Limitless Love (Lotus House #4)(61)

He nodded, cupped my cheeks, and kissed me. He kissed me for so long that when we stopped, I was in a sleepy love haze. As if I weighed nothing, he lifted me and walked around the bed, putting me back on my side, where he tucked me in. He locked the bedroom door, cracked the door on the bathroom so there would be light enough to see through the shadows in the dark—especially if Lily needed to get up—and then went around to the other side.

Clayton maneuvered his big body under the comforter, scooted close to Lily, wrapped his arm back around her, and kissed her head. “I love you, sweetie,” he whispered against her hair. I held back the tears but only just. He hunkered down into the bed, grabbed my hand, and held it across the bed, my daughter safely tucked against his broad chest. Usually that was my spot, but tonight my daughter needed the security, and he gave it to her, almost as if he needed it himself. She’d had a scary night, and as the protector, he wrapped her up and gave her his love.

In that moment, I loved him more, because he loved her more.



* * *



“What in the ever-loving fuck happened last night!” Mila’s words were shrill through the phone receiver. There wasn’t enough coffee in the world to handle this woman’s wrath.

“Calm down. We’re fine. The police were here, Clayton is boarding up the window now until the window-replacement guy can come and fix it.”

Mila groaned. “He broke into Lily’s room?” she asked for the tenth time.

“Yes, but again, the alarm Clayton installed scared him off. He won’t be trying that again. I’m certain of it.”

Mila sniffed a few times, and her voice shook. “I think maybe you guys should move in with us, or move into Clay’s apartment, or maybe we’ll come back and move in with you…”

I shook my head in frustration at her declaration. “Stop. Mila. Clayton is taking care of us. We’re safe. I promise. I’m going to start a self-defense class with Nicholas next week. Clay wants me to be able to defend myself. And he’s also going to be taking me to the gun range tomorrow when Lily is at school.”

“The gun range… What the… Seriously? My God. Moe, this is crazy. Why the hell can’t the cops find this bastard? I mean, it’s not like he’s some sort of mastermind. He’s a blond-haired, thin white guy who used to sell cars! As far as we know, he doesn’t even have a job. What money is he living off of? I don’t even think they’re trying.”

I sighed. The same thoughts had run through my mind repeatedly. However, I had the distinct advantage of having lived with Kyle. He played dumb and lackadaisical often. In reality, he was extremely observant, manipulative, and cunning. It’s how he got me to marry him in the first place. After a lot of self-loathing and thinking back over the years we were married, I’d come to the conclusion that he’d just married me for money. I never cared much about monetary things except for a home, car, and the usual comforts a woman wanted to have in her life.

Kyle liked to have the best of everything. When we went out it was always to the swankiest locations. He’d buy expensive clothes, even though he rarely had a job. I even let him leave with the top-of-the-line Porsche he’d bought with my inheritance. Still, none of that even put a dent in the bankroll I had. My grandparents had left me hundreds of millions. The interest off the money alone was too much for me to spend each month. Besides, I had a great job and made a decent income as psychiatrist. The court mediation I did mainly as a civic duty, not because it paid well, because it absolutely did not.

“I don’t know, Mila. All I know is, today we’re making cupcakes, watching movies, and maybe hitting the local bookstore for a few new titles. Clay’s going to make homemade pizzas if the two of you want to come over.”

“Mmmm, pizza. I could eat that now.”

I laughed out loud. “Mila, it’s nine in the morning.”

“Yeah. I wonder if there is a place that would deliver early?”

“Pregnancy cravings?” I wondered. When I was pregnant my cravings started early. As in the second I found out I was pregnant I wanted pickles, olives, and balsamic dressing all the time.

“Maybe. You think?” she asked.

“Honey, have you been reading the books I ordered and had shipped to your house?” I personally patted myself on the back for that one. Best friend status secure.

“Um…not exactly.”

“Mila…” I chided.

She laughed heartily. “Atlas has taken on being the encyclopedia of my pregnancy. If I want to know something, I just ask him. He’s read all of the books you sent—twice!” She snorted and laughed. “He says since it’s not happening to him, he’s going to find a way to be involved. When I ask for the book, he asks me what I want to know. It’s irritating and cute at the same time. Damn curly-headed punk!”

I snickered. “That is cute though. He wants to be involved. Kyle never did. He didn’t want anything to do with my pregnancy.”

“Because he’s a pencil-dicked, card-carrying member of the supreme bastards club.”

“Well, that is true.” Without warning the thought of Kyle’s dick size in comparison to Clayton’s was hysterical, and I burst out laughing.

I laughed so hard I couldn’t catch my breath, and my eyes watered.