Seven Nights of Sin (Penthouse Affair #2)

Three years later

The girls said we could drop them off at the school’s curb and Presley thirded the motion, saying the building wasn’t that big. But I vetoed that idea. No way am I going to abandon them to fumble their own way to their classroom. Maybe in a few weeks . . . or years . . . but definitely not today.

It’s their very first day of kindergarten, after all. The first time they’ve been away from home all day long without me, Presley, or Francine.

As we escort them through the halls, I’m fidgeting like crazy, twisting my wedding ring around and around my finger. “You sure you’ve got your lunches in your backpacks? You know what to do if you need to come home?”

“Call Franny,” Emilia answers dutifully. Lacey is already distracted, taking in the colorful posters and noisy crowd all around us with a wide-eyed grin.

“And do you remember her number?”

“Um . . .”

“Dom,” Presley says. “Relax. The teacher has Francine’s number. And our numbers, and their pediatrician’s, and the National Guard’s . . .”

I frown. “I know that. It’s just an extra precaution.”

“And this is just a school—a private school, even,” she says. “It’s only until three. Francine will pick them up and take them home, and we’ll see them again tonight.”

“You say ‘only three,’ but that’s six hours away. What if they miss us during the day? What if they need help using the potty? What if the other kids are mean? What if they don’t eat their lunch? You know they’ve been so picky lately. What if—”

Presley squeezes my shoulder, loving but firm. “Honey. Chill out. Stop acting like we’re throwing them to the wolves.”

“Wolves? Can I see?” Emilia asks.

“It’s only a figure of speech, honey. The only wolves around here are at the zoo.”

“I’m perfectly chill,” I say, frowning. “But we have to be sure they’re ready.”

“Somehow I don’t think they’re the ones who aren’t ready,” Presley teases. “Seriously, they can handle it. They’re more than old enough, and they did great in preschool.”

“But preschool was only a half day. This might—”

“I’m a big girl,” Lacey says.

pea. I quite agree.” Presley squats down.

thinking for a few moments, Lacey holds up five

how many

“Five,” at the same instant Emilia answers for

back over her shoulder at me before asking them,

both shout, flinging their arms open

them, then stands up again. “See? They’re rocket scientists.” She lays her hand gently on my arm. “We

her arms around my hips,

we’re gonna be okay!” Lacey

two. But for your information, I’m not crying. A bug just flew into my eye.” I wipe my

totally about to

girls?” their teacher

door shuts behind them. If I squint through the frosted glass, I can just barely see the blobs of color that belong to our precious daughters. Then they

You’re going to be useless at the

“Oh, hush,” I grunt.

side to you. It’s adorable.”

heated look. “Did you

lacing her fingers through mine. “Yes. But don’t worry,

to my lips to kiss the back of it, right over her exquisite diamond ring. It feels like I gave it to her a whole lifetime ago, and it feels like no time at all.

beams at me. “Always and

• • •

with that fact, like they knew kindergarten drop-off would

day today, and so I barely see her after we arrive. She’s no longer the director of

her friend Bianca in a little while. Bianca got married last spring

I’m looking for. We have a six o’clock dinner with Presley’s dad, Grandpa George, along with her brother,

But since I finally got my head out of my ass and accepted that she

a familiar voice calls

up to

he caught me bending Presley over my desk. In our defense, it was after hours, and we assumed everyone was gone for the day. Thankfully, he didn’t catch a

safe?”