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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“We want to do a strong girl concept. Like princesses in jeans and combat boots. Ayla is going to paint her grandma, who was in the army. I want to doAbuelawith a tiara and a cape because vice-principals are heroes too.”
Adrianna’s gaze flew from her daughter’s to Cam’s. His smile was still in place and he didn’t hesitate to respond. “You’re right. Yourabuelais a hero too. She’s always had to be strong for her family.”
Adri mouthed her thanks. It meant the world that he didn’t think differently of her mom now that he knew the truth. She was so grateful to him for taking away the threat of Walter. She was lighter today and embracing her happiness full on. “Abuelais going to do backflips. She’s already so proud of you.”
Bron nodded. “Can I please go rearrange the flowers on the tables? They’re all crooked now.”
Adri nodded. “Yes, please. The lunch crowd was crazy today and they kept touching everything and we had to put tables together. And thank you, beautiful.” Bron went to the other tables and she dug into her salad, keeping an eye on her. “I’m so hungry. How was the drive from the school?”
“It was good. Miss Winter invited me to come talk to her art class. Oh, and I met Ayla’s dad. You didn’t tell me he used to play or that he’s Dominican like your mom.”
She grinned at him. “He came drafted from the farm system in the Dominican Republic. He and Lauren joke all the time that we’re all cousins. But most important, did you agree to become his assistant?”
“Ha ha ha. No, but I am going to come watch them play. What did you do while I was gone?” His hand snuck under the table and caressed her thigh, triggering goosebumps along her skin.
She made it a point to let her lips linger on her fork until his eyes darkened.
“Recuperate,” she giggled.
His phone vibrated and he glanced at it. “Chase on his way with Walter’s laptop. He should be here within the hour.”
“What’s in it now?”
“It was wiped clean and back to factory settings. I had them add all the evidence of every single time I had to bail out our family property or the people I had to pay to keep him alive. He stored his cloud password in a folder in his laptop.”
Adrianna shook her head. She breathed out the pang of anxiety that hit her upper stomach. A small voice inside her whispered that it was all too easy. How come they had not heard from Walter? What if he had another ace up his sleeve or had already gone to the police?
She placed the fork on the table next to his plate.
“What is it?” Cam asked.
She forced another breath and her lips into a curve. “Nothing. I’m full.”
He snorted. “It’s a salad, Adrianna. Since when do you get full on a salad, without bread? Are you going to start lying to me now?”
Her skin heated and she shook her head. “It’s stupid. Don’t make a big deal out of it. And by the way, nice touch talking about a woman’s eating habits. You have excellent dating skills.”
He tossed her a side smile. “I love your eating habits. You eat like a human being.” He turned in the direction of their daughter, spotting her across the room, and then back to Adrianna. He leaned closer and whispered a breath from her lips. “All your appetites match. I love a womanwho’shungry across the board.”
Butterflies rose and dove and she went slick between her legs. She pressed her hands to his cheeks and pulled him to her. Her phone went off and he groaned.
She was smiling when she answered.
“Adri. It’s so good to hear you.” The voice rang familiar, but she couldn’t place it.
“I’m sorry. Who am I speaking with?”
“You forgot me already,” the man cooed. “It’s so sad because I can’t forget you.”
Across from her, Cam flinched. Her phone was loud enough he could hear. It was in his clenched jaw and the mossy shade his eyes had taken.
“Tommy.” Even saying his name was bizarre and incomprehensible. The last time she’d seen Tommy was at a funeral for one of their classmates. He’d been high as a kite and asked her a million questions then. She’d brushed him off in the gentlest way she could.
“Ah. You remember. That does my heart good. How’s Bron? She must be getting so big.”
Cam went dark.Shit.
