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Noah had toadmit the week Fallon watched the girls was the most productive one he’d had at work since the twins got off from school for the summer. Throughout the day, he’d receive messages from Fallon with pictures of the girls at their latest activity and he was astounded by the thought and effort she’d put into the babysitting offer. His favorite was a selfie of all three of his girls that he’d made his phone wallpaper so he could see it every time he picked up his cell.
His girls. The sentiment should have been a foreign one yet it felt right.
He arrived home Friday evening, planning to order in pizza and have them all watch a movie. He entered his apartment to find the entryway rug rolled up and the girls walking on coated paper, the soles of their feet covered in paint as they giggled and stepped to the beat of music Fallon had playing from her phone.
“Hello!” he called over the music.
“Daddy!”
“Nobody move!” Fallon ordered in a strict voice and to his surprise, they listened, halting in place.
“Hi. You’re early,” she said, her cheeks flushed as she met his gaze. “I planned to have this cleaned up by the time you got home.”
He set his briefcase on the floor, far from the paint. “It’s fine. Looks like you’re having fun?”
“The best!” Dakota and Dylan exclaimed at the same time.
“Okay, girls. One at a time I’m carrying you to the tub. Who’s first?”
He watched as she handled the twins like a pro, set them up in the shower, and returned to clean up, quickly and efficiently.
“Are you sure you’ve never been a full-time nanny?” he asked.
She laughed. “When you paint, you become meticulous about the mess and the cleanup process. Or at least I do. They promised not to step off the paper.”
“Well, I’m impressed.”
“Thanks.”
“Stay for dinner and a movie?” he asked.
Swallowing, she shook her head. “I have plans.”
He didn’t like the pit that formed in his stomach at her words. “With?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“My dad. I’m going there for dinner. It’s been a while and my siblings and I have been taking turns subtly checking on him since his heart attack. He’s the worst patient.” She twisted her lips at the thought. “Lizzie tries her best to take care of him,” she said of the woman Fallon had told Noah her dad was dating. “But he’s stubborn.”
Relief filled him because she was seeing family. He’d never been jealous before and had a hard time with this particular emotion.
“How are you getting there?” he asked, knowing they lived outside the city.
She lifted one shoulder. “I’ll Uber.”
He nodded, glad she wasn’t taking the subway at night.
“Thank you for this week,” he said, not wanting her to feel like a babysitter when she was so much more. “I’ve never seen the girls so happy.”
She smiled and it lit up her pretty eyes. “The week was a blast for me, too. They’re so smart and fun to be around. Speaking of, I should check on them.”
She turned and started in the direction of the girls’ room and bathroom but Noah hooked an arm around her waist, stopping her from leaving.
He spun her around and clasped his hands on her waist. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to avoid me.”
“Not at all,” she assured him, running a hand over his chest and the shirt he’d unbuttoned on his way up the elevator. “I just need to work on my painting this weekend. I’ve been doing that when I go home at night but I had things at the gallery that are now destroyed. I’m refreshing my stock, so to speak.” Then, as if to reassure him, she rose to her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips.
“We’re done!”
Fallon jumped back but he kept one arm around her waist. It was time the kids see this was more than friendship. He’d never brought a woman around them before and this was the first time they’d seen him kiss anyone.