“You didn’t have to do that,” I tell him as gratitude fills me.
“I did. Now go take a shower. When you’re done, breakfast will be waiting for you.”
Stepping forward, I stand up on my tiptoes and brush my lips over his cheek.
“Thank you,” I murmur as I pull back.
“Anytime. Now go,” he tells me.
As I walk away from him, I can’t help but smile.
This man. I don’t know what I did in a past life to deserve him, but I’m glad I have him now. Even if only for a little while. One thing is for sure, though. Mac has made me believe that there just might be some good men left in the world, and if there is one thing I know down to my soul, it’s that he’s one of them.
My heart races as I watch her walk down the hallway to my room.
Jane slays me, and she has no fucking clue.
I stayed up all night and watched the three of them sleep. I can’t explain the way it made me feel holding the three of them, watching over them as they dreamed. Emily slept peacefully, almost as if she was never disturbed by someone breaking into her home. Tanner fought sleep for a while, but once it took over, he barely moved. Jane, though—she was up and down half the night. I could tell when the dreams got to be too much by the way she moved.
Every time she opened those brown eyes, though, she looked right at me, and I swear to God you could see the fear and worry leave her. She relaxed, knowing I was there, and that I had everything under control.
It’s a heady feeling knowing someone can depend on you in that kind of way.
She was right about one thing. I’m fucking exhausted. I wouldn’t change it for the world, though. As far as I’m concerned, I had the three most precious things in the world in my bed next to me last night.
To be honest, I’d do some shady shit to get them there again. Well, Jane specifically.
The things I would do to her if we were alone while the kids slept down the hall in my guest rooms…
“These are real good, Mac. What else can you make?” Emily asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I flip the pancakes and frown when I see they are just on the edge of burned.
“Eggs, spaghetti, chili, and a few other things. But if you tell me what you want, I can try to make it happen. There’s a recipe for everything on the internet nowadays,” I tell her as the shower kicks on.
“Chocolate cake?” she asks with a sly smile, making me laugh.
I shake my head. “I’ve never tried, but I’m sure I can figure it out. Worst-case scenario, I buy a box mix.”
“You know you aren’t supposed to eat that much sugar, Emily. It makes you too hyper,” Tanner says.
“That was before,” Emily says as she wilts.
Before.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that she means when they lived out west with that dickhead. He probably hated it when his kids were happy and took it out on Jane.
I swear to God, if I ever get my hands on him…
“Well, we can always ask your mom and see what she says,” I tell them, pushing my murder plans from my mind.
My phone vibrates on the counter next to me, and I look down. Smoke’s message flashes across the screen.
Smoke: Let me know when you’re on your way. I’ll meet you there.
“Sorry, guys, I have to check this,” I tell the kids.
“It’s fine.” Tanner shrugs as he eats.
