Briana’s POVEntering the kitchen, I heard one of my brothers and Riley discussing something.“Our daddy’s here. I thought you would get lonely and jealous, so I found a girl you can marry and have babies with.” Riley said, and my mouth parted in shock.Rowan’s eyes suddenly became evasive. He looked stunned when our eyes connected.“Riley, what are you talking about?” I asked my son.My voice sounded scandalized, while the males around me, except for Rowan, were laughing.“I don’t think your Dada needs your help, Rye,” Noah said when Riley looked put down by their laughter.“And why is that?” Noah looked amused and it weirded me out.“Yesterday, your brother was seen leaving the hotel with an employee.” Noah disclosed, much to Rowan’s embarrassment.It was unusual for my brother to get embarrassed when caught with a girl. So, it got me thinking that the girl is special.“Who is she? Anyone I know?” I sidled up to him to ask, all gossipy.Noah sputtered. He lifted the apron strings f
Noah POVI followed Briana’s ascent with my eyes. While I watched her walking hurriedly upstairs, I resolved that this time, I would move heaven and earth until our time came.After a few minutes, Briana got down. She evaded my eyes when I tried to capture them with a look.“Are you going to the office?” I asked.“Yeah.” She sounded evasive, too.But I did not mind.Briana must be feeling awkward about what happened in the kitchen earlier.I got up from the couch, pulling my car keys from the front pocket of my pants.“Come on. I will take you there.” I beckoned her to follow me, but she refused to take a step.When I looked back, Briana looked awkward.“Come on. I will take you to the Rosewood Hotel before I report for work.” I informed her.Briana cleared her throat.I had not counted on what she told me next.“Luke is waiting for me outside.” She volunteered.The lilt in my steps vanished. I stopped behind the closed main door, and my outstretched hand – the one ready to take the k
Noah POVLuke was taking her time saying his goodbyes.Despite seeing me and triplets, he engaged Briana far longer than necessary.I was sure it was to annoy me.But I already resolved not to rise to his ploy. I already knew how my responses affected my children. I decided to cling hard to my cool.“What is mommy doing?”“Is he the guy mommy is dating?”My children asked while we waited for their mother in the lobby of Rosewood Hotel.We were attracting people. They will openly stare at the children before averting their attention to mine. Some would even talk in whispers.“What if Mommy marries that guy?” Riley nudged me on the ribs to ask the question I had dreaded thinking.What if Riley is right?Briana dated Goldstone, but it was just once. She did not date him again.Luke Bennett was in a different ball game altogether. She dated him yesterday, and today, he fetched her home. He sure is not wasting his time. My heart started to beat double as fear began to fester in my heart.
Briana POVI wanted to glance at the glass window, knowing Noah and the children were looking at me, but I kept a tight rein to the urge.They were waiting at the lounge reserved for guests and their guests while I said my goodbyes to Luke.“I know you are itching to return to your children, but may I borrow a few more minutes of your time?” My brows furrowed.“Why?” I asked inanely, not knowing what to say because half my mind was already with the children, and if I must admit it, their father.I love seeing how, in a short time, Noah had bonded with the children. The triplets love him, and I could see the feeling is mutual.Noah doted on them, too.I never thought he would be a great father, but as the days went by, he was proving himself more and more.Noah is born to be a Daddy.My eyes misted.“Hey, are you listening?” Luke pulled me out of my musings.I raised my head to look into his eyes.“Come again?”Luke smiled, but there was something about the smile. It looked wistful.“I
Briana POVWhile talking to Noah, I purposely made my voice loud so the two women eyeing Noah earlier would get my general drift.They had been checking Noah out when I arrived, and the sight just got to my head, making my fuse meter surge.I am not angry at Noah.I am also not angry at the women who eyed him shamelessly.I am more angry at my body’s reaction.I can’t seem to shake my eyes off him. Well, who won’t be tempted? He wore trunks that showed off his chiseled chest, washboard abs, and sleek legs. Truly drool-worthy.And I was too aware of his natural magnetism.When Noah left to change to dry clothes, I very nearly groaned in disappointment.When he emerged dressed in casual attire, I could not help but notice his manly appeal. Naked or with clothes, Noah had this magnetic appeal that drew attention to him.Even with the triplets hanging on to him, he still gets his fair share of attention from the restaurant clientele.“You are angry,” Noah whispered when he settled Maso
Briana POVThen, to my utter horror, Noah pulled his chair closer to me, closing the gap between us. A slight move, and we could have exchanged faces in our nearness. “Noah!” I scolded him.It sounded louder than I intended when I saw the people from our neighboring table looking our way.Embarrassed, I ducked my head, but the thick-skinned Noah only beamed at me.“What?” He is really testing my patience.“Don’t get too close.” I hissed, grateful that our children seemed oblivious to our bickering.“I can’t seem to help it. I am the metal to your magnet.” He supplied glibly.I snorted. “Yeah. That is why you didn’t look for me.” I wanted the floor to swallow when I let the bitter words out.“But it did not mean I did not think about you.”I blinked. “You did?”Noah nodded. “I do.”There was a softening around my heart, but I didn’t want him to see it.“You are still getting too close.” I pointed out and shoved a finger to his shoulder so he would keep his distance.Noah was unfa
Briana POVI could not breathe.My lungs felt stuffy, and my cheeks were growing warm.The promise and the threat in Noah's words sent a warm tingle to my spine.But I can’t just let myself be swayed.I let myself believe him once, and where did that get me?I ended up a divorcee, and my children did not know their father for the first years of their lives.What if he dumped me again?So many thoughts ran in my head. I had gone completely blank and totally ignored Noah.“I have to go back to the office,” I told the triplets while the wait staff cleared our table.“You just got hewe.” Brixx commented with a long face.Mason and Riley joined in the protest.“Mommy has pending work to do, and I have a meeting in thirty minutes.”“We still have time. I want to go to the park. I want to try biking here. You promised we would ride the bike.” It was Riley, laying the guilt trip on me.My expression sank.I really don’t want to stay a little longer around their father. I don’t want to feel
BrianaI decided it was time to lay down my cards and let Noah know about any misgivings I had in this setup.He wanted to prove himself not as a father to his children but as a partner to me. He wanted us to try again.But that would be asking me for a lot. If I agreed to his request, that would mean shedding my armor and making myself vulnerable.It took me five years to slowly build up my armor, and now Noah is asking me to throw it away.“Your proposal was admirable. But we were only wasting our time if I can't trust you. Let's cut ourselves some slack. Let's stop this now and find something workable for us and the children. I am sure when they grow older, they will understand."
Flint POVI could not believe it.Brinaa had us arrested! The f*ck!After the police handcuffed the three of us, Briana took our phones.“Why are you confiscating our phones? I need that!” Marcus cried.Between the three of us, he was the most uncooperative and talkative.Briana ignored him. “You will get your phones later. For now, I am going to keep it.” She promised before the police officers led us out of her study.Downstairs, I saw the household staff gathered in
Flint POVRowan’s question, asking me about fathering Anna’s baby, hangs in the air.It wrapped around us like an elephant in the room.I took in my brothers’ look, feeling like the odd man out.Can’t I be man enough to take on my responsibility? Can I not be trusted to care for my own family?The dam inside me burst, and I lashed out at my brother, Rowan.“Yes, so don’t cross my line and stop meddling in my wife’s life. They don’t need you.”Rowan stared m
Flint POV“I am not talking to you, Flint. You embarrassed me in front of Linda, and that was unforgivable.”I winced, feeling guilty.In my eagerness to defend my family, I had forgotten that Briana was never an enemy.She was my sister.“I am sorry.”“I am just looking out for you. Haven’t you forgotten how hard women tried to trap you into marriage, not because they loved you but because they loved what you represented?” She lashed out at me.I chuckled. &ldqu
Anna/Linda POV“Hey, sis! ” Flint walked toward his sister with a wriggling Penelope in his arms.When he reached her, he stooped to kiss her cheeks.Penelope saw what he did and did the same. She kissed Briana’s cheek.Briana was left stunned, especially when Penelope showed her natural cuteness.She bounced in Flint’s arms, raising her hands to clap."Yay! Kwin ver gud!" Penelope said in a stilted manner.On the other hand, Flint looked like he was ready to burst into pride. He puffed
Anna/Linda POVWe spent three days secluded in the exclusive villa Flint rented for us. It was nothing short of idyllic. Penelope had a wonderful time. “Dad-dy!” She squealed and jumped on her little feet to evade the coming waves. “Bubbles!” She would cry in gibberish, pointing at the sea foam that crowded her feet and ankles. Then she would run to Flint, and Flint would swoop down to capture her and put her to dry sand. Then, she would stroll toward the waves again, repeating the same actions until Flint rescues her.“You are silent,” Flint said when he deposited Penelope beside me. I was sitting on the sand with my legs stretched out in front of me. He quickly worked on the sand, digging with his hands and throwing them to cover my legs. It attracted Penelope, and she mimicked her father. She took clumps of sand in her hands and threw them to my legs. “You need a spade, my little Queen,” Flint said.He looked around our surroundings before his eyes focused on something no
Flint POVAfter dinner, I was excited to put Penelope to sleep, but to my chagrin, she wouldn’t sleep however hard I coaxed her.She was too busy playing with the rose petals. She kept stepping on them while she walked around our rented villa.“Maybe she loved the downy feel of the rose petals on her soles.” Anna offered a likely explanation for our daughter’s seeming propensity for the flowers.She even pulled her shoes off before she jumped, skipped, and kicked on the petals covering the floor.I dropped my head playfully in response, but inside, I was dying for Penelope to lay her head on the bed so t
Flint POVI saw a myriad of emotions playing on Anna’s face and it made me want to crush her to my chest to offer assurance. I am a Ford.I have everything, but when it comes to Anna, I felt lacking as a man. Of course, it was different with our daughter.Would it be selfish of me if I wanted to be the only man for her, not just the father of her daughter? I wanted to be the best man for them both. “One day, I will make you fall in love with me,” I told her and saw her taken aback. I wanted to add that I will erase every feeling she has for my brother.I will be the only man she would need. The wedding ended. “Congratulations.” The priest held out his hand to send us his best wishes. He even patted Penelope’s head, making her giggle. “You have a lovely daughter.” He told us.Anna and I exchanged a look. She smiled, feeling proud of our daughter. I was, too. We did not linger. Our group left the church and ended up in the parking lot, where we went in separate directions.
Anna/Linda POVIt was not a grand wedding.The only attendees to our wedding were Flint, Penelope, and me.A man I did not know rose from the back pew to approach us."Goldstone!" Flint said in greeting when the man neared us.They shook hands while my eyes surveyed the church.A red carpet was laid in the center aisle decked with flowers. The church was prepped for a simple and solemn wedding."This is Anna, my soon-to-be wife. My Queen, I want you to meet Goldstone, our family's magician. He solv
Anna/Linda POVThe whole ride to Flint’s home, Penelope clung to her father.It was not a problem since Flint did not want to let her go either. He would point out the other cars outside the window, and Penelope would watch them race past us. Sometimes, he would make faces at her, and she would try to mimic them.They also played peek-a-boo. From time to time, Flint would cover his face with his palm, and Penelope would pull up or down the hand that blocked his face from her sight. And when she exposed his face, Flint would cry.“Peek-a-boo!” “Boo!” Penelope would shout before she broke into giggles. From time to time, the father-daughter tandem would include me in their play. When Flint noticed I was looking outside the window, he would pull me close to him and our daughter. One time, he wrapped an arm around my waist while his other hand supported Penelope, who bounced on his lap, enjoying the ride. It was a rare treat for Penelope.What makes this moment even more special