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)
“Daddy! We’re home!” one of the twins screamed.
Her lips lifted and she laughed. She hadn’t heard anyone enter. Then again, this apartment was massive and she wasn’t anywhere near the front entrance.
The twins came to a skidding halt in the kitchen and when they noticed Fallon, Dylan shrieked. “Grandma, Fallon’s here!”
Nina walked into the room, a smile on her face. “I can see that. No need to break my eardrums.”
“Fallon! We watched a show on National Geographic with Grandpa. Did you know that rhinocerhouses talk to each other with their poop?” Dakota asked.
Dylan giggled at her sister’s words.
“If they mark their spots, other rhinocerhouses know not to go there and they don’t get into a fight.”
Fallon blinked at the information, as usual, at a loss as to what to say to the young, quite brilliant girl.
“That’s rhinoceroses. It’s the plural for more than one rhino,” Noah’s dad said, joining them in the kitchen. “And hello, Fallon.”
His mom treated her to a warm smile.
“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Powers.”
His mom waved a hand through the air. “Nina and Joseph, remember?”
Fallon nodded and smiled.
“Where’s Daddy?” Dakota asked.
“He’s in his office but he should be out soon. I had a little…” She glanced at the girls before meeting Nina’s gaze. “Excitement at the gallery and he offered to let me hang out here for the day.” She felt the need to explain her reason for being here. The last thing she’d want was for his parents to think they’d spent the night together, even if they had.
The sound of heavy footsteps treading across the apartment caught Fallon’s attention and Noah strode into the room, his te-shirt showing his powerful forearms and despite, or rather, because of his casual look, her mouth watered at the sight of him.
“Did I hear a herd of elephants in here?” Noah asked, opening his arms so the twins could run into them.
The sight warmed her heart. She adored how much the twins loved their father, testament to what a spectacular job he was doing raising them alone.
Feeling the heat of someone’s gaze, she turned to see Nina watching her watch the scene, a speculative look in her eyes, and Fallon’s stomach twisted with nerves. She just wanted his mother to like her.
“Funny you should mention elephants,” Fallon said in an effort to switch the other woman’s focus.
“Yeah, we watched a show with Grandpa!” Dylan said.
Dakota went into her rhino poop information, mispronunciations and all, and soon, everyone was laughing and Nina Powers was no longer watching Fallon stare at the small family with what had probably been longing in her gaze.
His parents stayed for an hour and they’d moved to the family room, relaxing and talking before leaving to see a matinee on Broadway.
As soon as goodbyes had been said and Noah walked his parents out, the girls surrounded her. “Can we do mani-pedis?” Dylan asked. “I have a manicure set!” she exclaimed.
Dakota wrinkled her nose. “Nooo! It’s so boring.”
If Fallon had to guess, she couldn’t sit still long enough for the process. “Well, that’s up to your dad. Dakota, why don’t you think about something fun I can paint on your nails just in case we do them?” She figured that would entice the girl to agree with her sister’s desire.
“Oooh! Rhino poop!” She giggled, grabbing her stomach and dropping to the floor, rolling with laughter at her own joke.
“What’s so funny?” Noah asked, as he returned to the family room.
“Don’t ask, Dad. Just don’t ask.” Dylan walked up to her father and clasped both hands in front of her.
“What do you want?” he asked, sounding pre-resigned to not liking the answer.
Dakota jumped up from her theatrics on the floor. “Can Fallon give us mani-pedis, Daddy? Please?”
“Please?” Dylan chimed in, hands still clasped in prayer.
He immediately shook his head. “Girls, Fallon’s had a rough—I mean busy morning. We don’t need to bother her.”
“It’s no bother. They’re an amazing distraction. Besides, I said I’d paint something special on Dakota’s nails.”
“Not poop!” Dylan shrieked.
He wrinkled his nose. “I really don’t want to know.” Glancing at Fallon, he mouthed, Are you sure? She nodded, suddenly looking forward to a spa day with Noah’s girls.
He shot her a grateful look. “Then I will disappear into my office and get some work done. Girls, make sure you help Fallon clean up afterward,” he said in his stern dad voice.
One she wasn’t ashamed to admit turned her on despite their young audience.
* * *
Even secluded in his office, Noah heard the girlish shrieks and laughter from the kitchen. He’d stopped by the room for a glass of water and had been shocked to see the twins soaking their toes in plastic containers filled with soapy water.
They barely noticed him, lost in their excitement and chatter. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen the girls so animated and happy. In fact, he’d never seen Fallon so engrossed in something to the exclusion of all else, including him. And he couldn’t express the warmth that filled him, knowing this young woman—and she was young—truly loved spending time with his girls. Not to impress him, not as a means to get closer to him, but because the twins made her as happy as they made him.