Worth the Wait(23)

“It’ll be fine, trust me,” he told me with a sincere grin. “I know I only met Cameron and Callie for a few minutes the other day, but I have to tell you, you’re kids are kinda great, Kenz.”

“Thanks,” I smiled sweetly at the beautiful compliment.

“And Lizzy can totally vouch for me. I’ll take great care of them. I promise. And if it makes you feel better, I can stop by your place tonight and really introduce myself. Come on, beauty; it’s a win-win.”

I sat, uncertain, for several seconds as I studied his expression. Everything in my gut told me he was completely sincere.

“Okay,” I finally relented. “Come by tonight and if it goes well, you can babysit for me tomorrow.”

“It’ll be great, beauty, you’ll see. I’m awesome with little rugrats.”

“You have a lot of experience with kids?”

“Well…” he paused before saying, “not really. But with my sparkling personality, I can win anyone over.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, Lord. You’re in trouble.”





“How you feeling, babies?” I asked my little ones after getting home from work and releasing the sitter for the night. Cam and Callie were both lying on the couch watching Bubble Guppies, each had their head at opposite ends with their tiny feet tangled together.

“Better,” Callie told me. “I haven’t frowed up anymore.”

“My tummy still hurts, Mommy,” Cameron said with a little pout.

I reached up to brush a flop of brown hair off his forehead. “I know, sweetie. I got you some ginger ale to make your tummy feel better.” I handed him the cup so he could take a swallow. “Mommy has a friend coming over tonight to meet you guys. He wanted to introduce himself. He’s gonna stay with you tomorrow while I’m at work.”

“Is he nice?” Callie asked seriously.

“He’s very nice, honey pot. You’ll like him a lot.”

Leaving them to watch TV, I headed into the kitchen. Cam and Callie still couldn’t really stomach much to eat, so I kept their dinner light and bland, letting them eat on the couch this one time.

As I finished cleaning the kitchen, there was a knock at the front door. I wasn’t prepared for the way my heart lurched in my chest at just the thought of Brett, so I tried to push it to the back of my mind and went to let him in.

As soon as I opened the front door, my mouth grew dry at the sight of him. His light blue, long-sleeved tee hugged all those delectable muscles, reminding me of how good his body felt against mine. His low-slung jeans did amazing things for his tall, toned legs, and his hair was a shade darker from being damp, like he’d just gotten out of the shower before coming over.

“Hey there, beauty.”

My gaze shot back to his face. The way his lips tipped and his eyes crinkled with humor told me I’d just been busted checking him out.

“Uh…” I cleared my throat and tried to get my bearings. “Yeah, hi. Um, come on in.”

I heard his quiet chuckle as he walked past me and into my apartment.

I led Brett into the living room and grabbed the remote to put the TV on mute. “Hey, guys, I want you to meet my friend Brett.”

“Yous the giant from the grocewy store,” Callie said as she stared up at his immense height.

Brett smiled sweetly at the twins and squatted down so he could be eye to eye with them as they lay on the couch. “Yep, that’s me. Your mom told me you guys weren’t feeling well. I thought maybe these would help to cheer you up.”

He lifted up a canvas bag, which in my disgraceful perusal of his body just moments earlier, I’d somehow missed. He reached in and pulled out a stuffed bunny wearing a princess dress and crown, handing it over to Callie before reaching back in and pulling out a superhero action figure for Cameron.

I tried desperately not to melt as my kids’ sick little faces lit up at their new toys, but God, it was hard not to when the man was being so sweet to the two people who mattered most to me in the world.

“Your mom also told me I could stay here with you tomorrow while she’s at work if you guys were cool with that.”

“You want to babysit us?” Cameron asked.

“Are you kidding?” Brett responded enthusiastically. “Heck yeah! You’re the coolest kids I’ve ever met! I’d love to get to spend the day with you guys.”

Don’t melt, don’t melt, don’t melt.

Christ, the man was killing me!

“Will you bring cookies?”

Brett looked down at Cameron and gave him a little wink. “Let’s see how your tummy feels tomorrow, little buddy. If you’re feeling better, we’ll play it by ear. Sound good?”