Page 1 of Just One More Temptation

Chapter One

Noah Powers franticallysearched the New York City park for his twin nine-year-old girls, calling their names, ignoring the looks from the mothers with their younger children playing in the sandbox. He turned to Hazel, the sixty-year-old woman he’d hired when their last nanny had been too young and flighty to keep an eye on his girls. They’d been acting out lately but they’d never run away. Hadn’t he lectured them enough about stranger danger and staying with an adult?

“Dammit!” he yelled, pulling his hand through his hair.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Powers. I was watching them, I swear. They asked if they could go to the pretzel truck on the corner and I had an eye on them. I blinked and they disappeared.”

He ground his teeth together. “Because you didn’t go with them.”

She looked down, not answering since he was right.

“You stay here in case they come back.” He strode toward the cart and questioned the man selling food who said he’d sold them a pretzel and soda but didn’t see the direction they went after.

Panicked, Noah rushed down the sidewalk, scanning inside each shop and walking into the larger ones. Heart in his throat, he looked in each window, not seeing their brown-haired heads.

He swallowed hard and a horrific thought ran through his head. What if someone had taken them? No. They were just being difficult because they hadn’t liked Hazel from the moment he’d hired her. Then again, it was the same story with every nanny no matter their age. They missed their mother and there was nothing he could do to change the fact that Charlie, an archaeologist, had been invited on the dig of her dreams.

They’d shared custody until six months ago. For all their lives, she’d had the girls during the week and he’d taken them one night a weekday and every other weekend. Despite the explanation, they’d hoped their mom would be home by now but the dig was long. Even with Charlie coming home to see them often, it wasn’t the same as their mom being here. Noah was doing the best he could on his own but his kids were disappointed and too damn smart for their own good.

One thing he knew, when he found them, they’d be grounded for life. And he would find them. There was no acceptable alternative.

***

Fallon Sterling walkedto the front of the paint and sip side of the art gallery where she worked, two glass cups of frothy cappuccino in hand. She passed the rectangular table she’d set up for tonight’s class, including the easels, paints, brushes, and other materials. Her best friend, Brooklyn Snyder, who she called Brooke for short, had stopped by to say hello and helped her arrange the items since Fallon’s usual assistant, Sylvie, was out with a bad cold.

Fallon handed her friend a cappuccino and gestured to two stools by the bar where they usually sold wine and snacks. “Let’s sit.”

They strode across the room and Fallon took the seat facing inside, a habit so she could look around and make sure she hadn’t missed anything that her students would need later.

“Let me run to the ladies’ room,” Brooke said, grabbing her purse. “Be right back.”

Fallon glanced around, her gaze landing on two of her modern, pop art paintings hanging on the walls. The feeling of pride swirling inside her never grew old. Even as a child, she’d loved to work with bright colors. In college, she’d dual majored in art history and fine arts, minoring in business at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Then she’d moved back to New York and worked first at a museum and for the last year and a half, here at the gallery. Her dream was to own a place like this one day but for now, she enjoyed her career and the opportunity to combine the painting she loved with helping the owner with the business.

Brooke returned and settled into the seat beside her. “So? When are you going to get your family in for a session?” She gestured to the easels.

“Do you really think any of my brothers would paint and sip?” Fallon asked, shaking her head, smiling at the thought. She took a taste of the hot froth and savored the cinnamon sprinkled on top, licking her lips to remove any remnants.

Brooke chuckled. “I guess you’re right but the image is amusing.” And she would know.

Of all Fallon’s friends, Brooke knew Fallon’s family best since she’d grown up in the gatehouse on the property Fallon’s father had purchased. Brooke’s mother had been their housekeeper and her father the groundskeeper before he’d passed away. These days, her mom, Lizzie, insisted on keeping her job but she was also seeing Fallon’s father and Fallon suspected things were serious between them.

“Onlyyougot your mother’s talent,” Brooke mused.

As always happened at the mention of her mother, a lump rose in her throat, forcing Fallon to swallow over it. Gloria Sterling had been killed at home when Fallon was ten years old.

Pushing that thought away, she replied to Brooke’s comment. “I’m glad I inherited something meaningful from her.” Something more than a trust fund or jewelry, though Fallon was grateful for all of it.

Brooke put a hand over Fallon’s. “I’m sorry. I know that’s a pain that will never heal.”

“Like your dad is for you.” When they were younger, Fallon and Brooke had bonded over their similar losses.

Brooke nodded. “At least you know my mom’s keeping a close eye on your father after his heart attack.”

With a nod, Fallon said, “I’m so glad they’re dating or whatever they call it. Your mom is the best person I know, and I appreciate that she watches out for Dad, correcting his bad eating and work habits. If only he’d listen more.”

She and the rest of her siblings were worried their father wasn’t paying enough attention to the cardiologist’s orders to work less, take it easy, and change his dietary choices. Seeing him weak and in the hospital still haunted Fallon. She was a daddy’s girl and didn’t mind admitting it. To her, Alex Sterling was larger than life. He was also the only parent she had left and she couldn’t lose him. Having Lizzie around to look after him eased all their minds.

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