And whatever I did, I had to do it in front of Nate, who knew I was full of shit when I insisted what Stella was and what she wasn’t.
Or what she couldn’t be.
I padded down the stairs, praying for enough of a goddamn grip to go see my daughter.
“Think you can leave Nate long enough to give me a hug?” I set my bags down and stretched out my arms.
“Daddy!” Bennie charged toward me, jumping into my arms. “I missed you so much,” she whispered in my ear, a joyful peace washing over me enough to calm my racing pulse as she squeezed her arms around my neck.
“Nate said you won almost every game and his shoulder hurt was okay! I didn’t get to see a lot of games because Stella said I had to go to bed.”
I laughed at the cute little crinkle in her forehead.
“That’s because Stella is firm but fair,” I said, finding Stella’s gaze. Her lips were a bright plum color instead of red, and that amped up my fixation on her mouth.Fuck me.“Thank you for picking me up.”
“Of course. Like I said, what kind of welcome home would it be if we didn’t?” Stella said as she eased closer to us, rubbing Bennie’s back as she held my gaze. “She was a very good girl while you were away. She even made something for you.”
“It’s a sign.” Bennie lifted her head from my shoulder. “Iwas going to bring it here, but Stella said it was better to hang it up at home so you can look at it for longer.”
“Wow, really? That’s a great welcome home.” I kissed Bennie’s cheek as she giggled.
“I thought so. Stella even helped me color it in. She’s the best.”
“I can see that,” I said, my gaze snagging on Stella. “I’m surprised you even missed me at all.”
“Of course I missed you,” Bennie said, a deep frown pulling on her lips when I set her down.
Stella’s smile deepened when she met my eyes over Bennie’s shoulder.
“I’m not her daddy, even though I am pretty awesome.” She shrugged.
Yes, you are,I wanted to say. Awesome and gorgeous and I don’t know what the hell to do about that.
I only knew what I wanted to do, and that couldn’t happen.
“It’s good to be home,” was all I said.
It was great to be home. And dangerous. But I’d try to take Silas’s advice and enjoy Stella’s company—as long as I didn’t try to enjoy anything else.
“You guys have a good night welcoming the big guy home,” Nate said, slapping me on the back with a wry grin plastered to his face. “See you guys on Tuesday.”
“Tuesday?” I asked Nate.
“The game doesn’t start until seven thirty, so I told Stella I’d pick Bennie up with her at school. In case anyone else tries to say we aren’t friends.”
“Yeah! You’re the best too, Nate,” Bennie said, reaching her arms up.
Nate scooped Bennie off the sidewalkas she laughed.
“I’m sure management won’t mind if I sneak out for an hour, right?”
Stella shrugged when I found her gaze, and a chuckle escaped me.
“No. That’s nice of you to do that.”
I’d go with them in case Stella wasn’t ready for the chaos he’d cause at school.
“You can come over for dinner. Stella made alotof macaroni and cheese.”
