“I wish I knew her,” Cady whispered.
I slid into the seat next to her. “Me, too, Katydid. But she loved you so much. The amount of love she gave you in just a few months was more than most people get in a lifetime.”
Cady stirred her ice cream, now turning to soup. “I’m kinda lucky.”
I stared at the little girl I loved more than life, wondering what she meant.
“I get two of you. My mom and my mama.”
My chest felt shredded. “I’m so lucky I get to be your mama.”
I pulled her into my arms. “Heart explosion. I need to hug you.”
Cady giggled. “It’s too tight.”
“Sorry, I’ve got too much love to give, and it’s leaking out of my eyeballs.”
She squirmed free. “You gotta get control of that love stuff.”
I picked up my bowl of ice cream and took a bite. “Never.”
A knock sounded on the door.
I was instantly on my feet, crossing the space as my heart hammered. My fingers curled around my Taser as I peeked through the little window, bracing myself. The air left my lungs on a whoosh as I took in the figure on the other side. Unlocking the deadbolts and the knob, I opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
Roan’s broad form ate up the space, and the intense energy surrounding him swept outward, cascading over my skin. “You got a couch I could stay on for a while?”
15
ROAN
Aspen’s jaw went slack. She had to open and close her mouth a few times before she could speak. “What?”
“Your couch. Gonna sleep on it for a while.”
She shook herself out of her stupor. “That’s not necessary.”
That muscle in my cheek ticked. “Think it might be. Those two haven’t left town yet.”
I’d done some digging after leaving Aspen’s and found out where they were staying. Took a little drive, and there was no packing up happening at their rental cabin. I would have to get Lawson involved for sure. But the idea of Aspen and Cady staying here alone in the meantime didn’t sit right.
“Mr. Grizz!” Cady yelled. “We’re having cocoa smash.”
I grimaced as I looked down at the contents of Aspen’s bowl. “What is that?”
She flushed. “It’s vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate powder.”
I winced. “You’re gonna go into a sugar coma before you finish.”
“Don’t knock it until you try it.”
I simply grunted.
Aspen clutched her bowl tighter. “You don’t need to stay. We’re fine.”
My back teeth ground together. “I could get Law to put a squad car on the house.”
She snapped her mouth closed.
“You’re staying?” Cady said hopefully, chocolate smeared all over her face as she popped up behind Aspen.
“Depends on what your mom says.” I arched a brow in challenge.
Aspen glared at me, only it didn’t have the desired effect. It only made her green eyes burn brighter and her lips purse in a way that made them look too damned kissable.
“I want a slumber party with Mr. Grizz!” Cady said as she hopped up and down. “Slumber party! Slumber party!”
“Cady…” Aspen warned gently.
“It’s all the sugar. They turn into little fiends,” I quipped.
Aspen shot me a death stare. “Yup, Mr. Grizz is staying, and he told me he really wants a glitter manicure.”
“YEEEEEESSSSS!” Cady yelled as she skipped toward the hall. “I’m getting my stuff right now.”
My eyes narrowed on the too-gorgeous-for-her-own-good redhead. “Glitter manicure?” I gritted out.
Aspen shrugged. “Payback’s a bitch.” She shoved a bite of ice cream into her mouth. “And you don’t get any ice cream,” she mumbled around her bite.
A little of the chocolate dribbled onto her lip. My gut tightened as images of me licking chocolate off all sorts of places filled my mind.
“I’m trying to help,” I growled.
A bit of that anger and frustration melted away, and Aspen’s shoulders slumped. “I know. I’m sorry. I just—we’re used to taking care of ourselves. Having someone in our space isn’t normal.”
An invisible fist ground against my sternum like a mortar and pestle. I hated the defeated cast of her words. I’d take her fire any day. “We can’t always carry our own load. Sometimes, we need help. It doesn’t make us weak. It makes us human.”