“Okay, silly. Why don’t you run and pick out what you want to wear today. I’ll be there in a few minutes to start you a bath.”
As she raced for the bedroom, she yelled, “Yay, I get to stay with Bronson!”
His deep chuckle zipped through me and my body started to vibrate with excitement as he rounded the island again. He spun the stool around so I was facing him and with a powerful thigh, he pressed my legs open so he could step between them.
“Before we talk about the crap that will put both of us in a bad mood, I think maybe we should see if the hype of the kiss last night was real.”
For a split second I wondered what he needed to say that was so bad we’d be unhappy, but when he leaned in and pressed his mouth to mine, nothing but the euphoria I felt from us kissing again was present in my mind.
It may not have gone on as long as the one the night before, but it was just as mind-blowing. When he pulled back, I looked up at him, my hand pressed to my lips where they tingled from his touch.
“What is happening?” I whispered.
Bronson softly swept a strand of hair behind my ear that had fallen from the knot at the top of my head and then rested his palm on the side of my neck. “It’s something I hope you’re on board with exploring,” he told me.
I closed my eyes, soaking in the warmth of his hand against my skin and wondered if every time he touched me it would feel like heaven.
“In my heart you have always and will always be my best friend.” His thumb moved slowly back and forth across my skin sending goosebumps down my spine. “I said it before, I want what we had before. And more.”
My eyes popped open and our gazes locked.
I prayed I was doing the right thing for both Stormi and me because the only thing I could say was…
“I want that too.”
“Thank fuck,” he said before pulling me against his chest.
“Mom, are you coming?” Stormi yelled, breaking up the moment. But that was okay, my daughter came first.
Bronson pulled back. “Go take care of her and we'll talk when you’re done. Will you be okay if I run down the hall to shower and change?”
“I’ll be fine.”
He didn’t move a muscle and watched me to make sure I was telling him the truth. I felt safe enough in the condo and with him just down the hall. If I had any reservations about him leaving it was only because I liked being around him and a part of me worried it would all disappear. Or he might.
The worry was hard to break.
“Mom, hurry up!” echoed down the hall.
“Coming,” I answered back.
Bronson smiled, gave me a quick peck on the lips, and headed toward the door. “I’ll be back. Lock up.”
When he was gone, I locked the door and pressed my back against it.
I felt like I was dreaming.
Chapter Fourteen
BRONSON
Over the next few days,the routine stayed the same.
But it was all about to change and dread was hitting me like a sledgehammer.
That morning after we shared pancakes, another kiss, and I had showered, I’d come back to explain everything that had transpired through the night, as well as early morning in regard to the phone call Lake had received.
Once Lake had gone to bed I wasted no time at all and had not only called my people at the precinct but also Lyric. Things moved fast and I had the police out to check her house and Lyric met them out there. I trusted the men I worked with at the station and at one time Lyric had been one of them until he left to work forNo Surrenderfull time. I completely trusted him with my life, especially since he saved it once.
