Page 19 of Could Be Worse

“Dad,” she said in an annoyed tone and turned around.

My heart stopped when our eyes connected.

What the fuck? Sunshine?

“I’m just saying what I believe. Don’t you agree, Bryce?”

I couldn’t speak as she moved closer, equally surprised as me.

“Introduce us before we talk business, Dad.” Her hazel-green eyes flitted toward Tori, then Cat. Then they returned to mine, a questioning glint flashed in her expression.

“Oh, right. I forget you’ve never met before,” Zander said. Boy was he wrong.

Yes, we had met. I knew her in an intimate way. Could taste her addictive pussy on my tongue and felt it squeezing the shit out of my cock, which was both thrilled to see her again and growing hard by the second. Calm the fuck down, boy.

“Bryce, this is my eldest daughter, Sadie. Sadie, Bryce Nelson. He owns a construction company in Bastion. His Nana knew Grandma Donna.”

“Oh. Good to meet you.” She gave me a short nod, as if I hadn’t fucked her in the front seat of my pickup five days ago, and turned her attention to her father.

Okay, Sunshine. We can play another game. I’ll follow your lead.

“I’d shake your hand, but—”

“You’ve got both full. Are they yours?” She glared, as if accusing me of being unfaithful to their mother.

Nope, not the case. The other way round, actually. Connie had cheated on me and took off with her lover, claiming motherhood wasn’t for her.

“Yes. They’re twins. This is Catherine.” I raised her hand in mine. “And Victoria.” I jiggled her in my arms. My girls leaned against me, all bashful and cute.

“They’re adorable.” She smiled warmly at my girls, but I felt an icy chill directed at me. “How old? Three? Four?”

“They turned three this summer.”

The girls put their hands up and showed three fingers.

“Wow, that’s amazing.” Her saccharine voice scratched down my spine like nails on a chalkboard. I was happy and mad to see her again.

What was going on with me? With her?

“You’re pretty,” Cat told her.

“Aww, thank you, sweetie.”

“I like her hair.” Tori pointed at Sadie’s messy bun.

“You’re both precious and stroking my ego just right.” She winked at them.

Stroking? Fuck. Not a good word choice, considering I knew what it felt like to stroke her. I still couldn’t believe she was here… and more beautiful than I remembered.

The world was small, maybe too small. I’d never thought I’d see her again. Hadn’t wanted to, if I was honest. But why was she acting like we hadn’t met last week? We were adults, for Christ’s sake, and could keep our hookup a secret. Zander wouldn’t care. Would he? Or maybe she had a boyfriend and had cheated on him.

Jealousy and anger bubbled in my gut. More jealousy than anger, which was stupid. I would never consider a woman who’d cheated on her man.

“Let’s get down to business, now that the introductions are over,” Zander said.

“I don’t think so, Dad. I’m not sticking around. It would be a waste of your money and his time.” She didn’t even look at me. Damn, she was brutal.

“We’re just here to see what Bryce thinks.”

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