Hyde's Absolution (Sydney Storm MC 4)

Her gaze met mine and she jerked her chin at me. “This shit ain’t gonna cook itself.”

Monroe laughed, and I grinned. Fuck, she had to be mine. She’d even started talking like me. “Monroe’s ready to get acquainted with our kitchen.”

Charlie paused and gave me a look that said I had to be kidding. “Our kitchen is a little dirty for Monroe to cook in today. Someone didn’t clean it up when he came home last night.”

My heart thumped in my chest. This was Charlie letting me know we were good. Hell, it was her letting me know we were better than good.

I jabbed my finger at Monroe and then pointed at a stool. “You sit your gorgeous ass there.” I then jabbed it at Charlie. “And you get me the bacon and some plates. You can also set the table.”

She frowned. “Hate to tell you, but there’s no bacon left. I ate it all for dinner last night.”

I ignored the guilt that reared its ugly head again. I’d lived with guilt over Charlie for a long time, but she’d signalled that it was time to move on, so I would.

“Scrambled eggs are good,” Monroe said, watching Charlie and me with a happy expression.

I rattled off a list of ingredients for Charlie to grab, and a minute later, I started preparing breakfast for my girls. After fourteen years of living on my own, I hadn’t thought I’d ever want to live with anyone again. I’d thought wrong. I wanted to move them both in today.

“What are you thinking there, tiger?” Monroe asked while I watched her, contemplating that thought.

Charlie burst out laughing. “Tiger?”

Monroe grinned at her. “Yeah, he’s very growly when he’s being bossy. Have you noticed that?”

“God, yes! I guess that name kinda suits him.”

Monroe looked back at me. “So? Your thoughts?”

I met her gaze as I stopped chopping onions. Placing the knife down, I said, “I’m moving you in, red.”

She stared at me, surprised. I couldn’t tell if she liked that idea or not, but whether she came willingly or kicking and screaming, I’d make damn sure it happened.

“Really? Just like that?” she finally asked, with the attitude my cock liked.

“Yeah,” I growled. “Just like that.”

She glanced around the kitchen before looking back at me. “Well, we’d need to get rid of some of these old appliances and stuff. And we’d need to move mine in. I hope you’re ready for some colour in this place. And candles. And bras hanging in the shower. And my toys.” She frowned a little. “Might have to rethink that last one with Charlie living here, too.”

“Geez, you people don’t move slowly, do you?” Charlie said.

“Life’s too short to move slowly, kiddo,” I said.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Monroe turned to her. “Your dad told me you’re moving to Sydney. Are you okay with me living here with you guys?”

Charlie thought about that. “Yeah, I’m cool.” Looking at me, she said, “But do me a favour, Aiden?”

If I’d thought my heart thumped before, it fucking ricocheted around in my chest at that. We hadn’t discussed getting a paternity test yet, but she seemed to accept that I was her father as much as I believed she was my daughter.

I held my cool. I’d figured out teens weren’t so much into parents being excited about shit. “Depends what this favour is.”

“Don’t call me kiddo again. If you must call me something every now and then, you can call me baby. But don’t make a habit out of it, okay?”

Fuck.

Did she have any idea that what she’d just said to me was everything?

I jerked my chin at her. “Noted. Now fill the sink with detergent. You’ve got shit to wash up before we eat.”