12
12
Bryce
“Thank you for that delicious dinner.” I pinned Sadie against the back door and smothered her with kisses. “I’ve been thinking about you all day. Nearly smashed my finger a dozen times, while distracted by thoughts of all the ways I want to fuck you.”
She giggled and wiggled against me. “Shh, the girls might hear you. Or see us.” She tried to pull away, but I held her firmly in place. “Bryce, please.”
“It turns me on when you beg.” I attacked her neck.
“You’re an asshole.”
I laughed. “You’ve turned me into a needy man, Sunshine.”
“But the girls.” She melted against me, and I could feel her heart beating fast. “I should leave.”
I reared back to see her face. “What? I thought you were spending the night with me.”
“I never said that.”
“You nodded yes when I asked you this morning.” I released her and stepped back. “What’s going on, Sadie? It can’t be the girls. They’re getting ready for bed.” I’d just finished watching a show with them, got in some snuggles and spent time with them, while Sadie cleaned up in the kitchen.
It hadn’t been easy to keep my hands off her for the past two hours. I’d been dying to get my lips on her. Each time our eyes had locked, a wave of warmth spread through me and traveled down into my cock.
“We’re moving too fast.”
Fuck, she was pushing me away. “Please stay until I tuck the girls into bed.”
“Why?”
“So we can talk about this. I’ll be out in five minutes.”
“Don’t rush through their routine. I’ll wait.” She left the kitchen, and I followed her to the living room.
“You’ll be here when I return.”
“Yes.”
As I stared at her, it felt like I was going to blow chunks and spray the floor with the delicious roasted chicken she’d made for us. If she was gone when I finished with the girls, it would hurt, but at least I’d know she wasn’t the right woman for me.
I turned on my heels and went to the girls’ bedroom. Perched on their beds, they flashed smiles when I entered.
“What are we reading tonight, sweethearts?”
Cat wrinkled her brow. “Are you sad, Daddy?”
“No, of course not.” I forced a smile and tried to appear okay, but I wasn’t. I really liked Sadie and wanted to see where things might lead with us.
Tori climbed out of bed and hugged my legs. “I love you, Daddy.”
“Love you too.” I scooped her up and gave her a squeeze. “I love both of you very much. You know that, right?”
“Mhm” They nodded.
“And you know I will always be here for you, right?”
“Yes,” they replied in unison. Their sweet voices made my throat constrict and my stomach tighten. Cat and Tori were my entire world and always would be. I couldn’t let another woman turn our happy, secure home upside down.
“Good. What book did you pick?” I tucked Tori back into bed, then noticed how there weren’t any toys on the floor. The room was spotless, right down to the base of the lamp—no fingerprints. I wasn’t sure how I felt with their prints gone. Unhappy? Pleased?
What else had Sadie done in my home?
“Are you really okay, Daddy?” Cat raised her brows and studied me, her eyes full of concern. The last thing I wanted to do was make my girls worried right before they went to sleep.
“Yes, sweet girl.” The twins were tugging on my heartstrings and making me uncomfortable. Cat had always been direct and vocal, and Tori had been a quiet observer and had felt other’s emotions deeply.
When Connie was still around, Tori cried a lot. Nothing my ex had done would soothe her. Only Nana Bea and I could calm my fussy baby girl. I had realized much too late that Tori had sensed her mother’s unhappiness and stress, and it affected her. Nana Bea had told me babies feel tension in a room and it wasn’t healthy to argue in front of the twins. Of course, my ex-wife hadn’t given a damn. After Connie left, the change in the girls was immediate. They were relaxed, at peace, and happy.
It had taken me much longer to be okay. No. I still wasn’t okay.
But since meeting Sadie, I have felt alive and hopeful for the future… until a few minutes ago.
“Here, Daddy.” Cat handed me Anastasia. It was a thick book and would probably take forty-five minutes to read. Less if the girls fell asleep. Longer if they asked a bazillion questions.
An hour later, I crept out of the twins’ bedroom, gently closed the door, and inhaled a tense breath. I had heard no activity from the front room, like Sadie leaving. But then she could’ve been as quiet as a mouse.
Relief washed over me upon seeing her on the sofa. “You stayed.”
“I said I would.” She shifted her position from relaxed to sitting straight and folded her hands on her lap.
“Yeah. Well…” I sat on the other end of the sofa. “I’m not used to people keeping their word.” Connie had made up stories and manipulated me since day one. Some customers had stiffed me after the job was finished and I hadn’t had the money to take them to court. Every-fucking-body lied and cheated in one way or another, and I hated it with every cell in my body.
Why did nice guys get shit on? With that thought, my body turned to steel and my guard went up…
“Bryce, I wouldn’t lie to you.”
“Good to know.” I bobbed my head and scanned the room, not sure if I believed her. The decorative pillows the girls had tossed onto the floor had been put back in place and the throw blankets were neatly folded. Sadie had once again cleaned up when she didn’t have to. “Maybe what we need is to talk, like really talk.”
“Yes, I think we should. You start.” She turned toward me and crossed her leg over the other. It might sound weird, but I loved it when her attention was on me.
“We obviously have chemistry in the bedroom.” Even now, when I was irritated and feeling insecure, I wanted to whisk her into my room and make love to her. I needed to get a grip on my cock.
“Yes, we do.” Her cheeks turned pink. “But I’m sure being attracted to each other isn’t what we need to discuss.”
“No, it isn’t.” I almost reached for her hand, but stopped myself. “Tell me why you left Manhattan. Why did you get cut from the Nutcracker?”
“My dad has a big mouth.” She crossed her arms over her chest and blew out a frustrated breath.
“What happened? Did they want someone else to be the lead?” I kept my voice soft and nonthreatening. I was confident she was devastated over the loss. Who wouldn’t be? But I needed to know what had happened. Hopefully, I didn’t make her feel worse.
“No,” she snapped, clearly insulted. “I quit.”
“But your dad said—”
“He’s mistaken.”
“Then what happened?” I couldn’t imagine why she would quit the show. Zander had made it sound like a big deal when he talked about it, that Sadie had finally achieved her greatest goal.
“I can’t tell you.”
“Seriously? You just said you wouldn’t lie to me.”
“I’m not lying to you. I’m choosing not to tell you what happened in Manhattan. If you ask a direct question, I’ll tell you the truth.”
“I don’t get it.” Now, I was getting frustrated. “If we’re together, we can’t keep secrets from each other. Been there, done that. Won’t do it again.”
“Bryce, we aren’t together, are we?”
I gaped at her.
“I mean… We only met ten days ago. I just started babysitting your girls. Don’t be hurt, but neither of us thought we’d ever see each other again.”
“You’re right.” I scooted closer to her. “I didn’t think I’d see you again, but here we are, and I’m not hating it.” Don’t be hurt? I must be an idiot because I am hurt.
“It’s because of the club. They’re dealing with it, which means I can’t talk about it.”
“Well, that’s stupid.”
“It is what it is.” She popped her shoulders as if saying, deal with it. “If you can’t handle it, we should stop whatever it is we’re doing.” Her voice cracked and a pained expression appeared as she swallowed.
“I don’t know what to say.” I sat back and stared at the fireplace. “If what happened in Manhattan is now club business, does that mean it’s dangerous?” I cut my gaze at her. The living room walls closed in as I stared at her. A feeling of betrayal rolled in like a misty fog over the farmland on the outskirts of town.
Had Sadie been in danger and not told me? I’d left my daughters alone with her. She had taken them for walks…
“Maybe. I’m not totally sure. Probably not.”
“Well, what is it? Yes or no? And don’t dance around it with me. It’s my daughters’ safety we’re talking about!” My heart hammered against my ribs, the same way it had when I had questioned Connie the first time she’d stayed out all night.
For months, my ex had acted weird. She’d spent most of her time on her phone, scrolling on social media at all hours of the day and night. Wine and vodka bottles had invaded the kitchen counters. Within days they’d disappear, and I’d find them empty in the recycle bin. Worse than anything else was how Cat and Tori had lost weight because Connie had been drinking and forgot to feed them. Their little eyes would be red and puffy when I got home from work. But had I kicked Connie’s ass to the curb or asked Nana Bea to watch the girls? No. I thought I could save my wife and keep my family whole.
Sniffling jerked me back to the present. “Well?” I growled. There was no chance in hell I’d endanger my girls again.
She wiped tears off her face. “I honestly don’t know. My dad said the club was taking care of it. That’s all I know.”
I shook my head. “If it were only me, I wouldn’t be worried about it. But I have the girls.”
“I know, and I wouldn’t do anything to put them in danger. I swear, their wellbeing is my priority too.”
“But you took them for a walk into town, alone.”
“I wasn’t alone. A prospect is guarding us.”
“What?” I raised my voice. “A fucking prospect has been guarding you?”
“Shh. You’re going to wake the girls.” She stood and gathered her purse and coat. “I’ll go.”
I flew off the couch, grabbed her by the hand, and spun her around. “You’re leaving just like that? Nothing is resolved.”
“Isn’t it, though? Why would you want me around after hearing everything?” She stared up at me as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m no good for you or your girls. My life is complicated. I don’t even know if I’m staying in town.”
I couldn’t release her, though I knew I should. What was wrong with me? I should let her walk away and put her out of my mind, but my fucking heart wouldn’t allow it.
“Until tonight, it’s been good. I like having you around.” I might want her to stay permanently.
“A relationship must be built on trust, or it’ll never survive, and you don’t trust me now.” She blinked rapidly and raised her face, our lips nearly touching. “I’m so sorry.”
“I want to trust you. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Like before I left the girls with her.
“I wanted to see where things might go with us.” She lowered her head in shame. “When I saw you in the warehouse, my first reaction was shock. I couldn’t believe it was you. Then I was angry at you for cheating on your wife. But after we cleared the air, it felt like fate brought us together.”
I gently cradled her face. “I know exactly how you feel. You’ve brightened my home, made the girls giggle, and gave me hope for the future.”
“But?”
“I don’t know, Sadie. If you’re in danger, my girls might be too. I’d go nuts if anything happened to any of you. The thought of losing them or you is more than I can bear.” Was it possible to fall in love with a person after only knowing them for such a short time? I had never loved Connie. Loved no other woman, so I didn’t know what true love felt like. All I knew was that something in me would break if Sadie wasn’t in my life. The pull toward her overpowered me. I crushed my lips to hers and kissed her like it was good-bye.
She hooked her arms around my neck and pressed her body against mine. The move amped up our passion. More than anything, I wanted to take her to my bedroom and make love to her. But would that be acting on my carnal urges, or was it something more powerful driving my desires?
“I want you,” I told her through my kisses. “We’ll figure everything out.”
“Are you sure?”
A knock at the door interrupted us.
“Who could that be at this hour?” she asked.
“No idea.” Furrowing my brow, I went to answer it. “But I’ll get rid of them.” We were finally calming down and making progress. I didn’t want anything or anyone to impede Sadie and I from working things out.
I opened the door. As I registered who was on my porch, my heart stopped and the earth shook… and not in a good way.