Feeling embarrassed by my sappy emotions, I’d mumbled a heartfelt thank you and rushed to my car to head home.
When we pulled up in front of my house, I jumped out of my vehicle and rushed to the door needing to see Stormi with my own eyes. I’d called numerous times to check on her after telling Bronson about the spine-chilling call I’d received from the stranger, but it wasn’t the same as being with my girl in the flesh.
After unlocking the door, I opened it and walked inside only to stop dead in my tracks when my gaze landed on my daughter—my whole heart—and the man who used to hold said heart in the palm of his hand.
Bronson sat on the couch, the TV on but no sound coming through the speakers, with Stormi tucked up against his side, sound asleep. He turned his head and brought his eyes to mine, giving me a soft smile just as Lyric approached from behind me.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” Lyric said quietly. “But I must say they look pretty damn sweet.”
I had to agree with him whole-heartedly.
Bronson carefully raised Stormi enough to scoot out from beside her and then with the utmost care, he gently laid her down on the couch. With a tilt of his head, he motioned us toward the kitchen and then headed that direction.
As Lyric and I followed, I glanced down at my sleeping daughter as I passed and love washed over me. She was an angel that blessed my life to its fullest.
I was grateful that Bronson had been with Stormi because I couldn’t imagine if it had only been her and her sitter at the house and someone had decided to pay them a visit, what might have happened.
The big question weighing on my mind was what I was going to do about Stormi when I had to go to work again. I approached Bronson and Lyric, my mind swirling with questions.
“Lake,” Bronson called out, snagging my attention. “Did you hear what I said about moving to the condos?”
Shaking my head, I looked at him with a dumbfounded look on my face. I didn’t know anything about condos and I didn’t plan on moving anywhere.
“We’re moving you and Stormi to the condos thatNo Surrenderowns so you will be safer while we figure things out.”
After the words left Bronson’s mouth, Lyric chuckled. “Maybe you should ask not tell,” he told Bronson. “That always seems to go over better with my wife.”
Planting my hands on my hips, I gave the bossy ass a dirty look, causing Lyric to laugh again.
Bronson gave me a sheepish look but then his eyes flashed with determination and he pulled out the big guns.
“Do it for Stormi.”
He knew just where to hit me and cause me to cave. I didn’t want to leave our house but how could I argue with him when it meant keeping my child safe.
“You play dirty,” I snarled. “For how long?”
Lyric jumped in then. “I’m working on getting a plan in place so we can get out here in the next few days and put in an alarm system and get security cameras put up around the property. Rowan walked the perimeter earlier to check things out after the call and while here made some notes on all we needed.”
Lyric turned to look at Bronson then and gave him a funny look. He communicated something that was strictly between them and I was pissed they were leaving me out.
“What? Don’t you dare try and leave me out of something Bronson Michael Caddell or I will, I will… well I will dosomething,” I announced angrily and with a load of frustration.
When he smirked at me, my temper started to rise even more, but then I was thrown completely off guard at his response.
“Spank me, maybe? I might agree I deserve a spanking.”
A startled gasp burst from my mouth.
Back when we were young we may have teased each other that way, but it was all in good fun. Bronson’s voice, while playful, also held a sexual undercurrent that had me grasping for a comeback. But that never happened because Stormi’s soft voice broke the moment from behind me.
“Why are you going to spank Bronson, Mommy?”
I spun around so quickly, I almost fell over but strong arms wrapped around me, stopping my backward descent. A tingle shot straight up my spine and I shivered as goosebumps broke out across my skin.
His touch, it still affected me down to my core.
Moving forward out of his arms so I could breathe, I stepped closer to my daughter. “Nobody is going to spank anyone,” I told her. “Bronson was just joking.”
