Seven Steps To You

s in the air. But I wasn't buying it. Our lips brushed, I gasped,

" I yelled, my

flashed wi

called; it was a plan to get me back on yo

e. "Wait. I'm sorry, but that was cle

breasts. The look in his hazel eyes did not c

and discuss why y

in

upset you, Christi

r soften, and sat on the couch, keepi

tart over. Wh

odd

ou like

m..

d. "How are the kids hold

at. "We're taking it one day at a time; we're living with a social worker. Sure, donati

o wouldn't sleep without her toy. I ran past the firefighters, ignoring their protests, and int

ut a framed photo of their late dad that had been in their room. Trophie

be rolling

n is, perhaps my hotel can offer assista

strip bar; I'm not sure it'll be good for the kids' morals." I pushed my tongu

bviously kids aren't allowed in that s

e kids. I thought and shook my

without a roof above their heads, but I found myself staring at his hands

ildproof; hell, I bare

in the suburbs, with seven bedrooms and lots of s

uh

l tak

My ho

neck in a hug. "Yeah, the k

* *

nd disbelief. "How many kids

Christine

seven little boys and girls destroying his home

miko," she repeated, pulling o

ike's home by throwing a wild party ra

ht resemblance. "This is Daphne Tennyson; she's fifteen, along with her twin sister Millicent, but everyone call

lents; one of them wanted to play pro football at State. He looked

hristine. One of the many things that made them different was her

niffed and dabbed

t and tidy five-bedroom home... possibly his freedom to the kids all for th

swallowed. "Plan

ow. "Of course I do;

. He liked the option of havin

t. "It's only for a s

He nodded. "Is t

s a lot of procedures; it migh

talk to my buddy who works in con

asped. "This

st I could do." He reache

s, a spark of electricity ran through him

cked onto his, her

d. "You don't know how much thi

was in trouble. Living with Christine

replied, his voice low