“Families are made all kinds of ways,” I explained gently. “But the main ingredient is lots of love. And we have that, don’t we?” I asked her, tweaking her nose with a grin.
She batted me away, giggling. “Stop it, Mama!”
“What’s going on in here?” Cash’s chuckle had me reeling. I hadn’t heard him come in. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed at the chest, watching us both with a handsome grin.
“Typical chaos,” I responded, wondering how much he’d heard. “Good morning.”
His gaze swept over me intimately. “Morning, baby.” He sauntered over to the table and dropped into the chair across from Riley. “And good morning to you, Miss Riley Bean. How did you sleep?”
My heart melted just a bit as I busied myself toasting more waffles and making coffee as Riley answered him that she’d slept well.
“Sorry, it’s nothing fancy.” I grimaced, setting a plate of waffles and a coffee in front of Cash.
“Looks good.” He nodded easily, digging in to his food. “What’s on for today?” he asked me. “We doing the gym?”
I shook my head. “I can’t today. I need to drop Riley off at school. Then I need to get some work done here.”
He nodded, his eyes on me over the rim of his coffee cup. “Okay, I have some work to get done this morning too. I’ll get a man on you from the club and can meet back up with you two tonight.”
“Er, what?” I replied in confusion.
“Think you heard me.”
“Can I talk to you for a second?” I asked between clenched teeth. I appreciated his help last night, but this needed to end before it went any further. “Finish up your breakfast. We’ll be right back,” I told Riley as Cash rose to follow me out of the room. I wasn’t worried about her being distracted; once Ri had food in front of her she was usually good for a little while.
I tugged him into the living room, trying not to think about how toned his bicep was under my hand. “Look, I appreciate what you did for us last night,” I began, standing in front of him, hands on my hips. “But I need to majorly pump the brakes here. I don’t need Riley getting used to you being around. She’s already asking me about having a daddy,” I shared, partially in hopes that would scare the shit out of him.
Instead, he eyed me steadily. “I heard.”
“Okay, well, then you get where I’m coming from,” I clipped, frustrated that I couldn’t seem to rattle him. “I can get an alarm system installed here and I’ll go to the police station today. My issues don’t mean you have to suddenly be around all the time. It’s confusing for Riley,” I explained. “And for me,” I admitted after a pause.
I was about to say more when he took my face in his hands and kissed me. My squeak of surprise was quickly thwarted by sheer lust as his mouth conquered mine.
My hands pressed to his chest, holding on for dear life as he pulled me closer, his tongue sliding against my lips, seeking entry. I opened for him, relishing his taste, my knees weak as he kissed me senseless.
He broke away, his forehead pressed to mine as we both breathed heavily. “If Riley didn’t need to get to school, I’d take you upstairs and work out all of your confusion,” he rumbled, making my belly clench. “Fuck, Layla. You make me crazy.”
For a moment we stood, eyes locked, breathing labored. My heart hammered in my chest as I licked my swollen lips. I could honestly say I’d never been so attracted to someone in my entire life. I wanted him physically, but it was more than that, so much more.
“I know you’re scared,” he murmured, his striking blue eyes locked on mine. “We haven’t known each other long, and you’re used to doing things alone. I know I’m asking a hell of a lot for you to trust me, not only with you but with Riley too. But, baby, that’s exactly what I’m asking. I swear to you—I can’t explain it, but I feel it in my goddamn bones. You’re mine and so is she. All I’m askin’ is for you to let me prove it to you.”
I looked into his earnest face, one I felt I’d known far longer than the few weeks it had been, and realized I had a choice. I could deny him—I could push him away and continue to do what I’d been doing for the past two years since I’d adopted Riley. I could focus solely on her and little else. Riley had always been enough for me—and she always would be. But what if there was… more? I’d sworn to myself I’d make some changes since I’d moved to Hawthorne. Could I live with myself if I never found out what could be? Because the truth was, I’d never felt anything like this for anyone, the timing be damned.
“Mama! I spilled!” Riley’s exclamation brought me back to earth.
I stepped away from him, but his hand remained at my hip, maintaining our connection as his eyes demanded an answer.
I blew out a pent-up breath. “This is my life. At 7:00 a.m., at 2:00 a.m.—pretty much around the clock. Which I’m sure you’re not used to. How about we take it one day, one spill at a time?”
He eyed me steadily. “If that’s what you need, Layla.”
I smiled, feeling my chest expand with something foreign but not unwelcome. I swept my hand toward the kitchen. “Okay, well then, clean up on aisle three.”
He chuckled, following me into the kitchen to help me clean up after Riley.
I stopped sharply, a sudden realization sending a shock of fear through me. “Do you think I need to worry about her going to school?” I whispered.
His gaze softened. “No. Because I already have one of the guys watching the school for the day.”
My heart warmed immeasurably that he’d thought about my daughter’s safety and had already taken steps to protect her.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
He shrugged as though it was no big deal, but to me, when I’d been in charge of everything for so long, it was everything.
The cynic in me wondered if he’d still be around by the end of the week. But the dreamer somehow knew he would be.
****
“Layla, seriously, girl, that cat sounds like it swallowed a goat and is trying to barf it up,” Emmie commented as she and Gracie sat perched at my barstools in the kitchen that evening.
I’d just walked in the door with Riley when Emmie and Grace had shown up bearing a bottle of wine.
“He’s deaf, Em,” Gracie chided. “I think he’s cute.” She looked fondly over at Oscar as he settled next to Riley while she colored at the coffee table.
“He’s cute and ornery. But he loves Ri,” I replied with a smile as I took a sip from my glass.
“Why is X out front?” Emmie asked curiously.
“X?”
“Xander, Ginnie’s man.” She explained.
My gaze flashed toward the street where a huge, tattooed biker had sat for the majority of the day, even going so far as to follow me to Riley’s school.
“It looks like someone may have broken in last night,” I admitted, and both women gasped in surprise. “I have no idea who would do such a thing. Cash said someone from the club would be keeping an eye on things.” The puzzlement in my voice was all too apparent.
Emmie and Grace shot each other knowing looks. “I bet he did.” Emmie grinned around the rim of her glass.