“Meaning what?”

“Instead of Kim babysitting tomorrow, why don’t I do it?”

Miranda’s brows lifted in surprise. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. How long do you think the date will last? An hour, two?”

“Probably, and it’s not a date.”

“So let me watch the kids. And I promise, I won’t hold back this time. I won’t keep my distance or try to pretend they’re not there.”

“And if you do all that and decide you really don’t want to be around them?”

“I don’t think that will happen.”

“But if it does?”

“If it does, then we end this.” Unhappiness underlined each word. “I can’t do a fling anymore, Miranda. For some inexplicable reason, I actually want more than sex from you. Trust me, that’s never f**king happened before.”

She offered a faint smile. “I imagine.”

“But you can’t have a relationship with a man who doesn’t love your kids as much as he loves you.” A resigned light entered his eyes. “I know myself. If by the time you get home I’m not convinced I can be what you want me to be for those kids, then we say good-bye. And you don’t have to worry about the twins getting hurt. I’ll just be babysitting them for a couple of hours, and they’re not overly attached to me at the moment, anyway. Besides, if we do end this, Sophie will probably organize a parade. She hates me.”

Miranda’s lips twitched. “She doesn’t hate you.”

“Liar. You know she does.” He searched her face. “Well?”

Indecision skipped through her, but the genuine hope softening Seth’s rugged features made the decision for her. “All right. You can watch the twins tomorrow.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded, then reached for his hand and pulled him off the couch. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she rested her cheek on his chest and murmured, “Thank you for my birthday presents, Seth. The cupcake and the orgasm.”

His fingers threaded through her hair, stroking gently. “You’re welcome. And thank you. For listening, first and foremost. And for not laughing me right out of the room when I asked you to date me.” He brought his lips close to her ear and said, “And most of all, thank you for agreeing to let me babysit your children while you’re out on your date.”

She huffed out an irritated breath. “It’s not a date!”

Chapter Sixteen

The next morning, Miranda had a dickens of a time getting both her kids in the same room together. Jason was running around the apartment throwing a baseball in the air, and when she finally got his butt settled on the living room couch, Sophie had darted off to find her doll, only to get distracted by one of the sparrows out in the backyard, the one that was supposedly out to get her. So while Miranda was calming down her daughter and assuring her that sparrows were harmless, Jason took off again, this time ducking under the kitchen table to play with his little green army men.

Needless to say, by the time she finally had both kids in front of her, she was exhausted, flustered and kind of sweaty.

“Okay, guys, this is serious. I really need you to listen,” she said, sinking into the small armchair next to the couch. “Sophie, put Emily down. Jason, I know you have one of those soldiers in your mouth. Spit it out. Now.”

Emily and a little green soldier landed on the coffee table with a thud.

“All right. Are you listening?”

They nodded.

“Mommy’s going out for dinner tonight, so—”

“I wanna go to dinner too,” Jason interrupted.

“Me too!” Sophie piped up.

“I’m sorry, guys, but you can’t. It’s a business meeting, so it’s going to be super boring. Trust me, you’ll have a lot more fun at home.” Remaining casual, she added, “With Seth.”

Sophie gasped in pure horror. “Sef’s coming?”

Jason beamed with pure enchantment. “Sef’s coming?”

“Yep. He’s coming over to hang out with you while I have my business meeting.”

“I don’t want Sef! I want Dylan,” Sophie retorted.

“Dylan is busy tonight,” Miranda lied. “But Seth was free, and guess what, he’s so excited about coming over. He said he really wants to watch a movie with you guys, and make popcorn, and maybe even play in the yard for a bit.”

Sophie looked so dubious Miranda almost laughed.

“Is Sef gonna get me from Ricky’s house?” Jason’s jaw dropped as another thought occurred to him. “Is Sef gonna come to my game?”

“I’m afraid he won’t be at the game, kiddo. Coach Diaz will drop you off at home afterwards.” She glanced at Sophie. “And you get to drive in Ginny’s cool convertible. She’ll bring you home while I wrap up my last class at the studio. You and Seth will hang out until your brother gets home.”

Now Sophie was the one gaping. “I hafta be alone with Sef?”

“She gets to be alone with Sef? No fair!”

Miranda sighed. “Enough, guys. Close your mouths before bugs start flying in there.” She gave each of them a strict look. “I expect you to be on your best behavior tonight. You’re going to treat Seth with the same respect you give to me and Kim, understand?”

They nodded, Sophie albeit reluctantly.

“And no running in the house.” She glanced at Jason. “No indoor baseball, Jase. And you—” she pointed at Sophie, “—don’t you dare throw things at the bird feeder again.”