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With an imperious glare, she stared down her nose at him. “Will you look after her?”
“I will.”
“You said you’d bring her home to me.”
There was no hiding the accusation there. “And I will. Just when the time’s right.”
Now, she started squinting at him, her nose scrunched up, but she began to nod. Then, she broke me some more—her bottom lip trembled. “I missed you, Star.”
“I missed you too, baby.” Being away from her hurt more than I’d expected. She was my kid. I didn’t give a fuck who’d given birth to her. Didn’t care whose DNA she shared and whose blood ran through her veins. She wasmine. I kept my possessive thoughts to myself and, with a warning note, queried, “Are you going to be good for Alessa and Maverick?”
“I’m always good.”
“Well, we know that’s a lie,” I mocked.
My kid wafted a hand. “I had to fix things.”
“It’smyjob to fix stuff,” I corrected before something occurred to me. “Are you covering your eyes when people kiss on TV?”
She giggled. “Yes.”
That meant no.
“If you don’t, I really will tell Alessa to change the pin code.”
“I’ll change it back.” She tipped her nose up. “I’m a strong, independent woman, Star.” She spoiled that by crying, “Girl Power,” then cascading into even more giggles.
I smiled at the sight of her rolling around like a lunatic and, shaking my head, drawled, “I’ll call you later on before bedtime. Tell Maverick I want to talk to him?”
“You’ll call before bedtime?”
“I will. Don’t forget to tell Maverick?” At her excited nod, I winked at her. “Be good.”
“I’ll try. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I let her cut the call then I turned my face into Conor’s throat, not even bothering to ask why that was so easy to do, and I let the impossible happen—I allowed the dam to burst.
He embraced me through it. Silently. Didn’t say a damn thing. Just let me loop my arms around his waist and clutch at him.
The tears burned like a corrosive as they coursed down my cheeks and he held me together as I fell apart.
I’d let her down so badly.
“She’s okay, Star.”
I clenched my eyes closed. “More by luck than anything else.”
“She snuck out when Maverick had a hospital appointment.” His hand smoothed over my hair. “It was an aberration, and now that they know she has mad skills like her mom, they’ll be watching out for her more.
“But there won’t be any need for that, will there? She’s a good kid. As long as you call her, she’ll stick fast to her home until you’re back.”
“When I think what could have happened—”
“No point in thinking of what ‘could have’ happened,” he interrupted firmly, “It didn’t. She’s fine. Safe. Happy to have heard from you and even happier that you’re calling her tonight.”
“You’re right,” I whispered, inwardly sighing when he started to pull away from me.
