Page 161 of Dust Storm

“There’s my girls,” Christian said as he scooped up his teenager and spun her around. “I missed you.”

I hugged Gracie. “You and me next time.”

“I missed you,” she said as she buried her head into me.

“I swear you grew ten inches in four days.”

She laughed.

“Come here, you,” Christian murmured as he slid his hands around my waist and tilted his head, leaning in for a kiss. “I missed you.”

The girls squealed as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. Christian’s lips were warm and tasted like mint.

“Promise me you won’t leave again,” he said quietly.

“That much work for you, huh?” I gave him one last kiss.

He chuckled. “No, I just don’t like sleeping alone.”

“Fair.”

Christian moved in for another kiss, but I pressed my hands to his chest. “Sir, we are in an airport.”

“Like I care,” he clipped, then dipped me all the way back, sliding his tongue along mine.

“Dad!” Gracie shrieked.

His soft grunt as he stole my breath made fire explode inside of me.

“I love you,” he said quietly as he helped me back to my feet.

“I love you too.”

“Dad! Look at my hair!” Bree spun around and gave it a fluff. “Miss Cass took me to her favorite salon and I gothighlights!”

Christian’s eyes welled up at the sight of Bree’s hair. It was just a little trim and a few foils, but she did look more grown-up.

“You look beautiful, baby,” he said, running his hand down the back of her head. “You look just like your mom.”

I squeezed his hand.

Christian pressed a kiss to my temple. “Thank you.”

“It was fun,” I said honestly. “I think we bonded.”

“Miss Cass, do you wanna watch a movie tonight?” Gracie asked. “I missed you.”

“We can do that,” I said. “And—you know—you can just call me Cassandra. Or Cass. You don’t have to call meMissCass.”

Christian’s arms tightened around me as Bree and Gracie nodded.

We waited around the luggage carousel as suitcases came out one-by-one. Bree rambled non-stop about the trip while Christian held me against his chest.

The drive to the ranch was filled with comfortable silence. Bree, tired from our early wake-up call to get to LaGuardia, crashed the moment Christian pulled onto the highway.

I sat in the front with my hand twined around his, resting my head on his thick arm.

The sun was setting by the time we arrived at the house. Christian carried the bags in, grumbling about how much heavier they were than when we had left for New York.

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