The ground seemed to be wobbling beneath me as Dylan stood there with a goofy grin. “So can I call you Daddy?” he asked as he licked his grubby little fingers. My body was frozen and my mouth was mute. I didn’t know what to say. Part of me wanted to burst out laughing. The other part of me wanting to die on the spot. How embarrassing was this? And Dylan wasn’t even my kid.

“Sorry, who are you?” Dante looked as taken aback as I felt.

“Dylan.” And then he reached out his grubby little fingers to shake Dante’s hands before turning back to me. “I’m hungry. When are we getting our pizza?”

“Dylan.” I glared at him. “I told you to sit over there with your brothers until I came to get you.”

“There are more of them?” Dante’s jaw dropped as he looked over to where I was pointing. Brody and Brandon sat there still eating their respective ice cream sundaes and waved at us. I groaned as I watched Brody picking his nose and looking at it.

“Those are my brothers, Brody and Brandon,” Dylan said happily. “We’re almost like triplets, but we’re not. I’m the oldest.”

“I see.” Dante’s voice was light, but I could hear a slight edge as he looked at me. “You brought your kids on your date?”

“I, they’re not . . .” My voice trailed off as I stared at the judgmental look on his face. The look that told me he thought I was a completely irresponsible waste of space. Who was he to judge me? Mr. I don’t want a relationship or marriage. Who the hell did he think he was? God’s gift to women. Like he thought he was all that, that he had to tell me all he wanted was a hookup within the first ten minutes of our meeting.

“I’m guessing your grandma didn’t tell my nana that part,” he said as he gazed at me. “You should be ashamed of yourself, Sadie.”

“I, you, what?” My jaw dropped as he continued on and then he stopped as he looked at Dylan, apparently realizing that it was really uncalled for to berate a woman in front of her kids. “Dylan,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “Go and sit with Brody and Brandon and I’ll be there in five minutes.” My voice was firm and I could tell that he knew from my expression that I wasn’t in the mood to deal with any more of his pranks or jokes right now.

“Okay.” He nodded and because he couldn’t stop himself he turned to Dante and said, “We’d like some free steaks as well, please, kind sir.” I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes as he hurried off back to his brothers. I was going to kill Dylan when we got home.

“So you have three kids?” Dante’s lips were thin. “And you didn’t even get a babysitter for them?”

“I couldn’t get a babysitter,” I mumbled. “I am the . . .” My voice trailed off as he just stood there and shook his head, mumbling something under his breath about bad mothers. “Excuse me, what are you saying?”

“I think you know. Very irresponsible, Sadie Johnson. I don’t know how you think it’s okay to just go out with your three kids and . . .”

“I don’t have three kids,” I shouted finally, annoyed by his superior tone. “And you know what you don’t even deserve any more of my time, you arrogant, cocky, rich bastard.” I leaned forward and poked him in the chest, feeling my breath coming fast as he stared at me with his lips curled. “And let me tell you that I wouldn’t want a relationship with you, or God forbid, a marriage if you were to pay me ten million dollars.” I huffed out and then because I’m a klutz, as I took a step back I stumbled slightly on some trash on the ground and tripped forward against him. His hands reached out to steady me and he just grinned as he looked down at me.

“Not even for ten million dollars, huh?” he said, his voice smug.

“Nope.” I shook my head, my eyes burning.

“Liar.” He chuckled. “I think you’d do it for a lot less than that. I mean, your kids are willing to sell you out for a couple of free steaks.” He winked then and I gasped.

“You pig!” I growled and then turned away quickly. “I’m leaving.” I tripped slightly again and this time I dropped my handbag and everything went flying out to the ground. I groaned and bent down quickly, attempting to pick everything up and stuff it back in and get away from this jerk. “Leave it.” I glared at him as he bent down to help me, his expression amused. His fingers brushed mine as he handed me my lipstick and I jumped up as if I’d been burned. “I’m going,” I said as I looked at him one more time. “I’ll have you know my kids and I want nothing to do with you, not for ten million dollars, not for filet mignon, not even for all the diamonds in Africa.” I gave him one last glare as he stood there laughing and I walked away as quickly as possible and over to the kids. “Come on guys,” I hissed as they all looked up at me with wide eyes, wondering what had just gone on. “We’re leaving now.”

And for the first time in their lives, all three boys jumped up silently and followed me to the card without questioning me or asking me for something. I could feel Dante’s stare as we walked back to my car and it took everything in me to not turn back around and give him one last look and the finger. I was a lady, after all.