Page 6 of Could Be Worse

But this beauty had caught me off guard. She’d swooped in with so much pizzazz and confidence, she dazzled and commanded as if she ran the world. I fell hook, line, and sinker. Played her game like a desperate and deprived street dog, hoping she’d throw me a bone and rub my belly. Except, what I wanted most was to take her from behind and pound into her until I blew my load.

Stop. E-fucking-nough. There wasn’t only me I had to worry about and protect. I had my twins.

I cut my gaze at Sunshine to admire the cheese curd she was gracefully placing into her tempting mouth. She moved her arms and hands like a swan in a pond. She was elegant and controlled. I wouldn’t be surprised if she were American royalty.

Hell, maybe I hit the lottery and didn’t even know it. If she were rich, she might be my way out of foreclosure.

No. Fucking. Way.

No woman would save me.

I paid my own bills and provided for my family. I was not a stupid weak man. Been there, done that. Been fooled and screwed over for the last time.

Before Sunshine arrived with her enthralling game, I’d had a shot of whiskey and two beers, wallowing in self-pity… cursing my pathetic abilities at providing for my family and being a business owner. Christ, I’d sunk to a new low.

Then a bright and shining star cleared the dark, torturous air away and replaced it with flirty electricity. Her energy and charm had been a jolt of adrenaline to my battered soul. It was like she’d brought me back from the dead.

“You’re awfully quiet there, just watching me.” She lifted her beer and gazed at me from over the top of her glass. Her hazel-green eyes glimmered with curiosity.

“Just savoring the view before I head home.”

“Oh.” She sat taller on the stool and bit her bottom lip. “I assumed you were unattached. I… I…”

“You assumed correctly.” I took her hand and gave it a squeeze, wanting to assure her she hadn’t broken any cardinal rules.

“You’re not lying, are you?”

“No.”

“While I enjoy your company, don’t stay on account of me. If you have somewhere to be, then please go.”

“Are you trying to get rid of me? I thought you liked me.”

She screwed up her pretty face, like she didn’t know what to say.

“If you want me to leave, I will.” I raised her hand to my lips and pressed a firm kiss on the top. Clearly, I’d lost my mind. I should run for my life away from her, but I found myself firmly attached to the bar stool, wanting a little more time in her light.

“I don’t want you to leave.”

“Good. Because I wasn’t going to.” And that right there might be the biggest mistake I’d made in the last four years.

No, my girls weren’t a mistake. I loved them more than life itself. It was their mother who I wished I’d never met.

3

Sadie

Mr. Phenomenal Kisser and I talked about everything and nothing significant. Brutal Minnesota winters and how many times we skidded into a ditch. How hotdish was the greatest invention since sliced bread. I learned he was into football and spent his Sundays watching games. His favorite team was the Vikings, but only because he rooted for the home team instead of his home state’s team, the Chicago Bears.

I, on the other hand, had no interest in football, but I indulged him and acted interested, anything to avoid him asking me something personal. We hadn’t exchanged our names either. I was glad because I wouldn’t have told him the truth.

We were two strangers, acting out of the ordinary in a crazy, spontaneous way. I wanted to leave it at that.

“Would you like another beer?” He nodded at my glass.

“Thanks, but no. Two is my limit when I’m driving.” I pushed my empty plate away and cleaned the tips of my fingers with the napkin.

“That’s very responsible of you.” He finished his second beer, which I suspected was actually his fourth. He’d been at the bar before I arrived, and if I recalled correctly, two empty glasses had been there.

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