Rugged Daddy

CHAPTER 13

CAMERON

I woke up to a phone call from Audrey’s school telling me that it was closed for the day. Some idiotic teacher assembly or something like that. Fuck. I was supposed to train with Brad, and I had nowhere to take my daughter. I got on my phone and started looking up other daycares in the area, seeing if they had a drop-off policy. I couldn't miss my training session with him. It was the only thing keeping me rooted after the terrible trip I’d taken with Hudson.

I thought I’d be returning to the mountain able to live my life again and able to tell Heather who I was and what had happened in my life. But all I came back with were more questions. The FBI didn’t give Hudson the green light to intervene and do anything about their chatter regarding me, so all we did was sit on our asses for an entire month while Audrey demolished Hudson’s place. It was bullshit. They were talking about me and trying to figure out what the fuck I was doing with my life, and I couldn't do anything about it.

The only thing I could do, Hudson said, was ramp up my training. Keep vigilant about what I was doing. Keep my head down and try not to kick up any drama that could put me on someone’s radar. Which was easier said than done, especially since Heather was pregnant now. That would mean doctor’s appointments, which meant my name would be on records. It meant going into baby shops to look for things, which meant I would be on surveillance footage that could be pulled. I could mitigate a few of those things, like picking up Heather and bringing her to my place instead of her taking a damn taxi, but I couldn't mitigate all of them.

“Good morning, Andrew.”

“Hey there, beautiful,” I said. “Listen, I have a favor to ask.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just Rebecca.”

“Has something happened?”

“Her preschool isn’t operating today, and I have a training session with a friend of mine.”

“Oh, a training session. Learning how to kick ass?” she asked.

“Basically. He’s expecting me in forty-five minutes, and I have nowhere to take Rebecca.”

“Well, I’m at the bakery already, but she’s more than welcome here.”

“You’re not busy or anything?” I asked.

“Even if I was, I can pull up a chair for her at one of the tables in my kitchen and let her play. Bring some things to keep her occupied, and she’s more than welcome here.”

“Thank you so much. I owe you big time.”

“You could cook dinner for me again tonight.”

“Already cashing in the favor, I see. You drive a hard bargain.”

“I’ve been known for my shark-like negotiation skills.”

I chuckled into the phone as I leaned against the kitchen counter. “Dinner tonight it is. I’ll pick you up after you shut down the bakery, and I’ll drive you myself.”

“A cook and a personal driver. What’ll you come up with next?” Heather asked.

“Get me in the right mood, and you’ll experience it firsthand.”

I heard her draw in a deep breath as the veins in my groin jumped.

“I’ll see you guys soon. And bring her hungry. I just put in a batch of cinnamon rolls.”

“Oh, she’ll love that. I’ll pack up some of her things and be on my way.”

I packed up some of Audrey’s things as she sat at the kitchen table. I knew she was waiting for breakfast, but I knew she would enjoy Heather’s breakfast a little better. I packed a coloring book with some crayons, her favorite stuffed animal, and a puzzle she’d become obsessed with, and then I went and gathered my daughter in my arms.

“No breakfast?” she asked.

“How would you like to have breakfast with Heather?” I asked.

Her eyes lit up as her arms slung around my neck. “I get to see Miss Heather?”