“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.
“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.