I suddenly noticed a delicious scent wafting from the kitchen. Onions and garlic and something slightly sweet.
Fresh…baked…bread.
Speculation twisted my brow. “Did you bake bread?”
“I always bake bread,” he grunted, itching where he stood like he was a hostage in his own home.
“Iwikebread.” Eva’s little voice was high-pitched as she held onto Duke’s neck as he dragged her across the floor.
“Did you smell it, Mom? I think it’s gonna be super yummy,” Colin said as he tried to toss himself into a handstand, though only one foot made it into the air.
“I’m starving, Mom. Can we eat right now?” Addy complained.
Eva started to chant, “Eat now! Eat now!”
Flustered, Cash’s attention skimmed over what was, in fact, mayhem in his living room. His jaw slack and his eyes wide. Then he scrubbed a massive palm over his face and started toward the kitchen. “Come on. Should be ready.”
“Yay!” Eva let go of Duke’s neck, jumped up, and raced up to Cash’s side so she could take hold of his hand.
Clearly enamored and not close to being dissuaded by his brusqueness.
He froze, shock on his face as he glanced down at her swaying at his side.
Colin clambered to his feet and skipped that way. “I knew you were gonna take good care of us, Mr. Cash.”
Addy slid off the couch. I took her hand, and she sent me a sweetly concerned smile when I did. “Are you hungry, Mom? I bet you’re really excited to have a real home-cooked meal since we’ve been eating hot dogs for two days. It smells really good in here.” Then she dropped her voice. “Do you think we came to the right place?”
My thumb running over the back of her hand was hopeful encouragement. “I hope so.”
Cash’s stupefied gaze drifted to me.
A big, burly beast in the middle of his kitchen.
Ruggedly beautiful and the best thing I’d ever seen.
And I wondered if it still stood. The promise he made me when I was seventeen.
The one where he swore that he would do anything for me.
Because I was about to ask him for everything.
EIGHT
CASH
I kneltin front of the fireplace and used the poker to stoke the fire.
Red embers burned from the logs that were quickly turning to ash.
I added a couple more pieces, trying to keep my shit together, which was damned near impossible since I could feel the weight of Daisy’s presence lingering behind me.
Heavy and full.
Timid and so fuckin’ warm I felt like I was lost in one of those dreams I sometimes had. Ones where I was good and right and hadn’t destroyed every fucking good thing in my life.
I could feel her presence wrapping me from where she hovered at the end of the hall. I hadn’t seen her in the last half hour since she disappeared to tuck her children into bed. Likely answering a billion questions while she read them a story as nonstop questions rapid-fired from their mouths.
God.
