Happily Ever Afters Guaranteed by Lacy Williams Read Free Book Online Page A

things, in case you were
serious last night. Good thing, too.”
    She smiled, knowing it was wan. “Are you sure
you trust me with your kids?”
    “Yup.” He pressed a half-piece of notebook
paper into her hand.
    Sarah glanced at it. Not much of an
instruction manual. She was used to hefty tomes with specific
instructions. At least on most software programs there was a HELP
function she could use for troubleshooting. Or she could Google
it.
    Did Google find instructions for dealing with
kids?
    Brand was heading for the door at an alarming
rate and she wasn’t sure she trusted herself with the boys.
    “Wait—Brand—”
    “Sorry to rush off, but I have an early
conference call…”
    The door shut and Sarah looked at the
goo-covered baby on her hip. He sniffled.
    “Well, here we are. It’s Jamie, right?”
    He let out a wail.
    “I know just what you mean, kiddo.”
     
     
     

DAY 2
    AFTERNOON.
     
    Jerry hated her. Josh copied his older
brother in everything, so she spent the day dealing with two
recalcitrant boys. Luckily the baby seemed to love everyone, even
those who had no idea how to wrangle little kids into a semblance
of order.
    The boys didn’t like the lunch she’d made –
grilled cheese and soup.
    Naps were for babies and they wouldn’t take
one, even though Josh was clearly cranky. She was exhausted. Why
weren’t they?
    By the time Brand pulled in the driveway, she
knew there was a major hurdle to overcome before they could get
married. His boys needed to be won over.
    “How did it go?” Brand whispered after
sneaking into the kitchen; the boys were still in the living room.
His quicksilver grin made it all seem worth it. She didn’t want to
mention her despair.
    “Jer and Josh and I didn’t—hit it off so
well.” Understatement.
    His brows came together in puzzlement. “But
they loved you last night.”
    “Yeah, well, last night I didn’t try to make
them take a nap.”
    Just then, two shrieking boys, followed by
one babbling baby rushed into the room with cries of, “Daddy!”
    Clearly, she was an unwanted female
presence.
    Until Brand raised his head on the way out of
the room, boys under each arm, “Stay for dinner again?”
    ###
     
    “I didn’t mean for you to cook dinner again.”
Brand collapsed on the wicker porch swing next to Sarah, leaving
the boys to play in the sprinkler under their watchful eyes.
    Twilight was falling, making the moment seem
romantic. Except for the screaming.
    “It’s okay. I put the roast in earlier so
there wasn’t much left to do.”
    He rolled his head on the back of the seat
and look at her. His gaze felt palpable. She kept her eyes on the
boys playing.
    “It’s a big deal to me. Just like the coffee.
The boys need more home-cooked meals and I’m not much of a
chef.”
    “I’m not either. I just found a recipe and
followed the directions.”
    “Mmm. You seem to be good at that. Following
directions. I noticed you kept number five on my list. Keep the
boys safe and happy.”
    “There wasn’t a number five on your list.”
She knew, because she’d gone back to the list of instructions
several times, wondering if she’d missed something. “And they
weren’t exactly happy.”
    “Happy enough.”
    “What about your happiness?” she asked,
feeling braver than she had the first day when she’d knocked on his
door. “Who worries about that?”
    He considered her question seriously, head
tilted to one side while he watched the boys. “I guess the honest
answer is ‘no one.’”
    She really wanted to touch him. Just a hand
on his arm like she’d done last night, but she clutched her hands
in her lap, unsure if he’d want that.
    “Do you think that’s healthy? What if you get
burned out?”
    He leaned his elbows on his knees, pressing
both index fingers against his lips. “I don’t have all the answers,
Sarah. I just try to get by one day at a time.”
    She inhaled deeply. Now or never. “Have you
ever consider, erm…