Page 21 of 7+Us Makes Nine

My eyes ripped open and I found Catherine already staring at me. She took a step away from me, my hand falling from her cheek. She was panting. My heart raced. My palm felt empty without her skin against it.

“I um, I had a great time tonight,” she said.

“I’m glad you agreed to come out with me,” I said.

“Just to… um… clarify this,” she said.

Her finger volleyed between herself and me faster than the speed of light.

“The children,” she said.

“Yes, the kids. They probably wouldn’t understand.”

“I start working tomorrow. I’ll be your employee.”

“Very unprofessional,” I said. “And I don’t have an H.R. department you could complain to.”

“It just gets messy.”

“Yep. Very messy,” I said.

“And we hardly know one another. I mean, why compromise something over one night of wants, right?”

“My sentiments exactly,” I said.

But they weren’t my sentiments.

Not one fucking bit.

And I knew they weren’t hers, either, judging by the look in her eye. That darkened, lustful stare that still hadn’t receded.

That still hadn’t tucked itself away.

“I should get inside,” Catherine said. “Got an early morning with the kids.”

“Of course,” I said as I slipped my key into the lock. “And I can’t wait to see how the kids take to you.”

“Hopefully not having Miss Gertrude there won’t be such a shock,” she said as the door flew open.

“Miss Caffy!” Michaela exclaimed

My daughter, who never opened up to anyone and always stayed away from strangers, came barreling at her legs. Catherine picked her up in her arms and hugged her tightly as the boys came running around the corner. They were rubbing their eyes before they wrapped their arms around Catherine.

“They wanted to stay up and wait for her,” Gertrude said.

And in that second, I knew Catherine didn’t have to worry.

She’d already become part of our family, whether she wanted to be or not.

Eight

Catherine

“Catherine!”

I wrapped my arms around Emma and hugged her close.

“Okay, so you have to tell me about your first week with Jace Logan. How are the kids? Are you adjusting okay?”

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