Just One More Temptation (The Sterling Family Book 4)

Noah walked into his apartment in a good mood not even his bickering girls could break. He’d left Fallon with a goodbye kiss meant to ensure she was too dazed to overthink things once he was gone.

“What are they arguing about?” he asked.

“Who talks to Charlie first,” his brother said, standing up from the couch and stretching.

He sighed. “Girls! Get in here now.”

They ran in, hair in braids, wearing their pajamas. “Daddy!” they each yelled, their default sound.

“Heads or tails?” he asked. “Dakota, it’s your turn to choose.”

He flipped the coin and she called out, “Heads!”

Sure enough, it landed back in his hand on heads. “Dakota, you talk to your mom first.”

“Fine,” Dylan said with a pout. “Let’s go wait for her to call. The iPad’s on my bed.”

The girls stomped out and Noah blew out a long breath. “I used to say they could take turns but neither could agree who spoke to her first the last time Charlie called. Hell, half the time I couldn’t remember, so I settled on flipping a coin.”

His brother chuckled. “They are a handful,” he said with fondness in his voice. “I love hanging out with them and I love when I get to give the bickering duo back to you.”

“Problem is, when they’re not arguing they’re plotting.”

“Better you than me, bro. At least for now. Good night?”

He nodded, unable to hold back his grin at the thought of having been in Fallon’s bed.

“That good? Who is she? The girls were whispering about some chick named Fallon who they wanted to bring to Mom’s birthday celebration.”

“That’s her. Remember the last time the girls ran away?” At Liam’s nod, Noah went on. “I found them in an art store where she works. From behind, the twins thought she was Charlie.” He shrugged. “Since then, they’ve been obsessed.”

Liam’s eyes grew wide. “Seems like they’re not the only one. You do realize Mom is going to make a big deal of you bringing someone along with the twins?” They both knew their mother wanted her sons to meet someone and fall hard. She was obvious and vocal about her desire.

“Mom already knows about Fallon. I’m surprised she hasn’t mentioned her. Anyway, I told the girls I’d ask her and that’s what I went to do today.”

“Except you did a lot more than that.”

“Isn’t it time for you to go home?”

Laughing, Liam scooped up his jacket from the end of the sofa.

Noah walked his sibling to the door and let him out, locking up behind him, then set the alarm. He strode into the kitchen and cleaned up whatever was left for him to do, which mostly involved rinsing the bowl they’d used for popcorn and putting the empty water bottles in the recycling bin.

Shutting the overhead lights, he turned on the lamp in case one of the girls woke up during the night and came to the kitchen for a drink of water, then he peeked into the twins’ room to see them talking to their mom. Together. He shook his head at the earlier drama and on his way to his room, he overheard Fallon’s name.

It wasn’t the first time the twins had mentioned her to Charlie. Which meant it was time for him to discuss his love life with his children’s mother. Considering he brought Fallon around the girls often now, he owed it to Charlie to fill her in.

“Daddy!” As if on cue, the girls yelled for him to come take the iPad. Occasionally, Charlie wanted to hear about the girls from him.

He walked in and took the iPad from Dylan. “Girls, brush your teeth and get ready for bed. I’ll be back to tuck you in soon.”

He hoped they never outgrew this particular nighttime ritual as it was the favorite part of his day, when the girls were drowsy and quiet and they could talk about anything on their minds.

“Hey, Charlie,” he said, bringing the device up so he could see her and vice versa. Walking into his room, he sat down on the bed, mentally preparing for the conversation to come.

“Noah, how are you?” she asked, covering a yawn. She stayed up late to talk to the girls close to their bedtime.

“Busy but good. Yourself?”

“Tired.”

Though he wouldn’t say as much, she looked exhausted and unhappy. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “Sometimes living your dream is hard when your other priorities are somewhere else. I miss the girls,” she said.

“They miss you too,” he assured her.

“Any luck finding a babysitter or nanny?”

He let out a low laugh. “Not at all. And our little terrorists have vowed not to like anyone I bring home.”

Charlie raised an eyebrow. “Except Fallon?”

And there it was. As much as he knew he’d have to bring up the subject, he wasn’t surprised she’d gotten to it first. The girls talked about her too often for her not to be curious.

He ran a hand through his hair. “They’re… fond of her.” She’d already been privy to the explanation of how they’d all met when Noah had insisted they tell their mother about their runaway exploits.

“And so are you?”

He leaned back against the pillows and headboard, and propped the iPad on his raised legs. “And so am I. Listen—”

“No, I want to say something first. Your love life is none of my business except as how—”

“It relates to the girls,” he finished for her. “I’d planned to tell you tonight that I’m seeing her and the twins will be around her more often.”

Charlie’s eyes narrowed and her expression took on what he thought of as her worried face. “Is it serious?”

“That’s none of your business. She’s a good person and adores the twins. She’s sensitive to their needs and that’s all that should concern you.” He had no intention of getting into Fallon’s insecurities and past with Charlie. They shared children and that was all.

“Dakota and Dylan said she’s coming to your mother’s birthday. You’re bringing her around your family. Is it so wrong to worry that it’s happening fast? What if you two end things and the girls get hurt?”

He groaned because she made a valid point. But it was one Fallon had already thought of and brought up to him. “I understand and I’ll be careful with what I tell the girls about mine and Fallon’s relationship.” Especially since Fallon was skittish, not that she’d acted it tonight.

Still, once he’d left, he had no doubt her thoughts might spiral. But he was in too deep not to see where things went.

“That’s all I ask,” Charlie said. “They’re our priority.”

He bit his tongue when he’d been about to ask if that were really true. The more rational part of him knew she’d had to take this job opportunity, one she’d dreamt about since she’d learned about archeology and digs but in doing so, she’d left the girls with a hole they were trying to fill with Fallon. Not that she was the type to ever try and replace their mom.

“They are a priority,” he assured Charlie and they said their goodbyes.

As long as he put the girls’ welfare first, Noah had a right to do what made him happy. And Fallon was quickly becoming a key to his happiness. He was lighter when she was around and as she pointed out, he smiled more. Despite the age gap, which he had not told Charlie about, Fallon meant something to him.

Though he understood he needed to take things at her pace, he wasn’t about to let her go.

* * *

On Saturday morning, Fallon stood at her closet door, picking out and discarding clothing on her bed, unhappy with all her choices to wear to meet Noah’s family.

As much as she tried to minimize the significance of today’s outing and remind herself that Noah said it was a combination of a date and a friend joining them, it was his parents and it meant something.

“Breathe,” Brooke said from her spot on the bed. She was in the city today and she’d come by to drop off a blouse she’d borrowed and was now helping Fallon choose clothes.

“I’m breathing. It’s just that—”

“Nope. It’s just a day out with Noah and the girls. It’s not like you have an audience with the King of England.” She let out an amused laugh at her own joke.

Fallon rolled her eyes. “Like you’ve never gotten fussy about what to wear when my brother shows up in town.”

“Rude,” she muttered, but she was blushing and still half smiling and therefore not really mad. She grabbed a pillow from the other side of the bed and repositioned herself so she was more comfortable. Then she pointed to the corner of the bed. “Wear that skirt.”

Fallon picked up the black pleated skirt on the top of the pile. “This one?”

Brooke nodded. “And this top.” She lifted a light blue sweater that would look perfect with the skirt. “Add a pair of black short boots and your cute leather jacket.” She slid off the bed and stood. “And my job here is done.” She took a bow for her effort.

“Thank you!” Fallon hung the garment over her arm and walked over to hug her friend. “You’re the best.”

“I try. But seriously, relax and be yourself. Whatever this thing is between you and Noah, his family will love you. How could they not? You’re a sweetheart. And you saved the girls from the big city. Now go, have fun, and for the love of God, don’t think!”

Laughing, Fallon walked her friend to the door and let her out, promising to text her and let her know how things went.

She showered and dressed in the outfit Brooke picked out, then put on a light layer of makeup, being true to herself. She decided to wear her hair in a bun with soft tendrils framing her face.

When Noah called to say he and the girls were in the car downstairs, she picked up the gift she’d wrapped for his mom, drew a deep breath, and walked out her door.

She took the elevator downstairs, said hello to her doorman, and stepped into the cooler air. Noah stood by the passenger door.

“Hi!” she said as she joined him.

“Hi, yourself.” His hazel eyes appeared more green than brown in the sunlight, helped along by his hunter-colored thermal shirt. She wanted to devour him whole and had to remind herself the twins were in the back seat.

“You look beautiful,” he said, gesturing for her to have a seat.

“You’re pretty handsome yourself, Mr. Powers.”

He let out a low growl and she thought it was prudent to break the sexual tension and get into the car.

She eased into the vehicle, then turned around and smiled. “Hi, girls!”

“Hi, Fallon!” they chimed in unison.

Noah settled into the driver’s seat and soon they were on their way.

“What’s in the box you’re holding?” Dylan asked.

She laughed. “Can it be a surprise present for your grandmother?”

“You didn’t have to do that but it was sweet,” Noah said. “Girls, you can be surprised along with Grandma Nina.”

“Boo,” Dylan said.

Dakota let out a loud huff.

“Ignore them,” he said. “But you can whisper what it is in my ear.”

“Dad!” they shrieked.

“Kidding!” His mouth quirked up in a grin. The same mouth that had done dirty things to her just a couple of days ago, she thought, and immediately began squirming in her seat.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She smoothed her hand over her skirt and nodded. “Yep. Never better.”

Reaching over, he took her hand and held it on the ride to Greenwich, CT, where his parents resided. All the while she told herself to enjoy and instructed herself not to think. At all.