“Morning, baby,” he rumbles as he bends down to brush a kiss over my cheek.
“Morning. I see you retrieved our guest.”
“I did. She’s staying in the playroom.”
Now my heart does twist painfully. I’ve refused to step foot in that room, perfectly built for Ethan’s dream Little girl, ever since Ethan and I realized how unsuited I was to fill that role for him.
Mia, on the other hand, is so perfect for that role and that room, I can’t help but wonder if he actually built it for her.
That thought doesn’t quite sit right with me, so I push it out of my mind with a smile. “Good. She should feel right at home.”
I watch from the corner of my eye as Ethan’s lips dip down into a frown. “I wasn’t expecting you to be so… amenable.”
Another of those painful twists in my heart at the realization my husband thinks so little of me. “You couldn’t very well put her out on the street. We have the space and a room that suits her. Why wouldn’t I be amenable?”
Ethan hesitates, clearly unsure of how to answer. “No reason, I guess. But I promise she’ll be on her feet and out of our hair soon.”
“What happened?” Last night, I couldn’t have cared less about why she called, but now I find myself wanting to know everything there is to know about the adorable little sprite.
“The guy she was living with hit her.”
Fury boils in my veins. “Hehither?”
“Yeah.” A muscle jumps in my husband’s cheek, a sure sign he’s fighting his own temper. “Backhanded her for getting sassy or some bullshit. I don’t think she was safe there. But she won’t be here long, I promise. She just needs a few days to figure out her next steps.”
Well, shit. My plan, such as it is, heavily depends on Mia staying for more than just “a few days”. And the thought of her going back to that… I can’t even call him a man. The thought of her going back there fills me with rage. “No rush. She can take as long as she needs.”
Eyes narrowing, Ethan moves closer, boxing me in as he drops his voice to an even lower rumble. “What are you up to, Sloane?”
My heart picks up its pace, an intoxicating mixture of arousal and fear I’ve never felt before pumping through my veins as I smile serenely up at my husband. “Nothing. I’m just saying, there’s no point in rushing her.”
Another long silence, followed by his grunt of agreement. “All right.”
Turning away from me, he moves toward Mia. But when he stops, a low, annoyed growl rumbling in his chest, I have to hide the smile tugging at my lips.
“What are you eating, little girl?”
“Cocoa Puffs!” Mia replies cheerfully, as if she has no idea how much trouble she’s landed herself in. To be honest,I’mnot sure how much trouble she might be in, but I’m dying to find out.
“And did you have any protein first?” Ethan asks, his voice taking on that hard edge it does when he’s pissed.
“Umm…” Uncertainty colors Mia’s words. “Well, the milk has protein.”
It’s all I can do to smother the laugh that bubbles up in my chest. Cheeky little brat. No doubt she gave Ethan hell when they were together.
Turning, I plaster on my most serious face as I shake my head. “I tried to tell her you wouldn’t be happy about the cereal.”
Across the room, Mia’s mouth falls open in shock at my betrayal. Between us, Ethan frowns and crosses his arms over his chest. “Is that true, Mia?”
“No!” Tears shimmer on Mia’s lashes and her bottom lip trembles in a way that has my pussy throbbing with need. God, she’s so fuckingcuteI can’t stand it. “I told Sloane you said I had to have protein first, but she said what you don’t know wouldn’t hurt you.”
Despite not being the least bit submissive, my stomach clenches at the thunderous look on my husband’s face as he turns to glare at me. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, Sloane, but it stopsnow. Am I understood?”
A denial burns on my tongue. But there’s really no use in voicing it since I was, in fact, playing a game.
So instead I shrug, as if our very future doesn’t hinge on him following the plan I’ve laid out for him in my mind. “Sure.”
Turning away from me, Ethan jabs a finger in Mia’s direction. “From now on, protein before sugar in the mornings. Understood?”
