Limitless Love (Lotus House #4)(22)
“Like a monster dream? Did you see a scary one?” She pulled her face back, and her blue eyes widened as she focused on me.
“Yeah, baby. Scariest monster ever.” A tremor skittered down my spine.
“And his name was Kyle?” she asked.
Crap. I didn’t want her knowing what had happened and who had hurt me. That was the last connection I ever wanted her to make, not that she remembered Kyle anyway.
“Don’t worry your pretty little head about Mommy’s monster, okay? Just know that sometimes mommies get scared too. But having you in my arms makes it all better.”
My daughter offered a wide, toothy smile. “Can I have pam cakes?” she asked out of nowhere. It only took a child to bring things right back to the here and now, with her easy dismissal of this uncomfortable moment as if it’d happened last week and not within the past few minutes.
I chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Yes, love bug. You can have pancakes. Let Mommy get the floor cleaned up and I’ll make you some.”
“No need, I’ve got this!” Atlas hollered over his shoulder. He was already in the kitchen, and Mila was already tossing away the last of the glass I’d broken.
“Thanks, guys.”
“Hey, it’s what families are for. We’re here for you, Moe,” Mila reminded me of the obvious.
And thank God for them.
* * *
Sometime later, I woke to the mouthwatering smell of spiced meat cooking. Easing out of bed slowly, like an eighty-year-old woman might, I took one small, calculated move at a time. Being careful was paramount to healing. Maneuvering out of bed cautiously, I pressed a hand against my side and curved my body until my heels rested on the floor to limit the stretch of my back. Like yesterday, music was playing in the kitchen, only this time it wasn’t George Michael blaring. Atlas was playing acoustic guitar on the couch next to the kitchen.
He plucked at the strings like a professional, playing something Latin-inspired, slapping his hand against the soundboard to add a bit of beat every few seconds. Lily was in the center of the kitchen being spun around in circles by long, muscled arms that I recognized instantly. I allowed myself the pleasure of watching Clayton interact with Lily. He was a natural with her. After she’d whirled too many times, he scooped her up and placed her on the counter close to the stove but not so close that she could harm herself on the burners or pots.
“Now, Queen Lily, you have to pour the red sauce over the rice like so.”
“Ohhh, and then it makes the rice colored. Why you want it red and not lellow or white?”
“Yell-o? Yellow?” he repeated for her benefit.
I knew it was coming even before she opened her mouth. Her small nose scrunched up defiantly and her eyes blazed. “’S’wat I said.” She placed both fists on her hips and looked very put out.
Clayton bowed low. “Pardon me, my queen. I shan’t correct you again.” He mimicked an English accent.
“No, don’t stop correcting her, or she’ll never learn the proper way to pronounce the words,” I added from across the room.
“Hey, beautiful, you’re awake. I hope we didn’t wake you up with the noise.”
I shook my head. “No, just resting. The meds take a lot out of me.”
He nodded. “You hungry?”
I smiled and slowly made my way over to the stove and placed my hand on his bicep. It flexed, either to impress me or on instinct. Something made me think it was the latter. Clayton didn’t have to go out of his way to impress a woman. He was literally God’s gift to womankind. His physique was unreal. Hard slabs of muscle everywhere I could see, and that wasn’t saying much since I hadn’t seen him naked.
Of course, the thought of seeing him sans his clothing sent a thrill of arousal through my body that landed directly on my clit. A gentle pulse woke that bundle of nerves as I took in all that was Clayton Hart. Even with every bone in my body weighed down with medicine, his appeal still had the ability to affect me.
The man was tall, very tall, and I was not a short woman at five foot six. He had close to a foot of height on me. He wore a pair of loose-fitting black track pants with two white stripes running down the side seams. His upper body was covered by only a white ribbed tank.
“Did you, uh, just come from the gym?” I asked, my mouth salivating at the bulging muscles of his shoulders. His hair was spiked in every direction, making me think he hadn’t yet had a shower. I wondered if I got close enough if I could smell his natural musk. As soon as the thought hit, I mentally smacked myself and smashed it down. A relationship was so not what I needed right now. Painkillers, food, sleep, and my kid to be healthy and happy. That was on the menu tonight. And tacos, because Clayton was back again making dinner. Why was he here again? I couldn’t fathom why he’d want to be near me, especially right now. It didn’t make any sense. Not only did I look ghastly, I was cut up from hip to shoulder. My neck was a mess of visible stitches, a reminder that Kyle’s wrath wasn’t far. He could come after me again at any time. Then what? He’d definitely hurt Clayton. Mila. Atlas. None of them were safe here. Why was he here?
All those thoughts slammed into my mind, adding to the throbbing at my temples. My head was still tender to the touch from its repeated tug of war with Kyle’s hand.
A shiver of dread rippled along my skin, and I crossed my arms over my chest and held myself.