Page 38 of Could Be Worse

“Who could that be at this hour?” she asked.

“No idea.” Furrowing my brow, I went to answer it. “But I’ll get rid of them.” We were finally calming down and making progress. I didn’t want anything or anyone to impede Sadie and I from working things out.

I opened the door. As I registered who was on my porch, my heart stopped and the earth shook… and not in a good way.

13

Sadie

I should have known keeping Bryce in the dark about why I returned to Minnesota would bite me in the ass. The club had been handling it and I had forgotten about the dangers. When a person grew up in a motorcycle club as I had, we became used to prospects guarding us. How could I act like it wasn’t a big deal when someone’s children were involved?

Tears trickled down my face as I looked into Bryce’s blue eyes. “I’m no good for you or your girls. My life is complicated. I don’t even know if I’m staying in town.” My words cut through my heart like a dull knife, the pain nearly bringing me to my knees.

He squeezed my hand like he was afraid I’d run out the door. “Until tonight, it was good. I like having you around.”

“A relationship must be built on trust, or it’ll never survive, and you don’t trust me now.” I was on the verge of falling apart as we stood close, our mouths within reach of kissing. Served me right for not being straight with him. Now I would lose him and never know what might have been. “I’m so sorry.”

“I want to trust you. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Because I’m an idiot. “I wanted to see where things might go with us.” Guilt flooded my veins. “When I saw you in the warehouse, my first reaction was shock. I couldn’t believe it was you. Then I was angry at you for cheating on your wife. But after we cleared the air, it’s felt like fate brought us together.” And I didn’t want to lose him, even when I had no clue what I would do about my career.

He touched my face. “I know exactly how you feel. You’ve brightened my home, made the girls giggle, and gave me hope for the future.”

“But?” I sensed the damning word was on the tip of his tongue.

“I don’t know, Sadie. If you’re in danger, my girls might be too. I’d go nuts if anything happened to any of you. The thought of losing them or you is more than I can bear.”

My heart raced. This was it. The end of us before we really started.

Suddenly his lips were on mine. I felt him pouring himself into the kiss and I responded with just as much passion as I looped my arms around his neck and held on for dear life.

“I want you,” he said into my mouth. “We’ll figure everything out.”

“Are you sure?” My heart stuttered with hope. Maybe he wouldn’t throw me out of his home or forbid me from seeing Cat and Tori. If we could get past this one issue, we might be okay. Perhaps he was the one.

I jumped when someone knocked at the door and reared back. “Who could that be at this hour?”

“No idea,” he said, irritation in his voice as he released me and went to find out who it was. “But I’ll get rid of them.”

I glanced at the clock on the fireplace mantel. It was after eight thirty. If it was my brother, Zane, or Chase bothering us, I would be furious. Or maybe it had to do with the blackmailer…

Bryce opened the door. His broad frame blocked my view so I couldn’t see who was there. No one said anything. An uneasiness swirled to life in my stomach.

I moved to the side to peer around him.

“Hello, Bryce. I know it’s late, but I wanted to see you without the girls.”

“It is late, Connie.”

Oh shit! His ex-wife was here.

“Can I come in?” she asked.

“Now isn’t a good time.”

“I know your pretty nanny is still here. Been watching her with my girls.” She pushed past him, and I nearly jumped out of my skin as she stormed toward me. “I obviously interrupted something.”

She’d been watching me?