13. Lake

LAKE

The second I woke up,I felt a blush cover my face.

Remembering the kiss that Bronson and I shared had me wishing it had never ended, but also nervous to see him since I'd assaulted his mouth like a starving animal. When his lips touched mine and I got the first taste of him, his masculine, woodsy scent floating around us like a cloud of ecstasy, I knew then that I'd crave him forever.

What was I going to do? It still hurt that he'd walked away from me, but I wanted nothing more than to forgive him. I wanted our friendship back. And I wanted his lips pressed against mine again.

Stretching like a cat to work out the morning kinks, I suddenly became aware that I was alone in bed. In a panic, I sprung from the mattress and ran toward the door. When my feet hit the hallway floor, I paused as voices drifted to my ears.

"Can you make pancakes?" my angel requested.

Assuming she was talking to Bronson, I waited for a reply.

"Pancakes, huh?"

Stormi giggled so I assumed he was making a silly gesture I couldn't see. It was the sweetest sound, hearing her laughter.

"You bet I can make them. Should I put some broccoli in them?" he teased.

"Eww, no! You don't put vegetables in pancakes," Stormi squealed. "I want lots of syrup on mine, that's it."

"You don't say. Well pancakes with lots of syrup coming up." He opened the fridge. "Your mom has enough time to do what she needs to and then she can join us for breakfast. Morning, Cupcake."

Oh my god, how the hell did he know I was listening? I barely made a peep.

"Why do you call my mommy that?"

I wanted to stick around to hear what Bronson said, but I also wanted to eat pancakes with him and my daughter. I just needed to make sure I looked presentable first.

Making my way into the bathroom, I did my business and brushed my teeth, deciding a shower right then would take too much time. I wasn't one to fuss over how I looked but I found myself wondering if I should put on makeup, what I should wear, and what to do with my hair.

Then I realized I was being ridiculous. I'd always been myself and I never cared what other people thought. Bronson had always liked me for me, at least when we were friends he did. While things may feel a bit different between us now, he still had just kissed the bejesus out of me.

With that in mind, I washed my face leaving it free of any makeup, tossed my hair up into my go to messy bun, threw on a pair of black yoga pants and pulled a pink top over my head.

Just as I was about to round the corner into the living area, I took a deep breath. It still didn't prepare me for the domestic scene that played out in front of me or the way my belly fluttered when I saw Bronson in the kitchen with Stormi. I stayed by the hall somewhat hidden watching as they interacted.

Stormi was sitting at the counter, a plate full of pancakes buried in a load of syrup just as she requested. She was chattering away a million miles an hour while Bronson stood at the stove, flipping a pancake. He would answer her and they would share laughter.

My daughter was smitten just like I was when I was a young girl. Only Stormi was looking at him in a way that a little girl would look at a father figure.

Please don't walk away and hurt her like you did me.

Missing what was said, their laughter brought me back to the adorable scene happening in front of me.

I watched, a smile tugging at my lips at how playful Stormi was with him. Then my eyes roamed to Bronson as he came around the island, a plate of pancakes in his hand. That's when I realized between the panic from the phone call and the mind-altering kiss that followed, I hadn't noticed what he was wearing.

He wore navy-blue sweats and while I couldn"t see his ass, I could envision it. I knew it would be a mouth-watering sight. I felt myself heat from the inside out and quickly moved my gaze north where I took in his short-sleeved, white T-shirt that stretched over a muscled chest.

When he moved forward to set the food on the countertop, my eyes dropped once again down his powerful thighs and then made their way to his bare feet. He must have been in a rush the night before and didn't bother to put any shoes or socks on.

How the hell were his feet so damn sexy?

A giggle slipped from my lips at how absurd that thought was.

I heard a throat clear and I snapped my head back up to the man attached to the very feet I'd been lusting over.

Bronson"s gaze slammed into mine, causing my breath to hitch. His green eyes shimmered with amusement and he shot me a sexy grin. I knew he had an inkling at what I'd been thinking and my face heated, probably turning as red as a tomato.

Anything remotely witty didn't come to mind; neither did words. Thankfully, Stormi saved the day.

With a mouth full of food, she said, "Mommy, come eat pancakes with me. Bronson will give you lots of syrup."

Moving farther into the room toward the two of them, I looked at my child and in a gentle reminder I told her, "You know not to talk with your mouth full."

Swallowing what was left in her mouth, she gave me a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

I leaned over and kissed her cheek, taking a seat next to her at the island. Bronson was at my side in a second, setting a plate of pancakes down in front of me. My mouth watered, but it had nothing to do with the food and everything to do with the man who smelled absolutely delicious even first thing in the morning and with no shower.

I couldn't breathe with him so close.

Heat seemed to radiate off of him and then his warm breath softly caressed my face. Mimicking what I had just done with my daughter, he kissed my cheek. "Morning, Cupcake." Goosebumps skated across every inch of my skin.

Stormi laughed. "He said you're sweet as a cupcake and sweet on him so he gave you that name. I don't get all of it, but it's funny."

Bronson and I both laughed at her, then he walked back around the island and I managed to suck in some much-needed oxygen now that he wasn"t right next to me, rattling my brain and warming my body like a personal furnace.

After smothering butter and syrup on my stack, I slipped a bite of pancake between my lips and moaned as the flavors burst in my mouth. It was pancakes for heaven sakes, but it seemed because Bronson made them they held something extra special.

When I looked up, the chef was watching me with lust-filled eyes and I knew something big was happening between us. Any chance I had of keeping my heart shielded so I didn't get hurt seemed impossible. It was already invested and my body was certainly on board with anything that Bronson brought my way.

"Did you hear me?" Stormi asked.

Nope, I hadn't heard a thing. The man still watching me seemed to easily claim my attention when he was around. I needed to get my head out of the clouds.

"I'm sorry sweetie, what did you say?" I asked, looking at her.

"I asked if it was okay if I stayed with Bronson tonight when you went to work?" She slapped her hands together in a praying gesture. "Please?"

I turned and gave Bronson a questioning look not understanding how this had come up.

"We can talk logistics in a bit, but I knew you had to go to work and since I took a few extra days off, I laid out some options for tonight, but told Stormi she would have to talk to you about them."

My head was whipping back and forth as the conversation played out. "What options were those?" I asked.

As I waited for his response I wondered if I should be angry that Bronson even talked to my daughter without me and put any ideas in her head. But I realized after thinking about it for a second, I wasn't. It kinda felt good to have someone watching out for us.

"Well, let"s see. This angel here," he began, pointing at Stormi, "She got an offer for a sleepover at every house I can think of." Bronson chuckled. "She"s Miss Popular."

Stormi's smile was bigger and brighter than the sun. God, it was magnificent to see her so happy.

"You don't want to stay with any of the kids?" I asked.

"I do, but not today. I want to stay with Bronson." She glanced at him and stuck her small hand across the island, where he met her halfway and they bumped fists.

The two of them seemed thick as thieves already.

"I'm happy to do it and I love spending time with Stormi," Bronson said, stealing my attention. "But it's your call."

"Can I, Mommy?"

How could I say no? I swear Bronson was looking at me with the same puppy dog eyes as my daughter and I had to stop myself from laughing.

"Of course you can, if that's what you want."

She jumped off the stool and started bouncing around. "I do, I do."

"Okay, silly. Why don't you run and pick out what you want to wear today. I'll be there in a few minutes to start you a bath."

As she raced for the bedroom, she yelled, "Yay, I get to stay with Bronson!"

His deep chuckle zipped through me and my body started to vibrate with excitement as he rounded the island again. He spun the stool around so I was facing him and with a powerful thigh, he pressed my legs open so he could step between them.

"Before we talk about the crap that will put both of us in a bad mood, I think maybe we should see if the hype of the kiss last night was real."

For a split second I wondered what he needed to say that was so bad we'd be unhappy, but when he leaned in and pressed his mouth to mine, nothing but the euphoria I felt from us kissing again was present in my mind.

It may not have gone on as long as the one the night before, but it was just as mind-blowing. When he pulled back, I looked up at him, my hand pressed to my lips where they tingled from his touch.

"What is happening?" I whispered.

Bronson softly swept a strand of hair behind my ear that had fallen from the knot at the top of my head and then rested his palm on the side of my neck. "It's something I hope you're on board with exploring," he told me.

I closed my eyes, soaking in the warmth of his hand against my skin and wondered if every time he touched me it would feel like heaven.

"In my heart you have always and will always be my best friend." His thumb moved slowly back and forth across my skin sending goosebumps down my spine. "I said it before, I want what we had before. And more."

My eyes popped open and our gazes locked.

I prayed I was doing the right thing for both Stormi and me because the only thing I could say was…

"I want that too."

"Thank fuck," he said before pulling me against his chest.

"Mom, are you coming?" Stormi yelled, breaking up the moment. But that was okay, my daughter came first.

Bronson pulled back. "Go take care of her and we"ll talk when you're done. Will you be okay if I run down the hall to shower and change?"

"I'll be fine."

He didn't move a muscle and watched me to make sure I was telling him the truth. I felt safe enough in the condo and with him just down the hall. If I had any reservations about him leaving it was only because I liked being around him and a part of me worried it would all disappear. Or he might.

The worry was hard to break.

"Mom, hurry up!" echoed down the hall.

"Coming," I answered back.

Bronson smiled, gave me a quick peck on the lips, and headed toward the door. "I'll be back. Lock up."

When he was gone, I locked the door and pressed my back against it.

I felt like I was dreaming.