9. Lake

LAKE

I was not preparedfor the sight I walked in on.

Lyric was my escort home and he'd tailed me all the way to make sure everything was okay. I felt awful having him get up so early to do me a favor when he could have been in bed with his beautiful wife or eating breakfast with his children. He, however, insisted it was Bronson who called in a favor, but it was also what friends do.

I mentioned how close of friends he and Bronson were, but Lyric proceeded to tell me that I was the friend he was talking about. He said friends take care of one another and the group was more like one big happy family.

When he said Stormi and I were part of that family, I couldn't control the tears that tumbled down my cheeks.

Feeling embarrassed by my sappy emotions, I'd mumbled a heartfelt thank you and rushed to my car to head home.

When we pulled up in front of my house, I jumped out of my vehicle and rushed to the door needing to see Stormi with my own eyes. I'd called numerous times to check on her after telling Bronson about the spine-chilling call I'd received from the stranger, but it wasn't the same as being with my girl in the flesh.

After unlocking the door, I opened it and walked inside only to stop dead in my tracks when my gaze landed on my daughter—my whole heart—and the man who used to hold said heart in the palm of his hand.

Bronson sat on the couch, the TV on but no sound coming through the speakers, with Stormi tucked up against his side, sound asleep. He turned his head and brought his eyes to mine, giving me a soft smile just as Lyric approached from behind me.

"I wasn't expecting that," Lyric said quietly. "But I must say they look pretty damn sweet."

I had to agree with him whole-heartedly.

Bronson carefully raised Stormi enough to scoot out from beside her and then with the utmost care, he gently laid her down on the couch. With a tilt of his head, he motioned us toward the kitchen and then headed that direction.

As Lyric and I followed, I glanced down at my sleeping daughter as I passed and love washed over me. She was an angel that blessed my life to its fullest.

I was grateful that Bronson had been with Stormi because I couldn't imagine if it had only been her and her sitter at the house and someone had decided to pay them a visit, what might have happened.

The big question weighing on my mind was what I was going to do about Stormi when I had to go to work again. I approached Bronson and Lyric, my mind swirling with questions.

"Lake," Bronson called out, snagging my attention. "Did you hear what I said about moving to the condos?"

Shaking my head, I looked at him with a dumbfounded look on my face. I didn't know anything about condos and I didn't plan on moving anywhere.

"We're moving you and Stormi to the condos that No Surrender owns so you will be safer while we figure things out."

After the words left Bronson's mouth, Lyric chuckled. "Maybe you should ask not tell," he told Bronson. "That always seems to go over better with my wife."

Planting my hands on my hips, I gave the bossy ass a dirty look, causing Lyric to laugh again.

Bronson gave me a sheepish look but then his eyes flashed with determination and he pulled out the big guns.

"Do it for Stormi."

He knew just where to hit me and cause me to cave. I didn't want to leave our house but how could I argue with him when it meant keeping my child safe.

"You play dirty," I snarled. "For how long?"

Lyric jumped in then. "I'm working on getting a plan in place so we can get out here in the next few days and put in an alarm system and get security cameras put up around the property. Rowan walked the perimeter earlier to check things out after the call and while here made some notes on all we needed."

Lyric turned to look at Bronson then and gave him a funny look. He communicated something that was strictly between them and I was pissed they were leaving me out.

"What? Don't you dare try and leave me out of something Bronson Michael Caddell or I will, I will… well I will do something," I announced angrily and with a load of frustration.

When he smirked at me, my temper started to rise even more, but then I was thrown completely off guard at his response.

"Spank me, maybe? I might agree I deserve a spanking."

A startled gasp burst from my mouth.

Back when we were young we may have teased each other that way, but it was all in good fun. Bronson's voice, while playful, also held a sexual undercurrent that had me grasping for a comeback. But that never happened because Stormi's soft voice broke the moment from behind me.

"Why are you going to spank Bronson, Mommy?"

I spun around so quickly, I almost fell over but strong arms wrapped around me, stopping my backward descent. A tingle shot straight up my spine and I shivered as goosebumps broke out across my skin.

His touch, it still affected me down to my core.

Moving forward out of his arms so I could breathe, I stepped closer to my daughter. "Nobody is going to spank anyone," I told her. "Bronson was just joking."

She peeked around me and looked at Bronson. "You shouldn't tease about spankings, that means you're in a lot of trouble." Stormi visibly shivered. "I've never had one and don't want one either," she told him very seriously.

I was having trouble keeping a straight face right then knowing we were talking about two entirely different types of spankings but I managed for my daughter's sake. I could see she adored Bronson and didn't want him to get in trouble enough to get a good lickin'.

"How about some breakfast?" Lyric chimed in, saving us all from the semi-awkward moment.

"I'm starving," Stormi said, moving toward Lyric then, the idea of spanking completely forgotten.

It was amazing sometimes how kids could bounce so quickly from one subject to the next. However, I was still trying to block images of seeing Bronson's naked ass from my mind. And with that, I also couldn't help but wonder if the situation was reversed, and I was the one on the receiving end of his hand on my behind, how that might feel.

Turning around toward the man that was taking up too much residence in my brain, I realized I'd made a huge mistake. When his gaze darkened and desire simmered in his eyes, I knew I should have schooled the feelings that must have been written all over my face before looking at him.

Stepping into my space, he leaned in close. His breath tickled my ear and his lust-laced voice sent a zing to my secret place, dampening my panties.

"It's only a matter of time before we explore what we never did before, Cupcake. I'm not giving up ever again."

When he leaned back, I took the coward"s way out and ran from the room, yelling out over my shoulder. "I need to change, I'll be back."

I was eavesdropping.

As I approached the kitchen after washing off and changing, I heard Bronson and Stormi rattling on about the party the day before. She was telling him how much fun she had with all the kids and how they were nice to her unlike some of the children that she went to school with. When she said she wished she didn't have to go back there after summer, I ran my hand over my chest where my heart was.

It broke every time she hurt.

I never understood how kids could be so cruel. And when I heard her dejected voice, I wanted nothing more than to grant the wish she'd made. Stormi was strong and always managed to hold her head high even when someone tried dragging her down. Her school wasn't the only place she'd ever find rotten people and I was glad she'd met some wonderful children at the party.

Bronson getting shot was horrible but it brought some amazing people into our lives. It also brought him back into mine. I wasn't sure holding him at arm's length was going to work after the way my body responded to him in the kitchen. And my heart was turning to putty as I listened to how wonderful he was with Stormi.

Truth.My heart had always been putty in his hands.

Even though I'd felt like he'd stomped on it when he walked away, there was something that settled inside me after all these years just knowing he was alive and okay. I might have always felt angry and sad, but the worry for him never disappeared.

After I got out of my head and was done listening to their conversation, I rounded the corner and walked in to join them. I glanced around and didn't see Lyric anywhere.

"He headed into work," Bronson said, reading my mind. "I'll stay and help you two get what you need and then someone will meet us over at the condos. If I had my guess, some of the ladies will make an appearance to see if you need any help."

I was confused. "Why do you keep saying condos not condo?"

"Because there are two," Stormi announced with excitement, causing me to look her way. "Bronson gets to stay right down the hall from us. Isn't that great?"

My gaze whipped back to Bronson who had a smile on his face. He wasn't looking at me, his eyes were on my daughter.

"It's awesome, isn't it?" he said to her. "We can play hide-and-seek whenever you want."

Stormi bounced in her seat with glee and I could see I was in a world of trouble. She was not immune to his charm.

I wasn't sure I was either.

Turning back to me, he said, "No Surrender has two places there and I'm going to stay in the other one to make sure my girls are okay."

When I sucked in a gulp of air, he seemed to realize what he had just said. My girls. Stormi was busy shoveling pancakes into her mouth unaware of how his words affected me and the slightly surprised look on his face. But seconds later, the surprise disappeared, and he gave me a tender smile that almost knocked me off balance.

Bronson gave me a wink. "I like the sound of that."

I did a quick tally in my head.

Old feelings: Two. Hurt feelings: One.

He was yanking my heartstrings in his direction.

"Come eat," he told me, standing up to pull out a chair. "I'll grab you a plate."

And just like that with his sweet gesture…

Old feelings: Three. Hurt feelings: One.

That game of tug-of-war I'd been playing with myself, was about to come to an end.

I was still holding on, trying to keep my heart safe, but right then I was tempted to let go and just tumble his way.