Just One More Temptation (The Sterling Family Book 4)

One week had passed since the fire. Without the gallery to go to, Fallon was at loose ends. She spent her days with Clara, first at the hospital, making sure she was emotionally okay after the trauma with Oliver, and then helping her get home and settled in. The older woman had grown stronger after the toxins had been flushed from her body, and she resisted laying around in bed.

Her son was in jail. Clara, for as much as she loved her child, refused to visit him or support him by paying for an attorney. Fallon couldn’t imagine the pain her friend was feeling but she was there for her, helping her through it.

The twins’ mother had come for a visit and she’d taken over time with the girls. The new nanny even had time off her first week on the job. Charlie had brought the girls to her hotel, giving Fallon and Noah plenty of nighttime togetherness. There were some nights he had dinner with his kids and Charlie but most times, he was with Fallon and she soaked up his singular attention.

Fallon hadn’t yet met Charlie but today was Liam’s birthday and she would see her at Noah’s parents’ house for a family get-together. To say she was antsy would be an understatement.

For whatever reason, she had this vision of Charlie as a worldly woman who would judge Fallon for her youth and relationship with Noah. But she was the twins’ mother and Fallon intended to do her best to win her over.

The girls were with their mother, so Noah picked up Fallon at her apartment and they drove to Westchester County. The ride took about forty minutes and Fallon looked out the window at the green leaves on the trees.

Noah placed a hand on her thigh, stilling the tapping movement she hadn’t been aware of doing. “Are you nervous?” he asked.

“A little. I just want Charlie to like me. She’s the twins’ mom and she means so much to them.”

“Hey. She’s as easygoing as you are. Don’t worry about it. So, tell me what you bought Liam for his birthday. No pressure or anything but you have a reputation to live up to.”

She let out a laugh. “Oh, I think I did a good job. You’ll have to wait and see.”

He squeezed her knee and she shrieked in surprise. “Ow! What was that for?”

“I can’t believe you won’t tell me first.”

“Fine, Mr. Impatient. I bought him a set of candles. They’re called Connoisseur Candles for Men. They smell like different smells a guy would like. Whisky, gin, tobacco, and bourbon. Happy now?”

He laughed. “Perfect. You’re good at gift giving.”

“Thank you. Just wait until the girls see their birthday presents.”

That was another thing she’d devoted time to this week. Working on her painting. She had two special canvases, one for Dakota and one for Dylan, their names worked into the design, in the hot pink and purple colors they’d loved on the original work. Their birthday was next month and she couldn’t wait.

He’d managed to distract her with conversation and soon they’d pulled into the driveway of his parents’ home. A rental car was already parked there, as were a couple of other vehicles. Apparently, they weren’t the first ones to arrive.

They walked into the house, the noise coming from the large kitchen where everyone had gathered. She put her gift on a table, as did Noah, and they went to greet the family.

Liam met her gaze first, a charming smile on his handsome face. Simon nodded at her in greeting. He was more serious than Liam, less so than Noah. Fallon might prefer Noah’s fuller features but there was no doubt the brothers were a good-looking trio.

She lifted her hand as a hello and left Noah with his siblings as she stopped to talk to his mother who was as warm and welcoming as the first time Fallon had met her.

“Daddy! Fallon!” The twins came running into the room, their excitement tangible, no doubt because they’d been with their mom for most of the week.

“Hi, girls!”

“Guess where we went? To the place where we learned all about dinosaurs. There was a trampoline and we tried to jump as high as the tallest dino. And there was a dig site just like where Mom works! And a drawing part where we made our own dinosaur pictures!” Dakota exclaimed, finally seeming to run out of breath.

Dylan was calmer than her sister.

“That sounds amazing!” Fallon smiled at both girls.

“They definitely had fun,” a pretty woman with shoulder-length dark hair said. “I’m Charlie,” the girls’ mother said.

Considering the twins had mixed them up from behind, she must have gotten it cut recently and the shape accentuated her attractive features.

“Hi. I’m Fallon. But you know that already.” She met the other woman’s gaze and there was no doubt she was sizing Fallon up the same way Fallon had just done to her.

Dylan and Dakota drifted toward the counter with their grandmother’s chocolate chip cookies just waiting for them, leaving Fallon alone with Charlie.

“I’ve heard so much about you,” she said. “The girls can’t stop raving about all the adventures they had with you while you watched them for Noah.” She sounded warm and sincere, and the butterflies in Fallon’s stomach receded a bit.

“I tried to keep things fun and educational. They’re wonderful girls.”

“Thank you. I miss them so much. But I committed to the length of the excavation and I really am loving it.”

Fallon understood being torn. “If it’s any consolation, the girls seem enthralled with what you’re doing. Well, mostly Dakota, but they talk about your job with awe and pride.”

Charlie tipped her head and her expression softened. “That’s so nice of you to say. Mom guilt. It’s a bitch,” she said, laughing. “So, they tell me you paint?”

“Is everything okay here?” Noah drew up beside them, joining the conversation, and not-so-discreetly slipping a protective arm around Fallon’s shoulders.

“Go away, Noah. We’re getting to know each other,” Charlie said lightly.

Fallon chuckled. “She’s right. Everything is fine.”

“I’m glad. I want you two to like one another.”

“No worries there,” Charlie said. “I can tell how much Fallon cares about the girls. That’s what matters to me. Plus, you’re nice.” Charlie winked.

Fallon grinned, liking how she read Noah and wasn’t afraid to let him know what she was thinking. No wonder they were such good co-parents.

Noah picked a pretzel from a bowl on the counter and took a bite. “Then I suppose I’m not needed here.”

“Exactly what I said when you walked over. I’m not going to bite. And, for what it’s worth, I approve, not that you need that from me.”

Fallon released a breath she hadn’t been aware of holding. “We may not need it but I respect you as the twins’ mom too much not to care. So thank you. That means a lot.”

Noah pressed a kiss to Fallon’s cheek. “Anyone want a soda? Water?”

Both Fallon and Charlie gave him their preference, Diet Coke for Charlie and club soda for Fallon, and he strode away to play bartender.

The rest of the day passed with the same flow and dynamic, Fallon feeling comfortable with his family, and for that she was grateful. The twins conned her and Charlie into playing a game of Twister in the family room, which they did. With an audience.

They ate burgers and hot dogs, Liam’s choice for his birthday lunch, like a kid, and after they finished, Nina asked Noah to help her reach something in the hall closet which she used as a pantry. And Fallon found herself talking to Simon about how he and Liam became angel investors.

All in all, she’d call the day a success.

* * *

Noah’s mother needed him to pull a package of paper towels from the top shelf of the closet, so he followed her into the hallway and grabbed the bundle, handing it to her.

“There you go. This has been a great day, Mom. Thanks for making it so easy to have Charlie and Fallon.” His parents liked Charlie but she wasn’t always included in his family gatherings. Because she was here for such a short time, he’d wanted to give her as much time with the girls as he could.

“Of course, honey.”

Turning so he could return to the family room, he stopped when his mother called his name.

He pivoted back around to find a concerned look on her face. “Mom? Is everything okay?”

She nodded but he got the sense she wasn’t being one hundred percent truthful. He knew his mother, she wanted to have her say and all he could do was wait her out.

“You’re right. Today was fun. Liam is so antsy to open his presents. He’s such a kid sometimes,” she said with a loving smile.

Noah chuckled. “He definitely is.”

“And Fallon is good with the girls. That was a mean game of Twister they played.”

Yeah. With her body bent over, her ass out, his dick grew hard and he’d been tempted to walk up behind her and pull her against him to relieve the ache.

“Fallon’s a lovely young woman,” his mother said, bringing his mind out of the gutter. Not the thing to be thinking about with his mom right here.

Noah nodded. “I agree. I’m glad you like her.”

“But—”

He narrowed his gaze, his defenses rising. “But what?” he asked, unable to control the bite in his tone. The last thing he wanted was to listen to any complaints about the woman who was perfect for him.

“Isn’t she a little young for you?”

And there it was. The elephant in the room the times Fallon had been with his family. He’d come to terms with the fact. And that’s all it was. A fact. Numbers. They had too much in common for him to let perception get in the way of them. He didn’t need anyone getting in the middle of his feelings for Fallon or bringing up potential pitfalls.

“Can you keep your concerns to yourself?” He moderated his tone because he knew his mother meant well and he didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

His mom reached out and touched his cheek in a move he knew all too well. “I’m just worried about you. A young girl like that? She loves your kids. There’s no doubt she’ll want a baby one day and I know you’ve said you’re finished after the twins. How do you plan to deal with that once you’re in so deep both of you risk getting hurt?” she asked.

Once he was in deep? He was already there. The possibility of losing Fallon made his stomach twist in pain. He rubbed a hand over his face and groaned.

Happy bubble burst, he thought, wishing he could glare at his mother, but she had a point. “How about you not borrow trouble?”

Except she’d tossed a grenade in his lap and now it was all he could think about. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, frustration running through him.

“Okay.” She held up both hands. “I just had to say my piece.”

“Thank you for caring.” It was the best he could manage to say and still keep things peaceful between them.

She nodded, then turned and walked back to the family room, leaving him to mull over her words and accept that she had a valid point. No, he didn’t want more kids, let alone to start over with a newborn. Dakota had had colic. The very thought of a repeat was a frightening concept.

He needed time alone to think and he wouldn’t be finding it today. Forcing the uncomfortable thoughts she’d brought up to the back of his mind, he went to join everyone and try and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

He found everyone gathered in the kitchen, obviously ready to sing “Happy Birthday” to his brother, but Fallon was nowhere to be found.

He walked over to Liam. “Did you see where Fallon went?”

“Lost your girlfriend already?”

Noah rolled his eyes.

“Okay, okay. She excused herself to go to the ladies’ room.” Except he’d been in the hallway where the bathroom was located. At least the one guests tended to use. And he hadn’t seen her.

Was it a leap to wonder if she’d overheard his mother’s comments?

He walked out of the kitchen and opened the front door where he found Fallon standing on the wraparound porch, looking out at the trees that surrounded the property. The fact that she’d walked out on the party inside left him with no doubt.

She’d heard his talk with his mother and she was obviously upset.

* * *

Fallon hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on Noah and his mother but she’d rounded the corner to the hallway where the bathroom was located and she’d heard her name. Stopping so she didn’t interrupt, she’d paused and caught the gist of the conversation. It was the second time she’d heard that Noah didn’t want more kids. For the last couple of weeks she’d been able to push the possibility from her mind and let her current reality occupy her thoughts.

But now she was faced with the truth. No longer a what if Noah didn’t want children, he definitively did not. What did that mean for their future?

“Fallon?”

She turned at the sound of her name. “Hi, Noah.” There was no avoiding this conversation, no matter how much she’d rather keep pushing it off. But talking at his parents’ house during his brother’s birthday party wasn’t the right thing to do.

He walked over, hands in the front pockets of his dark jeans. “I know you heard my conversation with my mother.”

Way to go right for the jugular, she thought. “I didn’t mean to. I heard my name… and—”

“It’s okay.”

“It is,” she whispered, the lump in her throat growing bigger and more painful. She wanted to make this easier for him because they were both entitled to their feelings. “It’s not your fault how you feel any more than it’s mine that your mother is right.”

“We need to talk about this,” he said.

“Do we? Is there anything either of us can say to change the fact that your mother was right? You mentioned it earlier in passing and I knew then there would come a time for this.” She gestured between them.

He remained silent and she understood. What could he say?

She forced herself to swallow, though it hurt so badly. “I’m going to walk back inside, say goodbye, and tell your family I’m not feeling well. Then I’ll call an Uber and go home. I really need to be alone.”

The tortured look on his face ripped her apart inside but she couldn’t change things. Couldn’t fix what was broken between them.

“Don’t go.”

He reached for her and she stepped back, another bid at not making things harder than they had to be.

“Okay then, at least don’t go home alone. I’ll take you and—”

She shook her head. “The girls might want to go with us and I’m…” She blinked back tears. “I’m not up to it right now. But no matter what, I promise I won’t just disappear from their lives. We’ll figure out a way to make this easier for them.” Even if her heart was ripped to shreds.

With everything in her she wanted to give up her dreams of having babies and say Noah and his girls were enough for her. But she’d grown up in a big family. Big holidays, big brothers, and for herself? Big dreams.

“You’re killing me, sweetheart,” he said, his hands dangling uselessly at his sides.

She forced a smile. “I don’t mean to. I’m trying to do just the opposite. Besides, you have to admit I’m right. So let’s just get this over with, okay?” She started to walk past him and he spun her around, pulling her into his arms and pressing his lips hard against hers.

She melted against him, giving in to the power of their emotions and need. Her tongue swirled against his and she let the kiss go on long enough she’d feel the pain of leaving him even more intensely later. When she was alone.

Breaking things off, she stepped back, looking into his eyes, seeing the heartbreak she was experiencing mirrored back at her. “I love you, Noah. And I wish things were different.” He reached for her hand but she turned before he could reply and headed inside to say her goodbyes.

She only wished they weren’t for good, but there was no crossing this bridge without each of them giving up something that they felt deep in their core.