Page 10 (1/2)

Currently, they see which one could go without blinking first Braden could always le, which caused her to blink within seconds It was the best sound in the world to wake up to

"Goodabout hoished I could sleep for a few more hours I was shocked when I saw that it was already eleven in the ht hours of sleep, I still felt as if I had been run over by a bus Ever since I’d gotten sick, I hadn’t felt like I could ever fully rechargea little low and really hoped that went away soon "How long have you guys been up?"

"Shh!!" Braden and Kate proers covered their !" Kate whispered "He didn’t leave" She smiled brilliantly as if she couldn’t believe he really stayed

"Duh, Kate He crossed his heart, re when Lane said that Sneaky boy

I rolled over in the huge, king-size bed and looked at where they had pointed ht of Lane Last night, he had pulled the couch across the rooainst the side of the bed Kate slept on

His large body could barely fit across the length of it An average hu would have th couch, but alook like an ars was draped over the low backside and his feet were hanging off the end His unda over the end He had the sling back on and his injured arainst his chest He didn’t look even a little bit comfortable, and I felt bad that we had all stretched out in that nificent bed while he squashed hi furniture

"He has a lot of ree with him there He told me that he didn’t work for the police departardless, all of that fighting he had been learning to catch Flores really had kept his body in outstanding shape

"That’s because he’s a superhero," Kate inforonna have muscles like that too," he told her

"I’, buddy," I chuckled "Just reetables I bet Lane always eats his spinach"

The crease in Braden’s nose crinkled and I could tell he was deep in thought I had a feeling he eighing the odds of leafy greens actually causing h to o play in the other room until he wakes up"

"But" Kate hesitated "I think he would be sad if ere gone"

"We’ll be super quiet, ht Well, I’ to take a shower, but I’m serious you two, do not wake him up" I dumped out books froes for them to share

"Thank you, mama," Kate er did I get to be her "Ma any different, but I knew things would unquestionably change so on the floor probably would have been a better choice than that tiny-ass couch My legs were hanging off the arm of one side andpins-and-needles feeling poked from the inside out I sloisted my feet in a circular motion and turned my head toward the tiny whispers that ca toward one another, deep in conversation

"That’s a really good job, sissy," Braden said

"Thanks I’ it for you, and you can add it to the other pictures I et to go back and get all of our things froed and told him, "It’s okay, I like it here better Daddy’s here"

"He’s your daddy, not mine," Braden expressed sadly

"Maybe he can be your daddy, too" She looked up at him with so much hope in her eyes, I almost wanted to be the kid’s dad just so that look would always stay there on her sweet face

"No, I got ot your daddy"

"But, I wantbrother and brothers have to take care of their sisters" I swore that little guy puffed out his chest with those words Kate leaned over and kissed hi his hands across his face "E, Kate!" he protested while continuing to laugh

I decided to take that hter immediately died fro the," I said with a rasp

"Braden! Mama said we couldn’t wake him up He needs sleep," Kate said in an accusatory tone

"Sorry" Braden looked up at uys are fine It was about tiroaned when I saw that it was close to noon Charlie would be calling soon, wondering why the hell we hadn’t co, huh?"

They both stood up and flew into excited balls of energy, tellingThe theatrics of it all h as well, and they fell back down onto the bed in hysterics

I made a request down to room service and practically ordered the entire menu--twice I had no idea what they liked but what they didn’t eat, I would finish off I had never gone that long without eating Usually, I was stuffingin pain fro around in the bathrooo speak with her, away from little ears On my way over, I leaned down and kissed Kate on the top of her head She wrapped her arht on my cheek I still didn’t understand all of it, but hell, I would take all the love she had to give She released my neck and let me continue toward the bathroom

The bathrooan could runted from my unexpected intrusion "Rude!"

"Hey, I wanted to talk" Crap I hadn’t planned an stood about six inches shorter than me, so I hadn’t noticed at first because her head only ca a towel and her heavy brsts created aout froher, but it didn’t help one bit It only caused thele and made the scenario even rowing problem

"Lane… stop!" she breathed out

"I’m sorry," I chuckled "I swear I’m not usually this juvenile" She quirked an eyebrow up at ot it under control," I said Fuck, she was hot I so did not have it under control I forced my eyes to her face When I quickly looked over at the cut on her head, I ian, your head" I searched frantically for so down the side of her face What the hell were these stitches doing if she kept bleeding out of theentle pressure with a wad of tissues She sucked in air and I ju to stop"

She rab the tissue, but then realized that she needed both of her hands on the towel so she relented and ?"

"Still dizzy and tired, but I think that’s normal"

"Can I ask what happened now?" I requested softly, as if I were approaching a wounded animal