Page 26 of Could Be Worse

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.

9

Sadie

I kissed the top of Cat’s head, then Tori’s. “Sweet dreams, girls. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” I backed away from their beds, my heart full and sad at the same time.

“Nighty night, Sadie,” Tori said in a soft voice. She curled onto her side and closed her eyes.

Cat was already zonked out.

The little stinkers had managed to talk me into staying longer, then doing bath time with them and finally putting them to bed. I enjoyed every second, but knew it was a bad idea to do so much… I would surely get attached.

And their big stinker daddy had just sat back and watched us.

Speaking of the big stinker daddy… He was softly snoring on the sofa.

Poor guy, I couldn’t imagine how lonely and challenging it was to be raising twins on his own. He seemed to be doing a fantastic job. Cat and Tori were happy and healthy, full of life, and so loving. They had touched me constantly, wanting to be by my side, and they looked at me like I was a movie star. They were definitely good for my ego, after feeling like a failure with losing my spot as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

“Bryce, I’m going,” I whispered and patted his knee. “Go to bed.”

“Hmm?” He stirred and opened his eyes. “What?”

“I’m leaving. The girls are asleep. You should hit the sack too.”

“I’m not tired.”

“You were just asleep.”

“I was only resting my eyes.” He stretched, puffing out his chest and extending his arms above his head.

Phew, I liked him when I shouldn’t. “Okay, whatever. See you tomorrow.” I took a step.

“Stay.” His hand went around my wrist and reeled me onto his lap.

“What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” His arms went around my waist, and he moved in to kiss me.

“Yes.” I reared my head back. “And we can’t. What if the girls catch us?”

“Is that your only reason for pushing me away?” He pulled me against him.

I tilted my head. “A hookup is all we were supposed to have. Just two strangers enjoying each other. We weren’t supposed to see each other again.”

“But here we are.”

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