“What is it?” I asked immediately.
She shook her head and instead of answering me, moved toward Riley’s bed, pulling the covers up over her and pushing her hair tenderly back from her face. My gaze narrowed on her shaking hands. With a lingering look down at Riley, she turned to leave the room.
I followed her out, surprised when she headed down the hall instead of toward the stairs. She walked into what I assumed was her room, a large master outfitted simply with a king-sized bed, dresser, and two side tables.
“Layla?” I prompted, worried now as she paced, wringing her hands together.
“I think someone was here,” she admitted finally.
My jaw clenched, spine straightening as I scanned the room, immediately on alert. “What makes you think so?”
“My things have been moved around,” she murmured. “I didn’t leave my dresser like that.” She pointed. The drawers were all partially opened.
I moved immediately to her closet and bathroom to make sure both were clear. “Gonna go do a sweep of the house. I’ll start in Riley’s room,” I responded without delay. If someone was hiding in the house, that asshole would be sorry.
She nodded. When it came to Riley’s safety, I knew instinctively that she wouldn’t argue.
I moved methodically through the house, ensuring I checked every bedroom, closet, and every conceivable place someone could hide. It took a while. It was a big house.
When I was satisfied, I checked the lock on the front door. It didn’t look as though it had been tampered with. The slider off the living room was another story. It had clear signs of forced entry.
The blood chilled in my veins. I’d taken Layla’s claim seriously, and here was the evidence she’d been right. Someone had been in the house. But why? For what?
When I found her, she was in Riley’s room, looking down at her daughter, worry clear in her expression.
I grasped her upper arm gently, guiding her back to her own room.
“Someone was here,” I confirmed. “They’re gone now.”
She sat heavily on the edge of the bed, and I had a feeling that had it not been directly behind her, she would have collapsed to the floor.
I kneeled in front of her. “You wanna tell me what’s going on?” I demanded.
“Honestly? I don’t know. I thought I was losing it, but I have been feeling a little creeped out lately. Like someone’s watching me,” she admitted.
“That night at the grocery store,” I surmised.
She nodded. “Yeah. But I have no idea why or who would want to break in.” She bit her lower lip.
I forced myself not to zero in on her luscious mouth and remained on task. “Any ex-boyfriends? Family that could want something from you?”
Her beautiful green eyes filled with sadness as she pondered my question.
“I really don’t think so. My older brother, Charlie, he’s been in and out of trouble, but he’d never do anything to hurt me. He wasn’t able to be a father, but I know he loves Riley,” she insisted quietly. Her defense of her brother who’d obviously done nothing but disappoint her and Riley only proved further the size of her heart.
“What kind of trouble?” I pressed.
“He’s addicted to gambling,” she began, her voice trembling. “He hadn’t been in a good place in years when he got a woman pregnant. Riley’s mother had addiction issues as well. Pills, I think. I was never quite sure. Thank God she didn’t use while she was pregnant,” she added with a relief I shared. “But neither of them could take care of a baby. They weren’t fit. I was the next of kin and I loved Riley from the moment I met her.” Her eyes were shining with tears as she looked at me. “It was the best thing I ever did, becoming her mother, but she didn’t come from me.”
She wanted to make sure I knew that, just as I needed her to know how I felt about it. “She’s still yours,” I confirmed vehemently.
She nodded. “She is. We’re a family. She’s my only family. And I’ll do anything to protect her.” The fire in her eyes made me respect her all the more. The woman was a lioness, and despite her earlier vulnerability, I had no doubt she was strong as hell.
“You are safe here,” I ground out. “I’ll make sure of it. You know I do security for the club?” I asked.
She shook her head.
“Well, I do. I’ll set you up tomorrow with a system. For now, I’ll stay.”
Her gorgeous eyes popped wide. “Stay over? Here, you mean?”
“Yep. On the couch. Unless you want me to stay with you?” I lifted a brow, my head cocked toward her bed. I wanted nothing more but knew she wouldn’t take me up on it, not yet.
“Uh, no. The couch is good. And ordinarily I’d say we’re fine, but—”
I pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head. “I’m staying.”
She sighed, clearly relieved. “Okay, thank you.”
“It’s no problem. Maybe you’ll even make me breakfast in the morning.” I grinned.
She scoffed. “I’m not much of a cook but I can pour you a bowl of cereal.”
I chuckled. “Sounds good to me. I’ll let you get some sleep.”
She handed me a pillow and a blanket from her bed. “Thank you, Cash, really. I know we don’t know each other well but I feel much better that you’re here.”
“Not a thing, baby,” I rumbled, taking what she handed me. “Sleep well.”
She watched me go, looking gorgeous but tired perched on the edge of her bed. “You too.”
It was one of the harder things I’d done, leaving her there when all I wanted to do was hold her, but I knew it wasn’t the time to push for more. Instead, I made my way downstairs, settling on the couch, preparing for a restless night.
Guarding my girls was far more important than sleep.
Chapter 9
LAYLA
“He’s here!” Riley’s high-pitched squeak could have woken the dead as we walked past the couch where Cash lay sprawled on his back, his hand resting on his abs. Damn, but the man was gorgeous even when he slept on an ugly floral couch.
“Yes, baby. Remember I told you Cash stayed?” I whispered. “Let’s try to be quiet, okay? I’ll get you some breakfast.”
“Is he going to stay every night?” Riley whisper-yelled.
“No, baby.” I tugged her gently toward the kitchen. I prayed breakfast would distract her as I sliced up a banana and put a waffle in the toaster.
Riley sat at the table looking thoughtful and confused at the same time. “Do we need a daddy?”
I nearly dropped the plate I was bringing to her. “You can want a daddy, baby,” I murmured, placing the plate in front of her and sitting across from her. “And it’s okay if you do. But we don’t need one. The two of us, you and I, are a family.”
“All my friends at school have a daddy.” She shrugged, biting into her waffle. “Mine’s gone, so maybe we need another one?”
About a year ago, Riley had started asking about her daddy and why she didn’t have one. I’d explained that she had one and he loved her, but he’d had to go away. I’d also told her that she hadn’t grown in my belly, but she was in my heart. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how much of it she’d understood. I’d muddled my way the best I could, not wanting to share too much or too little. It hadn’t come up again until now.