Page 44 of Enticing

“That’s what I’m scared of, Leo,” I breathe out, trying to sound stronger than I feel.

“I won’t hurt you or the girls. I’ll protect you.” he promises, and I wish I could believe him, but experience has taught me otherwise.

“Can you make everyone believe it, Sinclair?” Cori asks him.

“Got any plans tonight, ladies?” He runs his hand over my hair and tugs at the ends, forcing my face up to his. “Because it sounds like we’ve got a coming-out to plan, and I just so happen to have a game later.”

“That could work.” Cori looks between Leo and me, a slightly unhinged smile on her face.

“I guarantee theKroydon Kroniclesis going to be talking about it, if you’re there. Two birds, one stone. My family will see us together, and when theKronicleswrite about it, we’ll have social proof.”

“Ohh...” Cori stands. “Social proof. Now you’re speaking my language.”

“You want me to bring the girls to a hockey game?” I tilt my head back to look at him and force down a hysterical laugh. This is such a bad idea. “How do you know they’ll write about it?”

“Leave that part to me.” Everything about Leo is quietly confident.

He’ll get through this unscathed... but me... I’m not sure I’ve got it in me to survive Leo Sinclair.

ADELAIDE

Start over. Start late. Start scared. Just start. The first step is always the hardest.

—Addie’s Secret Thoughts

“Addie,” Coraline calls from the foyer while I sit on the couch, feeding Lennox a bottle later that afternoon. “There’s a delivery for you.”

I run a finger along Lennox’s soft skin, loving the way her big eyes get heavy with each new swallow, and ignore my sister’s loud voice. If I yell back right now, it will scare the hell out of my baby, and there are few things in this world worth destroying this kind of fleeting peace for.

An oversized navy-blue package, wrapped with a bright red velvet ribbon tied in a bow, completely blocks Coraline from view as she stumbles into the family room. Izzy follows behind, desperate to unwrap the gift, and my stomach drops. “What’s that?”

Cori lays it on the coffee table and hands me a card. “The courier said Mr. Sinclair asked that this be delivered before the game.”

“Open it, Mom.” Izzy vibrates with excitement.

I wish I felt a tenth of it as I look at this gift, but I don’t.

None of this was how I saw today going.

Not our initial discussion about marriage or the timeline we all agreed to.

Tonight is our official coming-out with a few strategic dates before the end of the month, followed by a quickie wedding. I wanted to get it over with at the courthouse, but Leo said we’re going to have to talk about that. He thinks we need to do something small with his family.

It makes me sick to even think about it.

“Mom . . .” Izz whines. “Come on. Open it.”

“How about you open it for me, Izz?”

My feral little girl tears into the package like a dog who’s being given a steak after starving for days. Navy-blue wrapping flies everywhere before she’s finally able to lift the lid and gasps, “Mom.” She squeals and tosses tissue paper to the side. “These are jerseys.”

She pulls them out, one after the other. Two are clearly sized for Coraline and me, and one is smaller, unmistakably for Izzy, and there’s a whole outfit for Lennox, including what I’m assuming are noise-canceling headphones with the Philadelphia Revolution logo on them. He thought of it all. “There’s sweatshirts too, Mom.”

By the time she’s done pulling all the Revolution gear out of the box, I feel like Leo has properly peed all over my entire family, making sure no one can miss that he’s claimed us as his. And damn him for doing it in a way that makes my daughter so happy. If she likes him this much, how is she going to handle it when we get divorced?

Cori whistles, long and low. “Looks like we’re all wearing number ten at the game tonight.”

“What?” Izzy’s head snaps to her aunt so sharply, I should be scared it’s going to break off her neck. “We’re going to the game? The Revolution game? Tonight?”

---