“Oh no, please, you don’t have to do that. I’m fine bunking in the guest room with the twins.”
But Dylan was adamant. “That double bed can’t be big enough for all three of you. It’s all right, honey, I’ve got a friend with a spare room, and he already said I can crash there whenever I need.”
“I can’t put you out of your own home.” Her voice trembled. “I refuse to inconvenience you.”
“It’s no inconvenience. Besides, I could use a change of scenery.”
Seth studied Dylan’s chiseled features, wondering why he seemed so eager to leave. He must have been talking about Jackson—Texas was the only one Seth knew with an extra room—but why the hurry to move in with the guy?
In all honesty, Seth would prefer it if Dylan stayed home. The dude was amazing with Miranda’s rugrats. He watched movies with them, joked around with them, even gave them piggyback rides on command. Without Dylan there to entertain the kids, Seth would be forced to spend more time with them.
But it was clear Dylan was dead set on jumping ship.
Asshole.
“I’ll make up the bed and get the room ready for you,” Dylan told Miranda. “And quit arguing. As long as you’re staying here, you deserve your own room, okay?”
“Okay,” she said weakly.
Seth fought another urge to cross the kitchen and take her in his arms. She’d probably slap him if he tried, and besides, the twins were clinging to her legs like spider monkeys, looking unhappy about this latest turn of events.
“I wanted to go home,” Sophie whined.
“Me too! All my toys are at home.”
Miranda seemed to snap out of her thoughts. “Actually, most of our things are in Seth’s garage. I spent the last two days packing up all the dry clothes and toys and bedding. Remember the boxes I showed you?”
The twins nodded.
“Well, that’s our stuff. If you want, why don’t we pick out a few items that you can keep in the guest room?”
Sophie’s brown eyes lit up. “Like Belinda?”
Miranda’s expression grew strained. “I’m sorry, sweetie, Belinda isn’t in any of those boxes. She was too wet and dirty. I couldn’t save her, hon.”
“She’s dead?” Sophie wailed.
Seth swallowed a groan, knowing the waterworks were about to make an appearance. But although tears clung to Sophie’s dark eyelashes, the kid kept her cool, triggering a spark of grudging admiration.
“Will you get me another doll?” Sophie asked in a small voice.
Miranda smiled and tugged on one of her daughter’s pigtails. “Of course I will. But not today. For now, why don’t you put on your shoes and we’ll go to the garage and find you some toys.”
Both kids dashed out of the kitchen, leaving Seth alone with Miranda.
She eyed him for a moment, wary, reluctant.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he said roughly.
“Kim’s coming over in an hour to babysit.”
He arched a brow. “And?”
“And then I’m going to the club.” She hesitated. “I’m only working until midnight.”
He refused to acknowledge the tiny spark of hope that hovered in his chest. “Where are you going with this, Miranda?”
Her teeth dug into her lower lip, gnawing, revealing her evident nervousness.
The spark grew bigger.
“Seth…remember how I said my life was a big ball of stress?”
He nodded.
“Well, the ball is bigger now. It’s huge, actually. It’s ginormous.” Her hazel eyes took on a slightly wild glint. “I’m close to freaking out and I don’t have time to freak out right now, okay? I need to relax. Just a teeny, tiny bit of relaxation, a few hours where I don’t have to think about anything but me.”
The spark caught flame and burned a path straight to his groin.
“So please, don’t come to the club tonight. Stay here, work out, do your hair, I don’t care. But when I get home later?” Her chin lifted in fortitude. “You’ll be lying in your bed waiting for me. You’ll be naked, you’ll have protection handy, and you’re going to fuck me.”
Chapter Ten
This was a mistake. A big fucking mistake.
Whatever, man, you need a place to stay, Aidan’s got a spare room, end of story.
“Bull-fucking-shit,” Dylan muttered.
Wow. He was actually calling bullshit on himself. That was beyond messed up. Yet even though he knew his reasons for coming here tonight were bogus as hell, he couldn’t seem to talk himself out of it.