At times like these, he was so incredibly grateful for the life he’d built for himself here in San Diego. Joining the navy, undergoing SEAL training, forging a bond with his teammates…best decisions he’d ever made.

He suddenly had to wonder if getting involved with Aidan was a decision that would fall under that same category, or if it’d end up being a huge mistake. Screwing around with a random guy, sure, probably wouldn’t result in much. But what if he embarked on a sexual relationship with Aidan only for it to blow up in his face? For it to end in a messy, catastrophic way that ensured everyone he knew found out?

Chewing the inside of his cheek, he tried to quell the troubling questions. No point in overthinking any of this. He and Aidan had already opened that door. That explosive kiss they’d shared last month made it impossible to turn back now.

Anticipation coiled tight, tormenting his cock. Definitely no turning back. He might have to wait another month, but he still had every intention of walking right through that door and seeing where it led him.

Miranda couldn’t believe the number of calls she’d been getting. Ever since the summer recital, her phone was ringing off the hook with parents wanting to enroll their kids at All That Dance, and nearly all of them had been referred by existing clients. The parents who’d attended the recital had been thrilled with their children’s progress, and several of them had brought Miranda and the other teachers flowers after the show. She was thrilled about how well the show had gone, not just because it had led to an influx of business, but because she was genuinely proud of all the kids who’d participated.

When she’d left Vegas, this was exactly what she’d hoped for. She truly had loved dancing on that big stage at the Paradis Theater. Contrary to what a lot of people believed, the theater’s performances had been more A Chorus Line than Showgirls, and sometimes Miranda still missed the bright lights and deafening applause and elaborate costumes. But she’d gotten tired of working six nights a week and constantly leaving the twins with babysitters. If they were at school during the day and she was at work during the night, how were they ever supposed to spend time together? Now that they were getting older, it was even more important for her to be a strong presence in their lives. Unfortunately, that hadn’t been possible in Vegas.

But now it was possible. Hell, nothing seemed impossible anymore.

Smiling to herself, she listened to the latest message in her voice mail and jotted down the details, adding to the growing list of calls she had to return. Through the glass sliding door, she saw Seth and Sophie in the backyard, putting seeds in the bird feeder. Her smile widened, taking on a dreamy quality as she fixed her gaze on Seth’s sexy ass, which looked exceptionally yummy in his snug gray board shorts. It was Sunday evening and they’d already eaten dinner, courtesy of Seth, who’d offered to cook because she’d come home from the dance school sore and exhausted.

A loud shriek jolted her back to the present. Sophie was sprinting toward the sliding door, and either Miranda was hearing things, or Seth was actually shouting, “I’ll cover you!”

Both of them were breathing heavily as they burst into the kitchen. Sophie made a beeline for her mother and threw herself into her arms. “It tried to kill me, Mom!”

She smoothed the top of Sophie’s head in a reassuring caress. “What are you talking about? What happened?”

Seth approached the counter, shaking his head in amazement. “She’s right, babe. That fricking bird has a vendetta against her. I saw it with my own eyes.”

“It just flied into my head and tried to steal my barrette!” Sophie said, her eyes filling with tears.

“Flew into your head,” she corrected, then knelt down to wipe away her daughter’s tears. “Are you okay? Did it peck you?” Wow. What a question to be asking your child, she had to marvel.

“I’m okay. Sef saved me.” Now dry-eyed, Sophie walked over to the table to get her doll, then wandered out of the kitchen chattering away to herself.

Once Sophie was gone, Seth headed for the fridge to grab a beer. “Miranda, this isn’t a joke. We need to burn that bird feeder. That psycho sparrow could’ve really hurt her.”

The genuine concern in his voice floored her. Sometimes she still couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that Seth actually cared about her kids. She suspected he was even starting to love them. The way he loved her.

Warmth circled her heart. It had taken a while, but the apprehension she’d felt about dating Seth had finally withered away. After she’d told him she loved him, she’d instantly wished she could take the words back—not because she didn’t mean them, but because saying them out loud made everything feel so…real. She hadn’t wanted to love Seth. She hadn’t wanted to love any man. For the past seven years, she’d been on her own, and she’d been doing just fine. So why rock the boat? Why open her heart to a man and risk being let down?

But Seth had proved time and again these last couple of months that she could count on him. He was there for her. He was there for her kids. Nowadays, she couldn’t imagine not having him in her life. Not seeing that mocking grin anymore, or hearing his raspy voice, or feeling his powerful arms around her.

Seth twisted off the bottle cap and sipped his beer. She’d started stocking the fridge with Bud Lights for the nights he stayed over, which were starting to be a lot. So often, in fact, that he had his own toothbrush in her bathroom now.