Asshole didn’t give two shits about Kallie.
Not as if it’d come as a surprise.
She’d been nothing more than the pawn. A tactic in his self-righteous game.
Sick part? We were still unsure if it was for entertainment or gain.
I arranged the loaves of bread on a metal tray and slipped them into the oven. I punched numbers into the timer and glanced at the clock.
Any time now, Shea would be walking through the door.
My heart rate ticked up a notch. Was it ridiculous she’d only been gone for four hours and I was already anxious to see her again?
I shook my head at myself.
Never.
Things were so fucking good. But that didn’t mean we weren’t constantly on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Jennings hadn’t pushed the custody issue since the day Kallie’d come home. One could hope he’d given up.
But Shea and I knew better. He was just biding his time.
Lying in wait.
The way all predators do.
Kallie belted out the last of the chorus to Brown Eyed Girl, sweet, sweet voice dancing in my ears. She grinned so wide it stretched out to touch me.
“That one is my favorite, FAVORITE, Baz.”
I ruffled her hair. “Pretty awesome, right? Song kinda reminds me of a couple girls I know.”
“Who?”
Just then, the side door rattled, and Shea came fumbling in, all soft seduction and radiant smile.
Fucking gorgeous.
I searched for the air that suddenly felt thick. Didn’t even try to hide the way I let my gaze take all of her in, eyes caressing up and down.
A curl of lust consumed me in the same second a rush of calm settled in the center of my chest.
Chaos and peace.
She floated in, all summer breeze and bouncing curls and joyful grin, today my girl light, light, light.
Sometimes I didn’t know how to make sense of her. It was like a constant war raged within her, crushing deep butting up against irresistible brilliant bright.
Kallie flapped her arms. “Momma…surprise! Me and Baz are makin’ s’ghetti for dinner. It’s gonna be so, so, so good! You better be hungry.”
Shea slanted me the sweetest, most appreciative smile before she turned toward her daughter with a feigned gasp. “Oh my goodness, did you make me dinner? And spaghetti is my favorite. How did you know I’ve been craving it the entire day at work?”
Shea edged around the island. She planted a kiss to Kallie’s forehead. Kallie lifted her face and gazed at her with unconditional adoration and love. Shea poked her chubby belly, and Kallie squealed, grabbing at Shea’s hands, little shoulders going up to her ears.
These two were going to be the death of me.
“Silly Momma, I already knows it’s your favorite. S’ghetti’s my favorite, too. ’Member?” Kallie’s voice turned scolding.
Shea laughed a throaty sound that had my eyes tracing her again. “Of course, I remember. Do you think I’d forget something as important as that?”
“No way.” Kallie shook her head.
After taking some time off to readjust with Kallie, Shea had gone back to work a week ago. She’d taken some lunch shifts to get back into the swing of things before she returned to her regular schedule this coming Tuesday.
Three days away.
Should have known the uproar it’d cause when I told her I’d take care of her. Asked her straight up if she just wanted to stay home and forget about working at Charlie’s.
She was having no part of that. Again she’d told me she wasn’t in this for my money or what I could give her.
But that was the thing. I wanted her to have it all.
Worst part was knowing my days here were fleeting. Part of me was working through every scenario, trying to figure out how I could convince her to come along with me. At the same time, I knew I couldn’t just roll in here and displace Shea and Kallie from their home.
Shea caught me staring. I swallowed heavily when those knowing eyes latched onto me. This time it was her turn to track me. Hunger and need and slow appreciation.