When she walked away, I looked at Bronson standing next me, who’d watched the whole scene play out. “We are in trouble I’m afraid. One day that mastermind will have all of them with outstretched hands. Including my daughter.”
“Yup, it’s only a matter of time.”
Bronson got damn lucky finding Lake again and getting her back. He got an amazing daughter in the process too, Stormi was adorable. And they had another on the way.
I wanted what he had.
The girl of my dreams, kids, happiness, and someone to share my life with. I’d waited for the right woman to come along.
And she had.
In fact, she’d just walked through the door.
My dream girl.
I watched as Gemma greeted her and the kids. God she was a vision. She was this perfect mix of a cute, little fairy, timid, lovable rabbit, and strong-as-steel warrior. River was everything that appealed to me inside and out.
“Seems to me it wasn’t the door judging by the expression on your face,” Bronson said.
I glanced at him, giving him a mock glare. “Don’t make me lose any more money today.”
He was laughing, but I gave him no mind and looked back toward the entry.
That timid side of River swept across her face. I could see the uncertainty in her and the kid’s. My protective instincts kicked in and I was moving in an instant. I was so elated to see her and I hoped they would have a decent time.
I was making it my mission to help them do that.
“Hey, Warrior, fancy meeting you here.”
Her mouth tipped up a fraction and I considered that a pretty good start. If just one sentence could make her start to smile, I was already on a roll. Then her face pinkened and I wondered if she was thinking about the last time we saw one another. It may have been what one would call a simple kiss to the forehead, but to me that press of my lips to her soft skin felt like everything.
Was she as affected as I was, even all these weeks later?
Again, we had talked on the phone, but it felt so different with her only inches away from me. An energy seemed to buzz between us, something I could tell she was feeling it too.Then I realized she wasn’t the only one when Gemma cleared her throat.
I looked at the owner of the house and she had a grin on her face as her eyes danced between River and me. As soon as she got to the other ladies, the gossip would begin. Let them talk, I didn’t care, I had nothing to hide. As long as it didn’t upset River.
“Everyone is mingling wherever, come say hi,” Gemma told them, breaking the ice.
Before we could move, Bre left Lennon’s side and came to mine, looping her arm through the crook of my elbow. The day I picked them up from school, it was as if a switch had flipped and the girl no longer saw me as a threat but instead an ally.
It still shocked me, and it looked like it had everyone else around us too. She’d come to me when her family was right there. While I may have been stunned, I was also humbled.
“I want to stay with Huntley,” she said softly, clinging to my arm.
Before anyone could respond, Lake was upon us. “Yay, you’re all here.” She went right to River’s side and mimicked what Bre had just done, slipping her arm through her sister’s. Then she glanced at her niece and her eyes widened.
Yup, everyone is in shock.
I didn’t want to bring any attention to Bre that made her nervous or feel like she had done anything wrong because she hadn’t.
Smiling down at the pretty teen, I asked, “What do you say we find something to drink?”
Her blush reminded me of her mother’s a moment ago and my eyes sought out River for a second. Flashing her a grin full of promise that we’d spend time together soon, I focused back on Bre.
Before I moved, I looked at Lennon, nodding toward the kitchen. “Hey, man, come with us.”
“Yeah, sure.”
