Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56799 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56799 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
The chimes above the door jingled and Noah came rushing in, this time in a suit and tie that exuded power. His gaze met hers and heat flared in his eyes. This time she was sure she didn’t imagine the mutual awareness between them.
She swallowed hard and waited as he approached. His gaze narrowed as he pinned his girls in place. “Dylan, Dakota, explain. Now.”
“We just really wanted to see the pretty paintings again,” Dylan said.
“And Janine wasn’t paying attention to us at all,” Dakota added, a whine in her tone.
Who was Janine? Fallon wondered with an unhealthy amount of what had to be jealousy. She didn’t like that… at all.
Noah turned an unhealthy shade of red. “Do you have any idea how dangerous New York City is for two girls alone your age?” His voice raised as he spoke. “You could have been kidnapped, for God’s sake.”
Their eyes opened wide, then shimmered with tears. “We didn’t think about that,” Dakota said.
“That’s right. You didn’t think. And apparently neither did I by letting you off lightly last time. Hand over the iPads,” he said, hand out.
“But—”
“Now.”
They deposited the tablet they’d each clutched against their chest in his open hand.
“And no television for one week.”
“Daddy!” they moaned simultaneously.
He shook his head. “No. You’ll have plenty of time to think about why these stunts aren’t cute. And while you’re at it, think about how devastated your mom and I would be if anything happened to either of you.”
Though Fallon felt bad for the now crying girls, she understood his anger and the need to follow through with punishment to make his point.
“Stay here while I talk to Fallon,” he instructed them.
They huddled together and Fallon followed Noah a few steps away.
Nervous from the situation and wanting to lighten the mood, she said, “You do realize I’ll have to start charging for babysitting services if this keeps up?”
Only a slight curve of his lips indicated he found her comment amusing. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with them,” he said, showing a true hint of vulnerability as he ran his hands through his hair, further messing the strands. “They’ve run off every nanny to the point where the agency basically fired me. My admin was focused on her computer screen and they disappeared on her to come here.”
Janine was his administrative assistant, she realized, hating the relief that washed over her at the knowledge.
Feeling bad for him, she reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. Even over the suit fabric, she felt the strength in his shoulder muscles.
Ignoring the dangerous sexual awareness she experienced around him, she turned her attention to the issue at hand. “I can understand them missing their mom,” she said. “I lost my mother when I was their age.”
She skipped the hows of her mother’s death. Not only did she not like to revisit that time, but the idea of someone killing her parent while she was sleeping in another room was still hard to accept or cope with. She’d had enough therapy to function without blaming herself, but it wasn’t easy.
His harsh expression softened and she caught a glimpse of the same man he was around his girls. “I’m so sorry,” he said.
“Thank you.” She swallowed hard. “And I know there needs to be consequences for their actions. I’m just saying… I can understand why they’re gravitating to me.”
He nodded. “I can, too. Not that I see any real resemblance between you and Charlie. That’s their mother. But if they thought so from behind, there will be no changing their minds.”
She understood and a sudden thought occurred to her that might help. “Listen, I have an idea. One that would make the twins happy and would give you a break from worrying about them,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow. “I’m all ears.”
“Right now, our classes at the paint and sip studio next door are for adults. I’m thinking of expanding to giving art lessons to kids but I don’t want to turn this into a preschool painting place. Your girls are just the right age and I could have them come in to paint and learn. I could see how they react and if the experiment is something I want to do for real.”
He eyed her with an admiring stare. Obviously, she’d said something right.
“I know they’d love the idea, but let’s schedule it for after their punishment ends.”
“Of course. That’s fine.” She smiled, excited to teach the twins to paint.
He tipped his head toward the girls and they walked back over to where they stood.
“We’re sorry, Daddy,” they said in unison, this time, the apology sounding heartfelt instead of rote and Fallon was fascinated how often they spoke the same sentence at the same time.
Noah knelt down so he was at eye level with them. “I love you both so much and I couldn’t handle it if something happened to you. Got it?”