A knockon the window jolted me.
I turned, working the kink out of my neck as I did, and saw Bronson standing beside my car with an annoying smirk on his face. There beside him, hand in his, was Stormi. Her bright smile was actually like a ray of sunshine in the morning. Her father’s silly mug, not so much.
Instead of turning on the car and rolling the window down, I unlocked the door and got out. My legs and body protested a bit from sleeping in my vehicle for the second night in a row, but I’d slept in worse places while serving in the military so I could hack it.
River hadn’t seen me yet, but now that Stormi had, I was sure to be tattled on.
Pissed off at the fact that someone had made their way all around the home before Bre had seen them out her window the weekend before, on the nights I was not working, I’d found myself parked a little bit down the road from River’s place—out of sight of the cameras— so I could watch and wait in case anyone decided to pull that shit again.
As I stretched, I watched Stormi drop her dad’s hand andplace both on her hips, tipping her head to the side as she studied me for a minute with a curious look on her face.
“Why are you hiding in your car, Uncle Huntley?”
I glanced at her father whose smirk was growing more annoying by the second. When he cocked a brow, I subtly—so no way Stormi would notice— used my middle finger to rub the corner of my eye. Bronson chuckled, the sound echoing through the cool morning air.
Ignoring the smug asshole, I looked back at his daughter.
“Well pipsqueak?—”
The sound of a door slamming interrupted the rest of my reply.
It looked as if it was another girl that I’d be explaining my actions too. I turned my head and my gaze followed River as she marched down the street like a warrior going to battle, her violet eyes flashing fire. Oh, she waspissed.
And I was struggling not to get turned on by it.
I didn’t think she’d be mad that I wanted to protect her, just that I’d slept in my car and maybe been uncomfortable doing it.
River was the type to feel guilty about putting someone out when for so long she’d been doing everything on her own. Since birth from what I had gathered. I hadn’t heard of one person yet that she’d been close to or could count on. But then again, she hadn’t told me much about herself.
It seemed she was only just recently getting used to having others be there for her, to care about her and the kids, and to help lessen any burdens that may be thrown her way.
I’d known that having me in her home the last time, while it had been growth for not only her, but for us as a…
I stumbled with that thought for a moment.
For us as a what? A couple?
We had something and I knew what I wanted, but I wasn’t sure she was ready for me to put any labels on us. Ididn’t want to rush her or set us back from how far we had come, which was also why I didn’t mention watching over her the last few nights after leaving her house.
I had come over, played games and watched movies with the family, along with dinner. Then I left the house. I just didn’t leave the property. If she’d known I insisted on sleeping in my car she probably would have made me take the couch. I’d done it once, and for me it wouldn’t be a hardship, but I was worried it was still pushing her a little too fast.
So, I fibbed a bit.
“You’resobusted,” Stormi said as her dad grabbed her hand and they started walking away. But not before the little one yelled, “Bye, Auntie River.”
River managed to give her niece a small wave and smile, before turning back to me. The beautiful pixie planted her hands on her hips much like Stormi had moments ago, those gorgeous eyes of hers shooting daggers at me.
“You said you wouldn’t be right out front!” she spit out.
When I went to leave the previous night, I said for her not to worry, that I’d be right out front. When she started to protest, I wavered about what to do. Trying to brush it off, I’d said, “Fine, I won’t be right out front,” and told her to just call me if there were any issues.
“I’m not, I’m down the road,” I told her, flashing her a charming smile.
It didn’t work.
She gave me adon’t mess with melook designed for a mom when scolding her children. I ducked my head and looked at the ground for a second trying to find the right words, but when I looked back up into her mesmerizing eyes, my heart almost broke in two.
“You lied to me,” she said, her face falling. No more daggers, her eyes now swam with hurt.
