Page 29 of Just One More Temptation

They ran in, hair in braids, wearing their pajamas. “Daddy!” they each yelled, their default sound.

“Heads or tails?” he asked. “Dakota, it’s your turn to choose.”

He flipped the coin and she called out, “Heads!”

Sure enough, it landed back in his hand on heads. “Dakota, you talk to your mom first.”

“Fine,” Dylan said with a pout. “Let’s go wait for her to call. The iPad’s on my bed.”

The girls stomped out and Noah blew out a long breath. “I used to say they could take turns but neither could agree who spoke to her first the last time Charlie called. Hell, half the time I couldn’t remember, so I settled on flipping a coin.”

His brother chuckled. “They are a handful,” he said with fondness in his voice. “I love hanging out with them and I love when I get to give the bickering duo back to you.”

“Problem is, when they’re not arguing they’re plotting.”

“Better you than me, bro. At least for now. Good night?”

He nodded, unable to hold back his grin at the thought of having been in Fallon’s bed.

“That good? Who is she? The girls were whispering about some chick named Fallon who they wanted to bring to Mom’s birthday celebration.”

“That’s her. Remember the last time the girls ran away?” At Liam’s nod, Noah went on. “I found them in an art store where she works. From behind, the twins thought she was Charlie.” He shrugged. “Since then, they’ve been obsessed.”

Liam’s eyes grew wide. “Seems like they’re not the only one. You do realize Mom is going to make a big deal of you bringing someone along with the twins?” They both knew their mother wanted her sons to meet someone and fall hard. She was obvious and vocal about her desire.

“Mom already knows about Fallon. I’m surprised she hasn’t mentioned her. Anyway, I told the girls I’d ask her and that’s what I went to do today.”

“Except you did a lot more than that.”

“Isn’t it time for you to go home?”

Laughing, Liam scooped up his jacket from the end of the sofa.

Noah walked his sibling to the door and let him out, locking up behind him, then set the alarm. He strode into the kitchen and cleaned up whatever was left for him to do, which mostly involved rinsing the bowl they’d used for popcorn and putting the empty water bottles in the recycling bin.

Shutting the overhead lights, he turned on the lamp in case one of the girls woke up during the night and came to the kitchen for a drink of water, then he peeked into the twins’ room to see them talking to their mom. Together. He shook his head at the earlier drama and on his way to his room, he overheard Fallon’s name.

It wasn’t the first time the twins had mentioned her to Charlie. Which meant it was time for him to discuss his love life with his children’s mother. Considering he brought Fallon around the girls often now, he owed it to Charlie to fill her in.

“Daddy!” As if on cue, the girls yelled for him to come take the iPad. Occasionally, Charlie wanted to hear about the girls from him.

He walked in and took the iPad from Dylan. “Girls, brush your teeth and get ready for bed. I’ll be back to tuck you in soon.”

He hoped they never outgrew this particular nighttime ritual as it was the favorite part of his day, when the girls were drowsy and quiet and they could talk about anything on their minds.

“Hey, Charlie,” he said, bringing the device up so he could see her and vice versa. Walking into his room, he sat down on the bed, mentally preparing for the conversation to come.

“Noah, how are you?” she asked, covering a yawn. She stayed up late to talk to the girls close to their bedtime.

“Busy but good. Yourself?”

“Tired.”

Though he wouldn’t say as much, she looked exhausted and unhappy. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “Sometimes living your dream is hard when your other priorities are somewhere else. I miss the girls,” she said.

“They miss you too,” he assured her.

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