I sit up abruptly, my heart already hammering against my ribs. My mind races through the worst-case scenarios faster than I can stop them.
Did someone take her? Did Craig find us?
I jump out of the bed, almost falling to the floor, and yell her name again. “Charlie!” My heart is pounding more and more as each second ticks by. I don’t think. I justmove, my body operating on pure terror, becauseI cannot lose her.
I swing the bedroom door open and rush down the hall, only to stop in my tracks at the end. Hunter is standing in the kitchen, his back to me, shaking with laughter. Charlie is in front of him, equally breathless, a grin stretched across her tiny face as she tosses a handful of white powder into the air. They are both covered in what looks to be flour. They’re having a flour fight? The panic still rages inside me, refusing to dissipate completely, but reality slowly starts to piece itself back together.She’s okay. She’s laughing. She’s safe.I swallow hard, forcing down the emotions that threaten to choke me. Because right now, Charlie ishappy.
“What is going on in here?” I ask, and both of their gazes turn to me.
“He started it!” Charlie points at Hunter.
Hunter looks shocked. “You little snitch! I thought we were friends!” He tosses more flour at her, and she giggles.
My racing heart warms at the sight. How is it that this stranger is treating my daughter better than her father?
“You guys are a mess.” I giggle. I can’t even be mad about it if I’m being honest.
I cross the kitchen to grab Charlie for a bath, but once I get there, she throws a fist full of flour at my face. I open my mouth and gasp, “Charlie!”
Her smile is so wide. She is so proud of herself right now.
“Oh, we are fighting with her now, too, Charlie. Say less.” I watch as Hunter grabs the bowl of flour and sticks his hand inside.
I start shaking my head. “You wouldn’t.”
A devilish smile flashes on his face. “Oh, but I so would.”
I gasp and take off through the living room, squealing. “Charlie, save me!” I laugh.
“No one can save you now!” Hunter calls from behind me as he chases me down the hallway. I don’t know where I’m headed. This hallway looks like it ends in another room, and I don’t know if that guy is still in there. I make a quick left and rush into the bathroom. But Hunter is right behind me before I can get the door closed. “Now you’re trapped.” He flashes his teeth and then fists some flour and holds it above my head.
With each step he takes closer to me, I take one back until my heel hits the glass door of the shower. Now, I really am trapped. I assume he is going to just toss the flour onto me, but instead, he keeps walking forward until our bodies are touching.
I feel like I can’t breathe. He leans in closely, with one hand above my head and the other resting on the shower’s glass. “You smell like me.”
I shake my head. “I’m sorry. I was trying to get the smell of smoke off of me before I laid Charlie down.”
He leans further into me until there is no space left between us. “I like that you smell like me. Don’t ever apologize for that.” He tosses the flour back into the bowl and then cups my cheek softly. “I’m going to kiss you now.”
What? Why?
My brain is fucking short-circuiting. I can’t allow him to kiss me. I am a married fucking woman.Blake, get it together.
But I never give voice to that thought, so he doesn’t stop. He leans in and gently presses his lips to mine.
Chapter 18
Hunter
I don’t think I have ever had to work this hard to kiss a woman. In fact, I am pretty sure that most women would fall to their knees for my attention. But not Blake. This is the second time I have wanted to lean in and kiss her, and I wasn’t stopping this time.
Her lips are soft against mine, and it takes everything in me not to deepen the kiss further. She fists my shirt, holding me against her, but she makes no effort in opening her mouth for me to explore. For this, I stay in her boundaries. Pressing a little harder, I end the kiss after a moment and take a step back. I gauge her reaction to what I’ve just done. Will she be upset with me that I didn’t wait for permission? Will she run screaming for the hills?
I know she has been through a lot, and I don’t want to upset her further by giving in to my own desires. But the way she can cut off her pain and enjoy the moment while it is happening is breathtaking. I want more of it. She makes me feel young again.
Walking back into the kitchen to finish making the pancakes, I find Charlie huddled in the corner of the island. Her knees are pulled toward her body, and she rests her head in her arms. “What are you doing down there?” I smirk, thinking she is playing hide and seek or something.
When she lifts her head and I see the tears trailing down her face, I sink to my knees next to her and pull her onto my lap.
