I stared hungrily at her lips as she ate another bite of the pancakes. Paton was coloring happily beside her with Besos curled up at her feet.

It was a perfect scene of domestic bliss.

But it was also torture.

I’d told her I wouldn’t touch her. Wouldn’t kiss her again. I told her I didn’t expect anything.

But that didn’t mean I wouldn’t want anything. I did. I wanted everything.

“So, is Pate coming with us? Or we could call a sitter?”

Michelle swallowed, pushing a damp strand of hair over her shoulder. She’d showered while Pate and I had pancakes. I’d made an extra batch for Michelle, despite her protests.

In the bright light of morning, I could see how thin she was. Paton looked healthy, but her mom… I had never seen her up close like this in daylight.

And it burned me to the core.

Of course, she had been giving Paton all her meals. Of course, she had. She was the perfect mama bear.

And she had been starving.

She had been eating slowly, carefully, as if she hadn’t seen this much food in a long time. I could see the look of ecstasy on her face as she chewed. It made me feel like a monster. I’d been obsessing over her looks and she’d been literally wasting away.

Well, no more. And never again. I’d see to it, even if it ripped my guts out being so close to her.

“I’m okay by myself.”

I cocked an eyebrow at Paton, then glanced at Michelle.

“You could take the day off.”

She shook her head swiftly.

“I want to work. I’m not sure about leaving her with a stranger though.”

I nodded.

“Okay, so Pate comes with us, then we call it a night early and come back.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

I cut her off before the words were even out of her mouth.

“I’m the boss, I can knock off whenever I want.” I reached down to scratch Cheeto behind the ear. “Besides, I usually come back for an hour or so to feed the critters.”

I looked up to find her staring at my hand. She was watching me stroke the cat’s fur. She looked… transfixed.

I had a sudden flashback to the kiss. That stupid, out of control kiss that had been haunting me every minute since. Every damn second.

The one thing I couldn’t believe wasn’t how good she had felt in my arms. Or the sweet relief I felt when I finally touched her. It was how she had kissed me back…

And she had kissed me back. Eagerly. Passionately. Without a shred of hesitation.

I closed my eyes and stood up. I had to get some head space on this. Everything was too mixed up. She was my responsibility now, not just a sexy girl that got my motor going.

I’d just avoid extreme proximity to her. I had to strong. Respect her boundaries. Just keep my distance.

While working and living with her, naturally.

And wanting to be as close to her as humanly possible.

No problem, right?

I cleared my throat. I knew I was doomed. But I didn’t care. It didn’t change a damn thing.

They were mine now. My family. My responsibility.

Mine.

“I’ve got to bring in some hot sauce. Be ready to go in ten.”

I could feel her eyes on me. I knew she was wondering what the hell was wrong with me. Sadly, that was the one thing I couldn’t tell her without laying my foolish heart on the table.

I headed to the basement to get a tub of my homemade hot sauce. We went through the stuff like water, so I cooked up a big batch at least once a month and froze some.

I needed to calm the fuck down if I was going to driving Shell and Pate to work.

The hinges creaked as I opened the freezer. My phone vibrated. I glanced at the screen.

Dammit. Not now.

It was Cain.

The meeting set for six at PJ’s.

I wanted to stay the hell away from club business. Especially now that I had two innocents under my roof. But I had promised Cain.

And I knew Cass and Connor were tied up in this business too. Plus, any blowback on me could hurt Michelle and Paton. None of that was acceptable.

I texted back quickly that I’d be there.

Then I grabbed a tub of hot sauce and headed back upstairs.