Grace

The boys were great all through the meal prep, helping with anything that didn't require a sharp object, or fire. They washed the broccoli, filled the rice pot with water, and helped me prep the chicken. I am completely enamored with them, and if I'm honest, my feelings for them are making it harder for me to resist their father. Not that I'm trying too hard to resist him.

"This is delicious," Keir says, looking at the boys first, and then me.

"Did you think it wouldn't be?" I ask, because I can't help myself from verbally sparring with him.

"I've never had the pleasure of your cooking before, Grace," he reminds me, playing along with me.

"And you never will again if I know you doubt me."

"You can't resist my kids."

Direct hit, and point to Martin. "True."

"You'll come back and cook again, won't you, Pretty?"

"For you and Trevor, I definitely will."

"Daddy needs to eat too."

"There's a McDonald's down the street, Con. He can eat there if he's not going to be nice."

"He's nice," Trevor tells me, jumping into the conversation with a frantic look on his face. "I promise."

I place my hand on his arm, and lean over to kiss his cheek. "I know, Trev. I was just playing around."

"Mommy said mean things about Daddy, and then she didn't come back."

"Even if your Daddy and I weren't friends anymore, I would always come to see you."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Can you help me with my bath bomb, Pretty?" Connor asks, lightening the mood like the sweet four-year-old he is.

"Sure. I mean, is it okay for me to give him a bath, Keir?"

He looks a little choked up, and it takes him a moment to compose himself before he answers. "I'm pretty sure you're not going to be inappropriate with my kids, so yes, if you're okay with it, so am I."

"No, I am definitely not going to do anything weird."

"I have a penis, because I'm a boy."

"Oh my God," Keir says, dropping his head into his hands.

"Trevor has one too, and Daddy has a really big one."

Keir looks like he wants to be sucked into the floor, but I can't let this go. "What'd you give him to say that?"

"Nothing. I swear," he says from behind his hands.

"Uh-huh."

"Was I not supposed to say we have them?" Connor asks, looking worried.

"I knew you had them, but I didn't know your daddy's was so big."

"Grace," Keir implores.

"Have you seen one before?" Connor asks.

"Kill me now."

"Yes," I tell him, thoroughly enjoying this.

"Okay, good. You won't be scared of it."

"No, honey, I definitely won't be scared."

"My teacher said boys shouldn't show them to girls," Trevor tells me.

"Not unless the girl wants to see it, and you want to show it to her."

"I cannot believe this conversation is happening right now."

"Can I see your vagina?" Connor asks.

"No!" Keir yells, as I choke on the sip of water I just took.

I compose myself...barely...so I can answer. "It's not polite to ask a girl to see her vagina, Con."

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't know."

"It's okay."

"No. No, it is not okay. None of this conversation is okay. You're supposed to be like thirteen when we have these conversations."

Keir looks like he's going to pass out at any second, so I reach across the table, and place my hand over his. I'm amused, and not embarrassed by his boys, and I need him to know that.

"They're just asking about body parts, Keir, and not how to use them. You can save that for later, although I'd say you're probably looking at ten, and not thirteen, for that talk."

"I know how to use mine," Trevor says. "I pee with it."

"Yep. That's it. All you need to know now," Keir tells him. "We are officially done with this conversation."

"Are you going to have your talk with Grace now?" Trevor asks.

"After I do the dishes, yes. You guys are excused."

"If I need help with my homework, I'll wait until you're done talking."

"Thanks, Trev."

The boys practically bounce out of their seats, which is truly adorable, but also a little sad, because they told me they know our talk is important. They want us to be okay, and I realize part of that is because there's a good chance they saw their parents not getting along before their mom left. I'm not going to pry, but I hope Keir opens up to me about what happened.

Keir

I insist on Grace going to relax in the family room while I do the dishes. She cooked, so the least I can do is clean. I put the leftovers in containers she must've brought with her, and wipe down the counters once the dishwasher is loaded. I'm not going to lie, and pretend I don't take a little extra time, trying to think of where to start.

"You scared to come over here?" she finally asks, and I drop the dishtowel I was using, and man up.

"Yeah."

"I only bite when I'm aroused...or provoked. And right now, I'm neither."

"I hope to change that, but for now, I just don't know where to start."

"Wherever you want is good."

"Jacky and I were the cliché. College sweethearts turned young married couple. She was happy with me when I was off in war zones, and photo studios, making a big chunk of money. When I got tired of traveling, and wanted to spend more than a few days at a time with her and the boys, our problems began."

"I really don't like her."

"Join the club. Anyway, I started doing the undercover jobs, checking out local businesses, while shooting weddings, and portraits. It was enough money for us to live comfortably, but not at the level she'd gotten herself accustomed to. She started putting me down every chance she got, and trying to force me to take better jobs."

"Force you?"

"She withheld sex, stopped cooking and cleaning, and attempted to make my life a living hell."

"Oh my God."

"It didn't work, because I had the boys and they made me happy enough to not care about what my wife was doing. That infuriated her even more, until she finally just walked out. I was in denial that she was actually gone for about a week, and then I got the paperwork from her lawyer."

"Divorce papers."

"And papers giving up her rights to the boys. When I wasn't good enough, she didn't want them, either."

"I could kill her right now, and not feel bad about it."

"For me, or for the boys?"

"Both. You are great at what you do, and if she wanted to live like a queen, she could work like one. And those boys are the epitome of love."

"They are, and thanks. So, when she pulled this shit, I was a mess. Not on the outside, because my boys didn't need to see that when they'd already lost their mom. I was broken inside over what she'd done to them, and how inferior she made me feel."

"Don't forget your broken heart."

"There wasn't one of those. I think she'd spent too much time trying to break me, and somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn't in love with her. Had we divorced amicably, I'd probably still love her as the mother of my children, but with what she did, I feel nothing but disgust."

"You're sure? Because I really don't want to be a rebound for that being I saw at the game. A rebound in any way is never good, but to her? I would rather never date again in my life."

"Don't hold back," I tell her with a smile. "And yes, I am completely sure."

"I'm choosing to believe you."

"I appreciate it. To continue my sad and embarrassing saga, I didn't want to live in my hometown anymore, but I wasn't sure there were a lot of options for me. Ainsley offered me a place to stay, so I took it. I didn't know it included setting me up with her friend for one of the most disastrous dates in history, or that she'd orchestrated a job for me. So yeah, I'm still embarrassed about both, and because of it, I made some wrong choices with you that hurt you, and cost me my first chance with you."

"Two things about what you just said. One, I want to know about the disastrous date, because Harlow is beyond hot, and I can't imagine you not giving your all with her. Two, I hired you, not Miles. Since you already know I didn't have any clue she was your sister, you can be secure in the knowledge that you got this job on your own."

"She still got me the interview, and put the idea in Miles head about creating the job for me."

"Maybe so, but if you'd sucked in your interview, or not been qualified, I wouldn't have hired you. Miles left it up to me, because he knew you'd be working directly with me, and not him."

"He had no input?"

"Of course, he had input. His name's on the building, and I was just a little upset with you after the water incident. He talked me down from wanting to punch you, because he knew I wanted to hire you before we met."

"You can still punch me if that helps."

"I don't want to punch you, Keir."

"What do you want."

She looks away, and it breaks me a little, knowing she can't look me in the eye when she tells me her truth. "I need you to value me, and treat me like your equal."

"Impossible."

"What?" she asks, whipping her eyes back to mine.

"I'm not your equal, Gracie. You are strong, fierce, and incredible. I'm just a single dad who can't do much right. I know that's not a good endorsement, when I'm trying to convince you to give me another chance, but it's the truth. I'm barely hanging on over here, but I'll give you everything I can. I promise."

She gets up from the other side of the couch, and walks over to me. I look up at her, seeing the determination on her face. I'm scared of what it means, until she shocks the hell out of me by climbing over me, and straddling my lap.

"You listen to me, Keir Martin."

"I'll try, but I'm a little distracted."

She smacks my shoulder, and I smile at her. "You are an amazing dad, and that alone makes you special. I'm pretty sure you're a good brother, and I know you're exceptional at your job. All those things alone would be enough for me to like you, but then there's the way you were with me in Phoenix; sexy, and romantic. Your kisses aren't too bad, either."

"Forgive me if I'm wrong, but does this mean I get another chance."

"Yes."

I reach up, and pull her down to me, kissing her hard. I want so much more than just her kisses, but my boys are upstairs, waiting for their baths, and it's too soon to explain to them why she'd be here in the morning. So, kisses it is. Lots of them.