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“She’s okay.” He tucked my hair behind my ear, stroking his knuckles along my cheek. Steady as a rock, like always. “Marina said she bumped her head and they were checking for a concussion. She’s conscious and nothing’s broken.”
A breath whooshed out of me. Cassie was a nurse, and Marina always worried about her driving home after long shifts. Now that I knew she wasn’t seriously injured, I refocused on the subject at hand.
“Good. That’s good. Now, can you tell me how you made the decision to hang out with my kid without running it by me?”
He remained calm in the face of my unhappiness. “You were sound asleep, and Nellie had crept up behind Marina. She saw me and remembered my name.” Another stroke of his knuckle, soothing me. I must’ve looked as conflicted as I felt. “I get it, Clara. I do. But she already saw me, so I figured the jig was up. I made her a waffle and cut up some fruit, and we watched her favorite show. I think she’ll recover if she never sees me again.”
He lowered his forehead to mine, and it was impossible not to soften. If only by a fraction. “I hope that’s not the case. I’m getting tired of sneaking out. I could use some lazy mornings with you, and I don’t mind watching a cartoon or two.”
My lips twitched, almost smiling. “You looked like you were enjoying it.”
He chuckled. “I can’t help it. When a Rossi girl asks me to dance, I dance.”
I took a step back—the only amount of space his hold would allow. Sighing, I glanced toward my daughter in the other room before bringing my eyes back to him. “Sage is lucky to have you as a dad.”
“I’m lucky to have her as my daughter.” He nodded toward Nellie. “She reminds me a lot of my girl. Always moving and grooving. She hasn’t met a stranger.”
I snorted a laugh. “That’s Nellie. With her in tow, I can’t run a quick errand. She’s always trying to have conversations with people she thinks look interesting.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled as he took my face in his hands. “If you’re okay with it, I don’t mind being her buddy. We’ll go slow, and I swear to all that’s holy I’ll be careful. The last thing I want to do is hurt either of you.”
“I know that. If I had any doubt of your intentions, you wouldn’t be in my home.” I sighed. “But sometimes things don’t work out as we intend.”
“No, they don’t.” His hands dropped to my shoulders then slid down my arms before letting me go. “It’s up to you, Clara. If you want me to go, say the word.”
My stomach swirled like a storm in a bottle. There was no manual for parenting. Everyone had their own ideas on when kids should be introduced to their parents’ boyfriends or girlfriends. And when I put my shock and anger aside, seeing Jake and Nellie dancing had felt…right. He wasn’t here to be her daddy, but he could be her friend. And I could have some cozy mornings with my favorite people.
“I want you to stay.” I circled my arms around his middle. “I’m sorry I freaked out. I do trust you. It’s just—”
He kissed my forehead, then his eyes met mine again as he ran his fingers through the sides of my hair. “You’ve been through hell and back.”
I chuffed. “Yeah.”
Taking my hand in his, he kissed my knuckles. “Why don’t you go dance with your girl while I make you breakfast? Waffles okay for you too? I’ll pour you a cup of coffee first.”
I blinked at him, wondering if this was real. The offer had rolled off his tongue like we’d done this a hundred times, but this was our first morning together, and he’d already made my daughter waffles.
“You’re going to make me breakfast?”
His brow dropped low. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere this morning. Why wouldn’t I make my girl breakfast?”
“I—” I felt stupid for being so blown away, but I was, and I couldn’t quite hide my reaction. “Well, no one has made me breakfast since I was a kid. You took me by surprise.”
“Clara,” he growled my name with a vicious edge, “don’t tell me shit like that when I can’t do anything to go back and make it right.”
Snatching up my hand, he pulled me fully into the kitchen and pushed me against the wall. I leaned my head back, and he cupped my throat. Anger crystallized in the blue of his eyes, and though I knew it wasn’t directed at me, my stomach swooped and knotted. I had never seen him that way. Jake was the most even-keeled man I’d ever met. For him to snap…
“You were mistreated and neglected for a long time. I’m seeing that now. I fucking hate you being surprised over something small like me wanting to make you breakfast.”
“I hate it for myself too,” I whispered.
He stroked his thumb over my throat as I swallowed. “Expect me to take care of you now that you’ve let me in. You can lean on me. I want you to. It makes me feel good to be that for you. Everything I’m going to do for you is my pleasure because you’re mine and you’re important to me. Keeping you happy is important to me. That means feeding you, talking to you, making you smile, protecting you, tucking your soft body under the covers after making you come on my tongue and cock…”
That made me grin. “You had to throw that in there.”
His answering smile wasn’t quite as bright as mine, but it was there. Some of his anger had slipped away, unfurling the knot in my stomach. “Had to. It’s just as important as the rest.”
My eyes met his. Honest and clear, he hid nothing behind his gaze. I’d never known this man to say anything he didn’t mean. My instincts told me to lean on him like he wanted. He would be there. As steady as ever.
