Chapter Thirteen
LAKE
The second I woke up,I felt a blush cover my face.
Remembering the kiss that Bronson and I shared had me wishing it had never ended, but also nervous to see him since I’d assaulted his mouth like a starving animal. When his lips touched mine and I got the first taste of him, his masculine, woodsy scent floating around us like a cloud of ecstasy, I knew then that I’d crave him forever.
What was I going to do? It still hurt that he’d walked away from me, but I wanted nothing more than to forgive him. I wanted our friendship back. And I wanted his lips pressed against mine again.
Stretching like a cat to work out the morning kinks, I suddenly became aware that I was alone in bed. In a panic, I sprung from the mattress and ran toward the door. When my feet hit the hallway floor, I paused as voices drifted to my ears.
“Can you make pancakes?” my angel requested.
Assuming she was talking to Bronson, I waited for a reply.
“Pancakes, huh?”
Stormi giggled so I assumed he was making a silly gesture I couldn’t see. It was the sweetest sound, hearing her laughter.
“You bet I can make them. Should I put some broccoli in them?” he teased.
“Eww, no! You don’t put vegetables in pancakes,” Stormi squealed. “I want lots of syrup on mine, that’s it.”
“You don’t say. Well pancakes with lots of syrup coming up.” He opened the fridge. “Your mom has enough time to do what she needs to and then she can join us for breakfast. Morning, Cupcake.”
Oh my god, how the hell did he know I was listening? I barely made a peep.
“Why do you call my mommy that?”
I wanted to stick around to hear what Bronson said, but I also wanted to eat pancakes with him and my daughter. I just needed to make sure I looked presentable first.
Making my way into the bathroom, I did my business and brushed my teeth, deciding a shower right then would take too much time. I wasn’t one to fuss over how I looked but I found myself wondering if I should put on makeup, what I should wear, and what to do with my hair.
Then I realized I was being ridiculous. I’d always been myself and I never cared what other people thought. Bronson had always liked me for me, at least when we were friends he did. While things may feel a bit different between us now, he still had just kissed the bejesus out ofme.
With that in mind, I washed my face leaving it free of any makeup, tossed my hair up into my go to messy bun, threw on a pair of black yoga pants and pulled a pink top over my head.
Just as I was about to round the corner into the living area, I took a deep breath. It still didn’t prepare me for the domestic scene that played out in front of me or the way my belly fluttered when I saw Bronson in the kitchen with Stormi. I stayed by the hall somewhat hidden watching as they interacted.
Stormi was sitting at the counter, a plate full of pancakes buried in a load of syrup just as she requested. She was chattering away a million miles an hour while Bronson stood at the stove, flipping a pancake. He would answer her and they would share laughter.
My daughter was smitten just like I was when I was a young girl. Only Stormi was looking at him in a way that a little girl would look at a father figure.
Please don’t walk away and hurt her like you did me.
Missing what was said, their laughter brought me back to the adorable scene happening in front of me.
I watched, a smile tugging at my lips at how playful Stormi was with him. Then my eyes roamed to Bronson as he came around the island, a plate of pancakes in his hand. That’s when I realized between the panic from the phone call and the mind-altering kiss that followed, I hadn’t noticed what he was wearing.
He wore navy-blue sweats and while I couldn't see his ass, I could envision it. I knew it would be a mouth-watering sight. I felt myself heat from the inside out and quickly moved my gaze north where I took in his short-sleeved, white T-shirt that stretched over a muscled chest.
When he moved forward to set the food on the countertop, my eyes dropped once again down his powerful thighs and then made their way to his bare feet. He must have been in a rush the night before and didn’t bother to put any shoes or socks on.
How the hell were his feet so damn sexy?
A giggle slipped from my lips at how absurd that thought was.
I heard a throat clear and I snapped my head back up to the man attached to the very feet I’d been lusting over.
