Sophie nodded.

Miranda released a sigh and joined them on the couch. “It doesn’t matter what your intentions were. You can’t do things like this, guys. You can’t take Mommy’s phone and call someone and tell them there’s been an emergency. Remember that story I told you about the boy who cried wolf? Remember what happened to the boy?” She shook her head. “I’m very disappointed in you two.”

Jason looked stricken. “I’m sorry, Mom. But we did it ’cause you were wrong.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

“You were wrong,” Sophie piped up.

“Because it’s four,” Jason explained.

Now she was utterly lost. “What are you talking about?”

“The magic number isn’t three. It’s four.” Jason’s expression conveyed impatience. “You and me and Sophie and Sef.”

He pointed at Seth, as if Miranda needed the visual reference.

Her heart jammed in her throat. She drew in a breath, battling the rising wave of sorrow. “Guys, I already told you, Seth is—”

“An idiot,” Seth finished.

Her head swiveled in his direction.

“An idiot,” he repeated. “I should have never walked out on you. I was just so shaken up after what happened at the carnival and—”

Sophie jumped off the couch and threw herself into his lap. “It was my fault! I shouldna run away and now you don’t wanna be with us anymore.”

Seth’s muscular arms wrapped around the distraught girl, and Miranda’s heart cracked in two as she watched him stroke her daughter’s hair.

“You shouldn’t have run away,” he agreed. His gray eyes met Miranda’s over Sophie’s head. “But I shouldn’t have run away either.”

She forced herself to ignore that little pang of hope. It didn’t matter what he said. He’d left. He’d ended it. He’d proven that she couldn’t count on him.

“Guys, would you mind if I spoke to your mother alone?” Seth asked gruffly.

Sophie slid off his lap and hurried over to her brother, practically dragging him away from the couch. “C’mon, Jase.”

Miranda had to smile as she watched them scurry off, but the smile faded when Seth rose from the armchair and advanced on her.

“I screwed up,” he said in a voice thick with remorse. “I let my fears drive me away. But I’m not afraid anymore.”

She refused to meet his eyes. “Really.”

“I spoke to my mom today.”

“Yeah, about what?” She kept her voice casual.

“About Adam.” He shrugged. “And we both realized something.”

Curiosity had her turning her head. She needed to see his expression, and what she found surprised her. He looked…peaceful.

“What did you realize?” she asked softly.

“That we’d suffered enough. Adam’s gone. Mistakes were made, by me, by my mom, but there’s really only one person to blame in the end—and that’s the person who took Adam’s life.” Seth swallowed. “But all that isn’t important right now. You’re what’s important. I love you, Miranda, and I’m sorry for freaking out last night.”

“You left, Seth.” She bit the inside of her cheek. “The only thing I’ve ever wanted is someone who will be there for me. Someone I could count on. And you left.”

“I screwed up,” he said again. “But I promise you, I will never leave again. You can count on me to be there for you.”

“Why should I believe you?” she whispered.

“Because you love me. Because you have faith in me. Because you can look in my eyes and see that I mean every word that I’m saying.”

There was no mistaking the sincerity glimmering in those silver-gray depths. She felt her resolve crumbling with his every word, and when he leaned in to brush his lips over hers, she was a goner. Seth’s lips were warm and firm. He tasted like alcohol, but when she pulled back to search his face, he looked stone-cold sober.

“I love you, Miranda.” His husky voice tickled her senses. “Please give us another chance.”

“Okay,” she murmured.

His eyes lit up. “Okay?”

She nodded.

In the blink of an eye, he was kissing her again, so passionately that her lungs screamed for oxygen and her brain became foggier than a mirror in a steam-filled bathroom. By the time his tongue retreated and his lips left hers, she’d forgotten her own name.

“So…” she gulped, “…what now?”

“Now…” he tilted his head thoughtfully, “…now we hang out with the rugrats for a bit, and then we put them to bed.”

“And then what?”

“And then I take you to your bedroom, help you out of those pesky clothes, and…” Seth trailed off suggestively.

“And make sweet, sweet love to me all night long?” she filled in.

“Definitely.” He brought his lips to her ear, his mocking voice sending a shiver through her. “But first I’m going to f**k you.”

Miranda couldn’t have suppressed her laughter even if she’d tried. And here he was, that bad boy she’d tried so desperately not to fall in love with. Rough and crude and dangerous, with a smart tongue and a chip on his shoulder and a whole lot of swagger that he didn’t bother apologizing for.