AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He was outside Bron’s school when I went to pick her up. And Winter says he was there in the morning. Cam… he was watching Bron.”
Her voice dropped at the end and along with it his stomach.What the fuck was wrong with Walter?Only a lunatic would try to pull something like this. Only, his father wasn’t crazy. Walter was a greedy bully out to manipulate him. He was dead set that Cam should continue bank rolling his gambling habit. No more. Walter had bet wrong this time around. No way in hell would he let him terrorize Bron or Adri.
His hand tightened around the phone. “Adri, listen to me. If he comes to the bistro, call the cops and have him arrested. I’m on my way.” He shot a look to Marli. “Book me the first flight to Baltimore you can find.”
•••
She was going to punch the damned laptop and then throw it out the window. Except it was Adrianna’s, not the laptop’s fault. She was the one that wasn’t thinking straight and entered the amounts five times, every time messing up the digits.
She slammed her hands on to the glass top and blew the air pent up in her chest. Her gaze drifted to the monitor screen and Bron was still painting by the light of the living room window. Thank God she wasn’t here to witness the mess of nerves her mother had become. Adri was relieved she’d asked to go upstairs and paint. She was safe, and Adri could keep an eye on her through the monitor.
No one could get into her apartment before passing by the office door.So, calm down.
Her gaze was in a ping pong game from the monitor, to her laptop, to the gold clock. It was seven thirty-five. She had not heard from Cam since right before his plane took off an hour and a half ago and had to force herself not to call him to see if the plane had landed. They’d been on the phone until they’d called him to board. He’d been a calming force for her. And now the silence was killing her.
The office was becoming smaller by the second. She couldn’t stay in here anymore. She should go upstairs to check if Bron was hungry and then go help out a little in the bistro. No, she couldn’t do that. Lauren had banned her to the office because she had been getting on the staff’s nerves. She had to do something.
She went around the desk and headed for the door. Cam appeared at the top of the stairs wearing jeans, a T-shirt and black zip up with a hoodie over his head. His eyes were clouded with worry. Only one other thing in her life was that beautiful and comforting, her daughter. She crossed the room in two steps and threw her arms around him. His closed around her and she let herself settle into the warm feeling. He pulled her head back, looked into her eyes, and everything faded.
His lips touched hers, tender and warm, pressing her against his chest. It wasn’t a kiss of desire or a hello kiss. It was a kiss of love. One that let her nerves settle in her belly so she could kiss him back. She’d missed him so much. Her hands bunched on his T-shirt and she pulled him to her, trying to fuse herself into his chest.
He pulled back, his eyes roaming over her face. The frown was there.
She leaned her head into his chest. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She usually had to weather the storms alone. It felt good to have him there to lean on.
“It’s going to be okay. Walter is just trying to force my hand. Where’s Bron?”
She pulled back and turned the monitor around so he could see. Their little girl was in front of the easel but she wasn’t painting. Her head was tilted to the side and she moved from one side, closer, then back and to the other side.
He smiled. “I do that. She’s trying to see if she caught the light from all angles.”
Adrianna grabbed his hand, interlacing her fingers through his. “Come on, it’s a good moment for her to see you. She has some news for you.”
She pulled him toward the door but he didn’t move.
“Wait, are you okay?”
She turned to look at him again and the answer was fast. “Yes.”Because you’re here.
He pushed off the desk and let her guide him upstairs. At the door she motioned for him to go in first. He opened the door and she followed behind. Bron was still in front of the easel, examining the paint.
“Mom, I think you’re going to like this one,” she said without turning.
“I’m sure she will,” Cam answered.
Bron whipped around, her mouth turned into a perfect little O and with rounded eyes to match. “Daddy.”
She rushed to him and he picked her up from the floor. Adrianna didn’t know who was smiling harder.
“I thought you weren’t coming ’til the weekend.”
“I pushed up my trip. I’m glad I did. I missed you too much.”
She kissed his cheek. “Mom, did you know he was coming?”
Adrianna shook her head and chose a modified version of the truth. “Not until like two hours ago.”
“And you didn’t tell me!”
Adri smiled, “I wanted to see that surprised look in your face when you saw him.”
She narrowed her eyes and then looked at her dad. “Next time you call me, and we surprise Mom. Do you want to see what I painted today?”
He nodded. “Show me.” And winked at Adri.
