Hello everyone,

I'm so glad to have y'all back to read more of this story. When I first started, I never would've guessed people would like it this much. Anyway, thanks for being a part of this journey. Also, like to thank Monica Barnes for her help.

Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following.

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Bella stole a quick look through the window as she passed the cafe on the way home. Rob was still standing in the same spot, his gaze never wavering from her. She sent a hesitant smile in his direction before breaking the connection and hurrying down the block.

She was so engrossed in reliving their encounter, she barely noticed the traffic whizzing by.

She should've been flattered. Robert was the hottest guy she'd met in New York City. What the hell was he doing all the way over here in Brooklyn, she had no idea. From the scruff lining his jaw to the tight fit of his jeans, he was hands down sexy. Even now, her breath caught in her throat as she envisioned the strength in those thighs. That damn Starbucks T-shirt looked way too small for him, yet the cotton hugged him in all the right places.

She was a big fat sucker for a nice chest too. Bella had spent most of their encounter tracing those lines hidden by hunt green fabric. She shivered at the thought of his biceps curling, leading with every move he made.

So, yeah. She should've been over the moon by his apparent attraction to her.

Yeah, she should be flattered someone so stunning would show an ounce of interest in her. In a small way, she was.

There was just one massive problem with Robert Pattinson. He obviously wasn't someone she could rely on.

She had way too much on her plate then to deal with a man who didn't have his priorities straight. According to his—whatever the guy was to him over the counter—he wasn't very reliable. He was late to work and didn't seem to take his position very seriously. Bella was a firm believer in giving your job your best--whether it be a barista or the President of the United States.

Then she had this feeling something was off about the guy. While she couldn't put her finger on it, something was going on. Honestly, when she'd gone to the cafe, she never thought she'd actually find him. During their speed date, she could've sworn he was just agreeing with her when she'd asked if he worked over here.

Maybe if it was just her, she could dismiss his inadequacies, but it wasn't just her. Jackson and Bee sprang to mind. The last thing they needed was another inconsistent person in their life. If she started seeing Rob, she could be exposing them to another potential heartbreak—hell, she was subjecting herself to the same thing. It really wasn't what she had in mind when she'd gone looking for him.

Robert had taken her by complete surprise when she mentioned having children. Usually, when she dropped the kid bomb, the guy didn't even bother to ask questions.

When Charlie had disappeared a year ago, Bella had tried dating a time or two. Needless to say, Jackson and Darla were more than most men could bear and sent them hightailing it in the opposite direction, yet Robert hadn't seemed remotely intimidated.

With all the cons lining up against this guy, perhaps that was one admirable quality he possessed. Perhaps he had others. She would never know if she ignored his call tonight.

The wicked heat he inspired with a mere touch of his fingertips was another check in his column. In the twenty-three years, she'd been on this earth no one had ever caused the sinful burn.

Just the thought of his long fingers caressing her lower back had the throb starting in her core and pulsing throughout her body.

She fleetingly wondered if he would be available for an hour--just an hour to satisfy her hunger. She was being an idiot. Maybe if she was a normal twenty-three-year-old living her life for her own whims, she could pull that man between her sheets for a moment of pleasure and kick him out the door in the morning.

Bella shook her head at her own idiocy. She couldn't possibly have a one-nighter with Robert. Even as the idea teased her mind, she smiled to herself as she stepped off the curb to head to her apartment building.

She'd tried to hide the slide of her eyes as she took in his lean form. The way he filled those jeans had a shimmy of excitement darting to her toes.

Damn, he was sexy. When she managed to pull her gaze from the curve of his ass, enhanced by those jeans, she could kiss Levi's for their form-fitting denim. The inspection of his ass hadn't gone unnoticed, judging by the smirk on those full lips.

A horn blew, jolting her from her fantasy, the driver in the passing car angrily spouting curses in her direction. Grimacing, Bella waved him off. "Fuck, Bella, pay attention before you get killed in traffic."

Hurrying across the street, she pulled the door open and slipped into the dimly lit hallway. All the way through the building she conversed with herself. "I can't have a one-night stand with coffee shop guy, no matter how hot he is. Responsible women don't do things like that." How much I wanted to be irresponsible for just a few freaking hours.

Sometimes she didn't want to be responsible. Aggravated by her position in this life, she kicked the stair as she jogged up to her door.

The reality was a bitter bitch, she decided as she paused in the hallway staring at apartment number one oh eight. She released the breath she'd been holding, her lashes falling briefly against her cheek as the sound of Jackson and Darla howling penetrated the door.

Some days … Some days … she wished she could be someone else. Just an hour--okay, maybe two or three.

Her lips pressed with determination as she unlocked the deadbolt and stepped into the entry. The creaking hinges must've caught the children's attention because the howling stopped and their shrieking of excitement filled the apartment.

"Smelly Belly is home," Jackson hollered loud enough for the people down the street to hear him.

The sound of racing feet thumped rhythmically as Darla and Jackson sped through their tiny apartment, skidding to a halt, they collided into her.

As stressful as her life was, Bella couldn't help but smile when her brother and sister crashed into her, wrapping their arms around her waist for a tight squeeze. "We missed you so much, Smelly Belly."

Bella encircled their bodies with an embrace of her own, dropping a kiss to the top of their heads. "I heard you two weren't so good for Vicki today. What's that about?"

"She's mean and stupid," Jackson supplied, holding his little arm up for her inspection. "She pinched me, and she doesn't know how to cook."

Bella shifted away from the children to get a better look at his arm. Spotting a fresh blooming red spot, anger and loss bubbled up inside her.

The children were a handful on their best days. Bella knew it. The school knew it. The entire damn apartment building knew it.

Although they were both rascals, neither deserved to be manhandled into obedience. Yet, if she dismissed Vicki, who babysat for nearly nothing, she would be up shit creek literally.

Studying the blemish tainting her little brother's skin, Bella's lips pressed into a frown. Her entire stance changed, her muscles stiffening as she straightened with intent. "Vicki!"

Darla and Jackson looked wide-eyed at one another, both understanding her tone. The back of Darla's hand covered her lips as her mouth dropped into a big O. Jackson snickered, as Bella rounded them to come face to face with their babysitter.

Vicki turned with a stricken look on her face. "Bella, you know I would never do anything to hurt them. I just grabbed his arm to get him off the counter, and when he yanked away, might have pinched him by accident."

Perhaps. Perhaps Bella could believe Vicki if this wasn't the third time one of the children had complained about her roughness with them. Skeptically, Bella eyed her. "You've been having a lot of those accidents lately. I know they are difficult …"

"They are straight-up monsters, Bella." Vickie's eyebrows were in her hairline as she spoke. "If you don't get them in hand soon, I don't know how much longer I can deal with them."

Bella was frozen by indecision. Her cheeks were burning red and her nostrils flared at the word monsters. Her teeth clenched and her lashes dropped into a glare as her fury overtook her. "Watch your words. They aren't monsters. They are two children confused and hungry for attention. Maybe if you didn't stare at your phone all day."

"Oooooh," Jackson cried, sticking his tongue out at Vicki. "See. I told you you weren't a good babysitter."

"Jackson!" Bella scolded with meaning in her tone. Shooting him a look, she was pleased when his lips snapped together. "I don't need your help."

Vicki scoffed as her head jerked back as she took offense. "You don't pay me nearly enough to be treated like a cretin. Honestly, I don't need to put up with it either."

The hair on the back of Bella's neck rose as she fought to maintain her control. She was seconds away from getting physical with the woman in question. "Fine. We no longer need your services." Digging through her purse, Bella located the tip Jane gave her this afternoon for dying her hair.

Forty freaking dollars, Bella slammed into Vicki's palm. Forty bucks. Now she would be utterly broke until Friday. Fucking great.

"Have fun with this hellhole and those little devils. No one is going to watch them for what you're paying." Vicki didn't spare Bella another glance as she headed for the door. Just as she would've stepped over the threshold, Bella heard her parting words. "I will be back for the rest of my money on Friday. Better have it all."

Bella blew a frustrated breath as the door slammed upon Vicki's exit. Biting her bottom lip, she chewed on the plump flesh as her attention returned to Jackson and Darla. "I'm assuming you both could have behaved better for her. I heard her yelling when she called this afternoon. Now, what are we going to do about a babysitter? Huh?"

"Beats me," Jackson shrugged, plopping down on the couch. Quietly, he turned his attention to the cartoon. "Vicki is mean and dumb. I don't like her."

With a pursed mouth, Bella moved forward and with lightning speed snatched the remote from the table. "I have told you about talking to people that way." Snapping the television off, Bella pointed to the hallway. "It's time to get ready for bed. Have you done your homework?"

"I did mine," Darla pranced, holding a piece of paper in the air. "Mrs. Reba said to draw our family. That's you, me, and Jackson."

Bella smiled down at the picture. A moment of melancholy claimed her as she noticed the lack of their father. Instead of letting the sadness consume her, she nodded, "You did an amazing job, Dar."

With a half-smile, she watched Darla tuck the picture into her book bag. "You both need to go brush your teeth and get changed. In five minutes I'll come in to tuck you in."

Jackson grumbled under his breath the whole way toward his room with Darla following close behind.

She waited until they were both out of sight before blowing a breath of aggravation.

What the hell was she going to do? The children needed to be picked up after school. She often worked until at least seven. Who would watch them now? She supposed she could have them sit at the salon until she found a suitable replacement for a babysitter.

It was all so much. It was all too much. She kept trying and somehow only sank further into the hole that was her life. Her pay barely covered the costs of rent, food, and other necessities.

She didn't have long to contemplate her dilemma before Jackson hollered down the hallway. "Smelly Belly, are you coming to read us a story?"

"Yep, I'm on the way," Bella mumbled, wiping the exhaustion from her eyes. The sad part was, she wasn't tired, she was overwhelmed with everything else.

After reading the Cat in the Hat three times, and letting Darla sound out the words, Bella left the room, flipping the light off. At the doorway, she stopped and looked at her brother and sister in their bunk beds. "Sleep tight, I will see you both in the morning."

"Night, Belly," Jackson mumbled snuggling into his pillow.

Darla's eyes were already closed and her breath was even, already sleeping. Bella crept away from the room and wandered toward the kitchen. Hot dogs and macaroni sat on the stovetop, and she crossed the tiled floor to hover over the pans. Grabbing a spoon from the drawer, she took a bite from the pan. As soon as the bland noodles touched her tongue, she spit them out.

"No wonder they didn't want to eat," she mumbled, pulling the fridge open to study the contents. "Bowl of cereal it is."

Bella was just about to sit on the couch and turn the television back on when her cell bleated to life. She didn't even need to look to know who it was.

Just the thought of the hottie from the coffee shop had a smile spreading across her face. She needed that. She needed something, anything to take her mind off her troubles.

Sorting through her bag, Bella pulled the phone from her bag. Seeing Rob's name flashing across the screen, a giddy rush splashed through her, and without her usual hesitation, she pressed accept.

"Hey, babe, it's Rob."

Babe.

He'd called her babe.

A thrill raced across her skin. Goosebumps popped out in response, and the hum of enthusiasm skated through her blood.

Another rush of excitement dashed down her spine at the husky voice coming through the receiver. Blowing a deep breath she tried to stop the wicked heat his tone created. Cereal forgotten, she sat back against the cushions, her nerves doing the happy dance.

"Hey."

"You sound tired. How is your night going?"

"Better now," Bella mumbled, playing with a lock of hair. She felt a tad ridiculous. It'd been years since she'd been so excited by a mere phone call. She felt like a teen with her first crush. "How's yours?"

"Better now."

Bella rolled her eyes. Since when did a simple statement cause these butterflies to flutter in her belly? Nervously, she chewed on her fingertip. "What are you doing?"

"I just got in from work, and I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do for dinner. What are you having?"

"I was going to eat this bowl of cereal …"

"Cereal? That's no kind of dinner."

"Yeah, well it was more appetizing than the bland pasta on my stove." Bella fiddled with her remote. "So what are you having that's so much better than cereal?"

"I was thinking about a pizza. Wanna share one?"

Bella glanced toward the hallway. If it was just her she would've said yes in a minute. Unfortunately, she didn't know Robert well enough to have him around the kids. "I wish I could but we barely know each other. I wouldn't feel right having you inside while Jackson and Darla are here."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Hey, I get that. I understand your position. If you want I can sit in the hall."

Bella laughed and she shook her head in disbelief. "Are you serious? You'd come sit in the hall and share a pizza with me?"

His laughter traveled through the speaker, inducing another chuckle from Bella.

"I really would. Want to? I will even get your favorite drink. Whatever you want. Soda, water, beer … whatever."

She was insane for even contemplating it. He was a stranger she'd met twice. She knew nothing about him except his name and where he worked. Still, the warmth traveling through her belly wouldn't be ignored. "Ummm … I-I …" Bella broke off with a hundred different reasons why she shouldn't.

An hour.

She deserved an hour.

She deserved an hour to be twenty-three and a tad reckless.

She shot another look down the hallway. The kids were quiet. She could sit in the hallway for an hour. "Yes. I want to. Would you bring a coke?"

"Anything you want."

After rambling her address, she hung up the phone and flew into action. Quickly, she spun around her apartment changing into a fresh tank top and leggings. With excitement dictating her movements, she swept mascara through her lashes and added a fresh coat of gloss to her lips before sweeping a brush through her hair.

She'd just finished spritzing perfume across her top when there was a soft knock at the door. For the first time today, Bella felt like a woman. Her own woman. With a smile ear to ear, she found Rob's swimming bluish-green eyes twinkling back at her.

He held a pizza in one hand and a bag in the other

.

Bella eased into the hallway, making sure to leave the door ajar for the kids. "Hi."

Rob shifted from foot to foot, appearing just as nervous as she was. "Hi."

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