Page 74 of The Family Man

He cast his gaze down at his son. “She is in front with Uncle Daire.” His voice cracks. He pulls me in and kisses my head. My heart is content and happy.

We found our babies.

ZAC

It’s been two days since my children were kidnapped. My daughter is calling me Daddy and not Zac. My heart strings tug every time she says Daddy. My son is talking non-stop! Emily confessed to everything; the fire at my restaurant, the messing up of Sage’s car and the destruction of her flowers. I think when Sage heard that, she wanted to beat her all over again. Everything is falling back into place. There’s just one thing that I have to fix. Sage and I haven’t sat down to talk since the event. I have been so wrapped up in the kids, I haven’t taken the time to go see her.

Now I sit outside on my porch, waiting for her to come home. Her car is in the driveway, but her lights are out.

“Daddy?” I look around at the female mini me.

“Princess?”

She comes to sit next to me on the swing willingly. “Can Nik and I have ice cream now? Uncle Daire says to ask you.”

She smiles and bats her eyes. Where is she learning these things?

“You ate all your dinner. Go ahead.”

“YES! NIK, DADDY SAID YESSS!” she screams. She jumps off the swing and heads back into the house.

“Stop shouting, Poppy!” I shout, feeling happy that my kids are okay.

“SORRY, DADDY!” she shouts even harder than before.

Things have changed so much in the last few months. My thoughts are disrupted when a black Mercedes pulls up in front of Sage’s home.

“Who the hell is that?” I stand slowly as I see a tall man in a suit exiting the driver side and walking over to the passenger side.

Sage steps out in a red strapless fitted dress, her hair is down, and she is smiling up at this guy.

Why is she smiling at a man other than me, and that dress is way too tight?

I didn’t even realize that my legs were carrying me in her direction. I didn’t turn back. We have things to speak about and this is one of them.

* * *

SAGE

Zac is like charging toward me as he crosses my lawn. He has some nerve. I haven’t heard from him for two days.

I observe my very handsome date as he closes my door and stands to the side of me. Brooks Reed may pretend to be a joker but there is something dangerous about him. He is too handsome and charming for his own good. He is a triple threat, rich, gorgeous and caring.

“Who is this one?” Brooks asks as Zac encloses on us.

“Her man,” Zac answers as he stands in front of Brooks, sizing him up.

“Last time I checked, her sister said she was single.” Brooks stares at Zac flat in his eyes.

“I am,” I state.

“You’re not,” he growls. His mouth tightens; his fist clenches like he was ready to fight.

Without caring Brooks turns his back to Zac staring at him in his eyes “Doll face, if I leave you will be alright?”

Doll face? Brooks is laying it on thick.

Zac growls and Brooks remains unbothered “I will be fine.”

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