sassy, and my heart melted, but I couldn’t show my true feelings in front of my girls. Like wrapping my arms around Sadie and kissing her breathless.
“Yes, ma’am.” I saluted and fetched the dinner plates, then mentally scolded myself for not being a stronger man.
I couldn’t fall for a beautiful brunette, a woman who had made it clear she wasn’t sticking around Bastion Township. It was a crushing thought, because I was beginning to believe I could easily fall in love with her.