Page 15 of Big Bad Single Wolf Dad

And then there’s me in the middle, on a hair trigger with massive physical strength. Will Sarah stand for that sort of display? Can she actually accept me, all of me, for who I am? Is it even fair to ask?

I’m worried the answer is no. That this relationship we’re growing is on a hard time limit, and the clock is ticking faster and faster. Sarah looks up from Mia and smiles at me, gentle and knowing. She then turns to Lily and asks if she has the same strength as her older brother.

I’m hopeful, but that hope is on such shaky ground. I guess the real hope is that it holds.

8

SARAH

I can’t seem to get Greg off of my mind. He’s there when I’m brushing my teeth, holding my son’s hand. He’s there when I’m making my kids breakfast, smiling at me. He’s even there when I’m taking a shower and, oh, that was slightly inconvenient.

After dropping Mia and Ethan off at school, I drive toward my favorite coffee shop for a small treat. On the way there, a new song starts playing on the radio. The man sings about finding his true love and spending the rest of eternity by her side. My thoughts wander at a red light, dreaming of Greg confessing these same words to me. I shake my head and snap out of it. It is way too early to be thinking about us that permanently. But I think the intent of my daydreaming speaks volumes.

I’ve fallen for him. Somehow, Greg is everything I’ve wanted from a partner and more. He’s smart, charming, funny, thoughtful, and amazing with the kids. I’ve only known him for a short amount of time, but he’s twice the man Hunter ever was. Maybe even more.

I pull into the parking lot and walk into the coffee shop, grateful there’s no line right now. I’m already running a little behind for my meetup with an old friend. The menu board has a beautiful chalk drawing of a meadow to advertise their new seasonal drink, and it sounds so good I can’t resist.

“I’ll have a large iced mocha hibiscus vanilla crush, please,” I tell the smiling barista. I reach into my purse to find my wallet, but a hand darts out in front of me.

“Make that two,” Eric says. He hands the barista his own credit card, and the girl takes it without question. “Extra crush in mine, please.” He winks at the girl, who looks a little uncomfortable now. Honey, so do I.

“How did you know I was here?” I ask with suspicion. He puts a hand on my back and guides me to a table.

“I didn’t! What a coincidence, eh? Have a seat.” He pulls out a chair and gestures for me.

“Actually, I was getting my drink to go. I’m already running late.” He’s really putting on the charm, but I’m not in the right headspace to be accepting anything from another man right now.

“If you’re already a little late, what’s the harm in being a lot more late? Come on, sit, relax, enjoy your morning. I’m sure you’ve more than earned it. I’ll get your drink.” Eric leaves for the counter, not waiting for my rebuttal. But I admit, sitting and relaxing in this calm atmosphere sounds like heaven.

So I sit. Eric returns with a wide smile. He hands me my drink and a straw.

“Go ahead and give it a try. The vanilla is a little overpowering, but I must say the hibiscus goes surprisingly well with the chocolate. Where are the little ones?” he asks.

I take a sip of my drink and look at him in surprise. “Ethan and Mia? They’re at school.” I wonder if we’re actually drinking the same drink. I can barely taste the vanilla.

“Ah, of course, I forgot they’re both school-age. Jason and Jessica are in high school, so it’s anyone’s guess if they’re actually there right now or not. Teenagers can be quite a handful. It takes a firm hand to guide them in the right direction. But enough about me.” Eric slides his hand across the table and covers my own, gripping me gently but firmly. “How are you doing today, Sarah?”

I don’t want to tell him. I don’t even want to be sitting here having this conversation. I have somewhere to be right now! But for some reason, I feel compelled to continue this impromptu coffee date.

“I’m…fine. Very well, actually.”

“Oh?” Eric asks with a sly smile.

“Yeah. I spent all day yesterday with Greg.”

Eric’s smile drops.

“I know that you know that. Really weird of you to have a gift dropped off like that, by the way.” In fact, the small package is still in my purse. I’d managed to push it out of my mind until just now. “If you want to get my attention, you could really be less creepy about it.”

Eric’s smile returns, a little lopsided, and he shrugs nonchalantly. “Well, creepy and vampire do go hand-in-hand, I suppose. As do beastly and werewolf.”

That stops my train of thought dead on the tracks. “Excuse me?” I ask darkly.

“Well, you know how werewolves are. Hairpin triggers, big angry outbursts, easily becoming jealous and violent?” Eric, his hand still on mine, grabs his drink with his free hand and takes a long sip.

I jerk my hand back from his. Like I’ve broken free from some kind of spell, my mind clears, and I realize I have no desire to be here right now.

“Greg is a gentleman, and you could learn a lot from someone like him.” I grab my purse and hook it over my shoulder, ready to stand up and leave. But again, Eric darts his hand across the table and grabs my arm.

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