Looking back toward Lake, I gave her a wink and both she and Stormi started to giggle in unison, the sound making my heart thump with happiness.
Then it plummeted when I thought about having to take Lake to work again and not having Stormi with me. It was going to be a long night without both of them. Over the last couple of days, we’d taken Lake to her job, I stayed with Stormi, and then we’d pick her mom up in the morning. It had been restless nights wondering if anything would happen or she’d get another call.
The only saving grace was that she checked in with me when she could and that the guys she worked with knew what was going on. Her co-worker she rode with, Dave, and Huntley the fireman, along with others would watch out for her when on calls together.
It gave me some peace of mind, but not enough.
Sensing my mood change, Lake walked over and rested her hand on my shoulder where I still squatted in front of Stormi. The feel of her touch was enough to slightly soothe me.
“I’ll be okay,” she said softly.
Stormi looked from me to her picking up on something, but confused on just what it was. We had kept her shielded from the danger lurking. Part of me wasn’t sure we shouldn’t tell her something even as young as she was. She was a smart girl and knowing may keep her vigilant but Lake made the call. I would obviously honor her wishes.
“Of course you will,” I said as I moved to stand, taking Stormi with me as I went.
Not able to help myself, I leaned over and gave Lake a quick kiss.
“Oh, I amsotelling everyone about this,” Stormi chanted dramatically.
Lake blushed, Stormi giggled as I tickled her, and for a few seconds everything felt right in the world.
Chapter Fifteen
LAKE
Bronson kepthis promise and Stormi was one happy girl.
She wasn’t the only one that was giddy to be around him. Over the last few days, I found myself soaking up every second he was with us. Even if I was trying so damn hard not to get too attached. But the friendship we once had was resurrecting itself and that was something I couldn’t ignore.
Nor were the new feelings he provoked.
And while I was pissed about being run out of my home and scared out of my mind, it kind of felt good to lean on someone else for once.
So, after picking me up from work—which had been fairly uneventful and void of any crazy men calling—then grabbing Stormi, we were parked out in front of Capri’s bakery.
Even though Stormi wanted to be with Bronson the night before, she’d had a great time at Jurnee’s and couldn’t stop talking about the kids. But most of the drive was her carrying on about how she couldn’t believe how rich Embry was.
“What do you think she’s going to do with all that money?” my daughter asked before we got out of the car.
“I have no idea, sweetheart.”
Since I didn’t give her a concrete answer, she asked Bronson assuming he would give her one. I firmly believed she thought he knew and could do anything, along with everything too.
“I don’t know the specifics because Embry keeps it a secret, but I bet it will be something really good,” he said, looking at her through the rearview mirror.
I turned in my seat to see Stormi nodding vigorously. “You’re smart. I bet she will do something amazing with it too.”
My eyes rolled on their own accord. Those two were wrapped around each other’s fingers. It was definitely a two-way street.
“I saw that,” the man next to me said. “Maybe you shouldn’t get a pastry.”
A gasp came from the back seat. “You said she got one too!” my daughter said in a scolding tone not picking up on the fact he was just teasing me.
She may have adored Bronson, but she loved her mom and would be on my side if I needed her. That felt damn nice since I’d been feeling a bit neglected and less superior lately. To her, Bronson could walk on water and then some.
“I was just joking with your mother. She can have one.”
My body still turned in my seat, I looked at my daughter as she said, “Yay, then can we go? I can smell the cinnamon rolls from here.”
