Kickstart My Heart (Burgers and Brew Crue #1) - Lacey Black Page 0,63
around her little body. The moment I do, she takes off out of the bathroom, giggling once again.
“Walk! I cwean!” she announces as she hits the threshold to my bedroom.
“I see that. Go get some jammies on, and you can help me make your mommy’s bed,” he says. I notice he has the frame together and the box spring and mattress positioned on top.
“Otay,” she replies, running across the hall to her bedroom.
I help her dry off and dress in a pair of Dora pajamas that have seen better days. They were a garage sale find earlier this summer, but she loves them. As fast as she’s growing, I’m not sure how much longer she’ll be able to wear them.
“Weady,” she announces, as she runs into my bedroom, me trailing behind with her hairbrush.
I quickly set her on the bed and run the wide-toothed comb through her locks. Her hair tangles easily with the curls, but as long as I use conditioner, it’s not too bad. It doesn’t take long to comb out her hair, and she’s ready to help.
“Okay, you take this corner,” Walker instructs, handing it to her across the bed. “Hold it tight.” When he pulls to tuck in his end, he pulls it out of her hand and makes her laugh. “I said hold it tight, silly,” he adds, laughing right along with her.
I end up on one side of the bed, while the other two pull and secure the fitted sheet. We work as a team to make the bed, and the moment the cases are on the pillows, Walker picks Lizzie up and carefully tosses her onto the mattress before jumping on himself and lying beside her. “What do you think? Did we do a good job?” he asks, resting his head on my pillow.
“Yep!” she replies, yawning.
I glance at my watch, realizing it’s after seven. Bedtime is usually eight, but I can definitely see an earlier bedtime for my girl tonight. “How about we go start a movie and relax?” I ask, catching her attention.
“Cat and Hat,” she bellows, as she bounces off the bed and heads for the television in the living room.
Walker crawls off the bed too, and there’s definitely something sexy about the way he moves. It catches and holds my attention, riveting me in place as he heads my way. “I don’t think I’ve seen The Cat in the Hat.”
“Who doesn’t like Mike Myers?” I ask, my voice a little breathless.
“Mmm,” he replies, pulling me into his chest and running his nose along my hair. I can hear him inhale, as a shiver sweeps down my spine.
“I’m sure you have better things to do,” I whisper.
He pulls back and meets my eyes. “Do you want me to leave?”
I realize quickly the answer. Even though I’m sure he has other things he can be doing, I decide to answer him honestly and shake my head.
Walker’s grin starts off slow and lights up his entire face. “Good. I want to stay.”
I get the DVD player set up with the movie, smiling when I turn to see Lizzie sitting on Walker’s lap. He’s watching me intently, those blue eyes like a caress over my skin. I press play on the remote and move to where they sit. I don’t have time to contemplate where I’m going to land, because Walker lifts his arm, inviting me to sit beside him.
We’re fifteen minutes in when he nudges me with his arm. I glance over, only to find Lizzie sound asleep, curled up on his lap with her head resting on his chest. “Do you want me to take her?” I whisper, even though, deep down, I already know the answer.
Walker carefully moves to stand, slipping his arm from around my shoulder and cradling my daughter. He moves so easily, so effortlessly, as if he’s been taking care of a child for years. As he did the other night, he carries Lizzie to bed, kissing her forehead as he tucks blankets around her body. “Night, night, Walk.”
“Good night, Lou.”
“Wove you,” she whispers, turning on her side and snuggling into her pillow.
Walker clears his throat before murmuring, “Love you too, Lou.” He runs a hand over her forehead before he stands and moves toward the doorway.
I crouch down and grab her teddy bear, placing it right beside her. With a quick kiss on her forehead and a whispered “I love you,” I turn on the night-light and slip out of her room.