Her Triplets' Mistletoe Dad. Patricia Johns

Craig, I was actively trying to break the mold, to go for a better kind of man. And look what that got me. I’m not good at dating, or romance. But Craig… I really loved him. He was perfect—at least he seemed that way. He was sweet, attentive, adoring… I thought I might actually marry him.”

      “I’m sorry.”

      “Turns out he was husband material…just someone else’s.” She sighed. “But I have these boys now, and I seem to be good at being a mom.”

      “You’re really good at being a mom,” he confirmed.

      “So I’m sticking to that,” she replied. “I don’t need a steady dose of romance and rejection. I just need some calm and a solid friendship.”

      Gabby tipped her head against his shoulder and he could feel the warmth of her body pressed against his arm. They used to sit like this when they were both single—a luxury they wouldn’t allow themselves if one of them was romantically connected. So maybe it made sense that they could still sit like this. He reached over and smoothed her honey-gold hair down. Her head felt warm against his palm and she smelled sweet—a mixture of shampoo and that perfume she liked. Touching her head had been an automatic reaction, one rooted in a few years of marriage, he realized. He froze, then pulled his hand back. That was too familiar.

      Gabby’s breath slowed and deepened, and he glanced down at her again. Her eyes were shut, and she looked so incredibly tired. They’d had a big day, after all. Getting married, moving in. Who knew how much sleep she got with the triplets eating every two hours? He would let her rest. She obviously needed it, and he craved some quiet.

      He flicked through another few channels, then chose an episode of a comedy show he’d recorded on the DVR. The tinny laugh track was just what he needed right now—someone to point out the humor he couldn’t see.

      Her head slipped from his shoulder and she jolted, then settled against his shoulder again. This wasn’t the most comfortable position, after all, and he eased his arm free and put it around her so that her cheek rested against his chest instead. She shifted, still sleeping. Yeah, this was better.

      But she was closer now, and with his arm around her, his hand rested comfortably on her hip. He pulled it back. That wasn’t going to work, either…

      What was with him? This wasn’t the plan; marrying her was supposed to be safe, not tempting. He needed to get up, put some physical distance between them, but she was settled against him now, fast asleep.

      It was ironic that their marriage was based on a mutual understanding that they’d keep things platonic. She was counting on him. Gabby had been through a lot, both romantically and physically. She’d been betrayed by her boyfriend and had been struggling to provide for her children. She’d married Seth for health insurance, not for anything he could offer otherwise. Besides, their arrangement was smarter than most other couples’. Even when he’d married Bonnie, he’d been in for a few jolts and surprises, all because of different expectations and hurt feelings when hearts were involved. His deal with Gabby made more sense. They weren’t going to go over all those bumps and have all those stupid fights that newlyweds normally endured.

      “Gabs,” he murmured.

      “Hmm…”

      She wiped a little trail of drool from the side of her mouth. It was oddly endearing, and he chuckled.

      “Shut up,” she muttered. “I haven’t slept a whole night in weeks. You’d drool, too.”

      “Yeah, I know,” he said. “Rest here. You deserve some sleep. I’ve got a few things I need to do.”

      He eased himself up out of the couch and she slipped down into a more comfortable position to nap. He looked at her for a moment, watching her face relax as she dropped back to sleep before his eyes.

      Seth didn’t actually have anything he needed to do, but he had to get out of her space, away from that sweet scent that enveloped her. He needed to get outside to cold air and a clear head.

      This was day one of marriage, and so far he thought he’d done pretty well. They’d take some adjusting, but he and Gabby might actually make this plan work. They’d managed to move in together, take care of the babies together, and even talked through some pretty delicate issues like money and bedrooms. There was something to be said for pragmatism, but it lasted only as long as they followed their rules.