Page 19 of Just One More Temptation

On that note, Shannon turned to the girls. “Ready to paint?”

Oh, she was a slick one, Fallon thought, and she liked her even if Shannon’s words made her nervous. A sober Fallon hadn’t yet figured out what she wanted from Noah.

She’d chosen a unicorn with a multi-colored mane for the girls to paint and the session went extremely well. Dakota asked detailed questions about the project while Dylan lost herself in the creative aspect. One of the reasons she’d wanted to open up one night for preteens was to offer a creative outlook and expression. Painting reached all different personalities for different reasons. As the girls worked, Fallon and Shannon bonded over a book they were both reading, and the time passed quickly.

They were just finishing up when Noah arrived, looking harried and rushed as he entered the front door of the painting studio.

He’d loosened his tie, had his jacket over one arm, and once again the shirt sleeves were rolled, showing those sexy forearms. She’d never thought of forearms as sexy before and wondered why she kept noticing it on Noah. She supposed for the same reason when she inhaled, his cologne took her back to Friday night. Everything about the man attracted her.

“Hi, everyone,” he said, his gaze lingering on Fallon before focusing on the twins. “I tried to get out earlier. Girls, how’s it going?”

“Daddy, look!” They each pointed at their easels and he strode over, giving them his full attention. Damned if she didn’t find that sexy as well.

He was a good father. Solid, like hers was, she thought, and found herself smiling.

“Beautiful! Really great job!” The approval in his tone lifted that normally gruff voice. Glancing at Fallon, he gave her a small incline of his head. A thank-you. His approval warmed something deep inside.

Shannon leaned in close. “I think someone likes my brother, too,” she whispered, and before Fallon could answer, she picked up her purse. “Noah, I can take the girls for ice cream and meet you at home. Dakota, Dylan, who wants a treat?” Her words and excited tone preempted Noah from objecting and he narrowed his gaze.

Shannon ignored him. She merely hustled the girls to clean up and get their things.

“I’ll be home shortly,” Noah said, frowning at his sister. “I should make you stay over. They’ll never fall asleep with all that sugar.”

Shannon smirked at him, patting him on the cheek. “You can thank me later,” she whispered.

He rolled his eyes and walked her and the girls to the door. “Be good,” he warned them.

“We’re always good, Daddy,” Dylan said innocently.

“We are. Do you want ice cream?” Dakota asked.

Noah managed a smile. If only he could lie to himself the same way as his precocious girls.

He shook his head because he didn’t want ice cream. He did, however, hope he’d get a taste of Fallon as his sweet treat. “No thanks. Go. Have fun.”

Shannon waved and they walked out the door.

Noah breathed a sigh of relief, then turned, his focus on Fallon. “So.”

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and he realized she had a streak of white paint on her cheek. He strode over and keeping his gaze on hers, lifted a hand and rubbed her soft skin with his thumb. “Paint,” he said, chuckling.

“I like that sound.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What sound?”

“You laughing. You don’t do it nearly often enough.”

He didn’t? “I laugh with the girls.” He made sure they received all his love and affection. As much as he could give. “As for the rest, life is serious, don’t you think?”

“Sometimes. But sometimes you need to look through a different lens and let yourself enjoy it. Like the night at the bar…” Her voice trailed off and a blush filled her cheeks, the obvious memory of their time in the alley fresh in her mind. And his.

He’d gone to sleep with thoughts of her in his head, dreamed of taking that kiss further, of more than his hand between her slick folds. His cock tented his slacks and he had no doubt if she looked down, she’d notice.

“About that night, I wanted to make one thing clear.”

She looked up at him with wide, golden brown eyes, her lips slightly parted, and he swallowed hard before continuing.

“I didn’t turn you down because I don’t want you. I just wanted you clear-headed. And now that I’ve had time to think, I realize how complicated this could be. I have the girls to consider and they’ve grown attached to you already.”

---