She peeked around me and looked at Bronson. “You shouldn’t tease about spankings, that means you’re in a lot of trouble.” Stormi visibly shivered. “I’ve never had one and don’t want one either,” she told him very seriously.
I was having trouble keeping a straight face right then knowing we were talking about two entirely different types of spankings but I managed for my daughter’s sake. I could see she adored Bronson and didn’t want him to get in trouble enough to get a good lickin’.
“How about some breakfast?” Lyric chimed in, saving us all from the semi-awkward moment.
“I’m starving,” Stormi said, moving toward Lyric then, the idea of spanking completely forgotten.
It was amazing sometimes how kids could bounce so quickly from one subject to the next. However, I was still trying to block images of seeing Bronson’s naked ass from my mind. And with that, I also couldn’t help but wonder if the situation was reversed, and I was the one on the receiving end of his hand on my behind, how that might feel.
Turning around toward the man that was taking up too much residence in my brain, I realized I’d made a huge mistake. When his gaze darkened and desire simmered in his eyes, I knew I should have schooled the feelings that must have been written all over my face before looking at him.
Stepping into my space, he leaned in close. His breath tickled my ear and his lust-laced voice sent a zing to my secret place, dampening my panties.
“It’s only a matter of time before we explore what we never did before, Cupcake. I’m not giving up ever again.”
When he leaned back, I took the coward's way out and ran from the room, yelling out over my shoulder. “I need to change, I’ll be back.”
I was eavesdropping.
As I approached the kitchen after washing off and changing, I heard Bronson and Stormi rattling on about the party the day before. She was telling him how much fun she had with all the kids and how they were nice to her unlike some of the children that she went to school with. When she said she wished she didn’t have to go back there after summer, I ran my hand over my chest where my heart was.
It broke every time she hurt.
I never understood how kids could be so cruel. And when I heard her dejected voice, I wanted nothing more than to grant the wish she’d made. Stormi was strong and always managed to hold her head high even when someone tried dragging her down. Her school wasn’t the only place she’d ever find rotten people and I was glad she’d met some wonderful children at the party.
Bronson getting shot was horrible but it brought some amazing people into our lives. It also brought him back into mine. I wasn’t sure holding him at arm’s length was going to work after the way my body responded to him in the kitchen. And my heart was turning to putty as I listened to how wonderful he was with Stormi.
Truth.My heart had always been putty in his hands.
Even though I’d felt like he’d stomped on it when he walked away, there was something that settled inside me after all these years just knowing he was alive and okay. I might have always felt angry and sad, but the worry for him never disappeared.
After I got out of my head and was done listening to their conversation, I rounded the corner and walked in to join them. I glanced around and didn’t see Lyric anywhere.
“He headed into work,” Bronson said, reading my mind. “I’ll stay and help you two get what you need and then someone will meet us over at the condos. If I had my guess, some of the ladies will make an appearance to see if you need any help.”
I was confused. “Why do you keep saying condos not condo?”
“Because there are two,” Stormi announced with excitement, causing me to look her way. “Bronson gets to stay right down the hall from us. Isn’t that great?”
My gaze whipped back to Bronson who had a smile on his face. He wasn’t looking at me, his eyes were on my daughter.
“It’s awesome, isn’t it?” he said to her. “We can play hide-and-seek whenever you want.”
Stormi bounced in her seat with glee and I could see I was in a world of trouble. She was not immune to his charm.
I wasn’t sure I was either.
Turning back to me, he said, “No Surrender has two places there and I’m going to stay in the other one to make sure my girls are okay.”
When I sucked in a gulp of air, he seemed to realize what he had just said.My girls.Stormi was busy shoveling pancakes into her mouth unaware of how his words affected me and the slightly surprised look on his face. But seconds later, the surprise disappeared, and he gave me a tender smile that almost knocked me off balance.
Bronson gave me a wink. “I like the sound of that.”
I did a quick tally in my head.
Old feelings: Two. Hurt feelings: One.
He was yanking my heartstrings in his direction.
