Shelter Me(58)

“You have made my son very happy, dear, and for that I thank you. As a mother, you know that you want your child to be happy, and I have never seen my son happier than when he is with you.”

“I love him so much, Camillia, and I have never once stopped loving him.”

“He has always loved you, too.”



************



It’s midday by the time we drop Adam off at home. Lucy is sound asleep in the back seat with her dolphin and the new doll that Antonio gave her. Pulling the car out onto the road, Luke brings his hand to rest over the top of mine. Taking a glance his way, I see he has a smile on his face.

“What’s that smile for, Schavone?”

Clearing his throat, he lifts my hand to his lips and lets them linger there, then he lightly grazes them across the inside of my wrist.

“I’m happy, baby. I have the two most beautiful girls in the world in my car. I love you, Shayne, so much.”

“I love you, too.”

Turning down the road to my aunt’s house, I let out a sigh as I look around the neighborhood I grew up in. Am I doing the right thing by moving in with Luke? Taking a glance at him out of the corner of my eye, I see the young man I fell in love with so many years ago. He is still as romantic and loving as he was back then, always putting me first and now he is doing the same thing with our daughter.

Pulling into the drive, we all pile out of the car and walk into the house. Luke decides to go help Lucy pack all of her things as I go into my room to gather all of mine. After snapping my last suitcase closed, I walk to the nightstand next to my bed and pick up the picture of my aunt. Sitting on my bed, I trace my fingers across her face.

“I wish you were here to talk to me about this. I know in my heart this is the right thing to do. I love you and miss you so much.”

Loading all of our bags into the Range Rover, we take off for Luke’s house with Lucy squealing with excitement in the back seat.

“Daddy, do I have my very own room at your house?”

“You do, honey, but we need to paint it and get you your own bed, so until that is done I have a special room for you to sleep in. Tomorrow we can pick out the color you want to paint your room, okay?”

“I want my room pink, Daddy.”

“Then pink it is, Lucy.”

We unload the car when we get to Luke’s house and set the last of the bags on the floor by the stairs. Making our way into the kitchen, the three of us set about making our dinner which consists of grilling some burgers and placing some fries in the oven. While Luke is outside, I take the opportunity to talk to Lucy to make sure that she is okay with us moving here. I pick her up and hold her in my arms.

“So, Mommy was thinking about moving here so you and I could see Daddy every day. What do you think about that?”

“Does that mean we would stay here forever and ever?” she asks with excitement.

“Yes, forever and ever.”

“Thank you, Mommy! You’re the best.”

After I hug and kiss Lucy and set her down, she runs outside where Luke is grilling. I hear her telling him that she is going to be here forever and ever. At this moment I could not be happier.





Chapter Nineteen



After dinner we take Lucy upstairs and Luke shows her the bedroom that is going to be hers. She tells him where she wants her bed and all of her toys and he squats down and listens to everything she is telling him. Then, we guide Lucy to the room across the hall where she will be sleeping until her room is finished.

We unpack her bags, hanging everything up and putting things in the dresser and then Luke shows her where he will be sleeping just in case she needs anything. Once she is all situated, I run Lucy her bath and let her play while Luke and I finish putting things away. While I am folding her clothes, Luke approaches me from behind, wrapping his arms around my waist while resting his chin on my shoulder. He pulls me in close so I can feel every rock hard muscle.

“About that conversation we had earlier,” he begins. “You know I want you in my bed, baby. Knowing that you are right down the hall from me and I can’t touch you is going to drive me fucking crazy. I want my bed to become our bed.”

I heave a sigh.

“I want that, too. I really do; I just need a few days to try and figure out how to tell Lucy about this.”

“I know, baby, and I love you all the more for putting our daughter first.”

Still locked in his embrace, I turn toward him and he pulls me in closer, bending down as he takes his tongue and licks from my collarbone to my ear.

“Just a few days, baby, no more,” he whispers.

Yearning for him to touch me and take me, I am about ready to give in when Lucy calls for me. Lifting his head up and kissing the tip of my nose, he releases me but swats me on my ass and lets out a slow whistle as I slip past him headed for the bathroom.