Page 8 of Can We Try?

“Sit, your a— rear end back in the chair, Daddy Forrest. Uncle Lachlan is having story time.”

“Aunt Maggie needs to come too,” River announces. “She’s going to be lonely.”

“Oh, sweetie, I won’t be lonely. I have all my friends here with me,” I tell her.

“But you need someone with you,” Rayne adds.

It’s then that I understand what they’re saying. In their little minds, because I’m not coupled up, they’re worried I’ll be all alone. My heart swells ten times its normal size. At least that’s what it feels like to have their love and worry.

“I promise you, I’ll be okay,” I assure them.

“You might as well come with us,” Lachlan tells me.

“I thought it was Uncle Lachlan’s story time?” Forrest asks, smirking.

“It is. No parents allowed,” he tells Forrest before turning his burning blue gaze my way. “Coming, Mags?”

I can’t very well say no when the twins are bouncing up and down, begging me to come with them. “I guess it’s safer if a responsible adult was with the kids,” I tease, and Lachlan tosses his head back in laughter.

“Come on, trouble.” Lachlan’s face is lit up by his smile.

“Only if I get a baby out of the deal.” I stand and move toward him, holding my arms open. I don’t care who I get, but baby Kane reaches for me. I take him into my arms, and he rests his head on my shoulder.

“Smart man,” Lachlan whispers.

I pretend not to hear him as I follow the four of them into the house. River and Rayne rush to a small bookcase in the corner that’s filled with books. You would think that they still live here, but that just shows you how incredible this family is. They each pick out a book and climb up on the couch.

“We can sit in the middle,” Rayne says.

“And baby Kane can sit with Aunt Maggie and Lilly with Uncle Lach, so the family is all close,” River explains.

“Sounds like a plan, ladies.” Lachlan sits beside River, which leaves me taking the spot beside Rayne. I shift Kane on my lap, and he stays snuggled up to my chest, which is fine with me. I love snuggles from adorable little boys and girls, especially the ones in this family. They feel like my family too.

With all four kids snuggled in, Lachlan begins to read. He speaks softly and changes his voice when the story calls for it, and I find myself just as captivated as the kids. There are so many sides to this man, to all of them, but Lachlan was never really separate from the others for me before. He’s always just been one of the guys. All five are hot as hell, but they were always just my friends’, husbands, and their friends. Something changed that night in the cabin.

I know exactly when that changed, and so does my body. I need to keep reminding myself it was my idea. One night, no strings, scratch the itch, that’s what I wanted, but part of me wishes things could be different. I know that’s not what he wants, and I’m not ready for that either. I still have a lot of self-reflection to do. I can’t be in a relationship when I’m constantly second-guessing everything my partner says.

Does he really think I’m beautiful? Is he really working late? Does he think my ass looks huge in my new skirt? Too many scenarios flash in my mind of my insecurities. I know they stem from Eric and his mental and verbal abuse. Knowing it and training my mind to know he was wrong are two different things.

I’ve got work to do, but in the meantime, I’ll have the memories of our night together to hold me over until it’s time to really venture out into the dating world, and hopefully, I’ll be able to find my forever love.

Shaking out of my thoughts, I tune back into the story and Lachlan’s deep, sexy voice. He finishes the first book, closing it, and placing a tender kiss on Lilly’s head, and that’s when I notice she’s sound asleep. They all are.

“We lost our gang,” he whispers.

“Looks like it. I’ll put Kane in his Pack ’N Play and come back and get Lilly to put her in hers.”

“Okay, then I’ll set the twins here on the couch.”

We work quietly and efficiently as we get all the kids settled. “Should we stay inside and listen for them?” I ask.

“Nah, we’ve got this.” He picks up a baby monitor I didn’t notice from the end table and turns on both units. He keeps one monitor in his hand and places the other empty hand on the small of my back as he leads me back outside.

“Where’s your entourage?” Roman asks.

“All conked out,” Lachlan replies.

“Lilly and Kane are in their Pack ’N Plays and the twins are on the couch. I put lots of pillows on the floor in case they roll off,” I tell them.

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