Stormi turned her head to look at me, her brows wrinkled in confusion. “I don’t know what that means, but boy do those darn bees hurt.”
I walked toward Lake with her daughter in my arms, laughter rumbling in my chest.
It didn’t escape my notice that she was not only adorable but sassy too. Again, just like her mother. And it was also no wonderwhy she fit in so well with the Queen of sassy kids, Embry, and her whole clan.
Chapter Seven
LAKE
I momentarily forgotmy worry as I took in the duo walking toward me.
Bronson looked at ease with my child in his arms and happiness was written all over Stormi’s face in the form of a megawatt smile. They were a sight that had my heart racing faster with every step they took, closing the distance between us.
My daughter was my everything and I found myself thinking that maybe one day she could be his too.
“I found Uncle Bronson,” my daughter announced excitedly, breaking me from the spell that seeing the two of them together seemed to have put me under.
In a total mom's voice, I replied, “You know the rules about going outside without me or my permission.”
That radiant smile of hers vanished and she ducked her head slightly. “Sorry, Mommy.”
The softly spoken, ‘Mommy’, and her sullen face, made me feel like the Grinch. I hated stomping her joyful spirit. She’d been looking forward to seeing Bronson since the moment she’d woken up.
It was non-stop; he was all she’d talked about.
While for me, after the way the evening before had ended, with every mention of his name my stomach tied itself into more and more knots until I felt twisted like a pretzel.
Stormi looked up at me. “You were busy on the phone and…” She paused and her brows furrowed in concentration. “Well, I can’t say one of the words but you told someone you were up a poop creek and sounded upset.”
Bronson made a strangled noise and when my gaze snapped to him, it was obvious he was trying to hold in a laugh. Rolling my eyes, I looked back at my daughter.
“If Embry had heard you, you would be out some money for having a potty-mouth. That’s what I heard her call it at the party.” Her tone was stern as if she was scolding me and I had to bite my cheek from laughing.
However, the hunky man who held my daughter wasn't able to contain himself this time, and a deep chuckle ripped free from his muscled chest. Even though I was also amused, I gave him an annoyed look because of the way the sound of his laughter made me feel, sending goosebumps skating across my skin.
He does not affect me. He does not affect me.
Maybe if I said it enough times, my mind, body, heart, and soul would all get the memo.
“Mommy.” Stormi’s sweet voice broke in and my attention refocused on her. “Maybe Uncle Bronson can watch me?”
“What in the world?” I shook my head and glanced at Bronson, who had his brows raised in question. “Baby, Bronson has his own stuff going on. We’ll be fine.”
I had not been expecting her to blurt that out and there was no way I wanted to bring him into all our problems. Letting him drive us home the night before and come again to take me to my car was pushing the limits already.
Bronson had the ability to break me all over again if I allowed him to burrow his way back into my heart. Not that he’dever really left, but I’d learned to deal with the fact that past memories would be all I would have.
“Tell me what’s going on and let me help,” Bronson said, piercing me with his mesmerizing green eyes.
I stood there, captivated, and nothing came out of my mouth. How after all the years that had gone by, could one look from him make me feel like a teenage girl with a silly crush? Maybe because hehadbeen my first crush and the only guy I’d ever had any true feelings for.
“My babysitter Gretchen is sick and mom is going to miss work,” Stormi blurted when I didn’t answer. “And she is going to be late if we don’t get a move on,” she added, matter-of-factly.
She was right on both fronts but I hadn’t been planning to spill my guts to Bronson. Or have him offer what he had next.
“I can watch this crazy girl for you,” Bronson said, tickling Stormi’s side with one hand and making her squeal with laughter.
“Yes!” my daughter yelled, throwing one arm in the air in triumph.
