Page 21 of Could Be Worse

“Everything okay? Don’t let Sadie discourage you. She’s dealing with stuff.”

I slowed my pace. “What kind of stuff?”

He came up beside me and lowered his voice. “She was cut from being the lead in the Nutcracker. She’s a professional ballerina. Been living in New York for several years now.”

I avoided looking at her in Zander’s truck. “Why would she be cut?”

“I don’t know the details. Just making assumptions. She’s not talking.”

“She sounds stubborn.”

“Oh, she is. Don’t let her scare you off.” Not sure what he meant, but I wasn’t about to talk about Sadie with her in earshot.

“I better get going. Gonna get these girls home for an afternoon nap.” Cat was dragging her feet, and Tori was resting her head on my shoulder.

“Sounds good. Later, buddy.”

I snorted. Buddy? Whatever, dude.

How in the hell would I handle being around Sadie? Or trust her with my girls? Having sex with a stranger was one thing. Leaving that person alone with my girls was another.

I needed to hire someone I knew to watch the twins. Nana might have a few recommendations, or maybe Wanda.

What I’d really like to know was why Sadie had pretended like we didn’t know each other.

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.

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