Caleb held out a hand to help her up. "I think we should spend the night here. By morning, it should be cleared up outside. Criminals stick together. As soon as Kaid raises the alarm that my daughter and fiancé were almost harmed, everyone will be on guard and that guy will likely be in the basement by noon tomorrow,"
Briar nodded and began to stand up stumbling forward a bit.
Caleb caught her. "Woah there! Careful Baby. Come on." He slipped his arm around her waist. "Let's head to the kitchen, and I'll make dinner."
"Alright" was all briar said as she layed a head onhis shoulder.
Caleb held Lizzie in one arm and kept Briar leaning against him. His heart was racing, a brilliant smile on his face. He led them into the kitchen and set Lizzie down on the table, ruffling her head. Then he kissed Briar and led her to a chair. "I love you…"
"I love too" Briar said with a small smile.
Caleb hugged her close before letting her sit. He pulled out some pots and pans. "What do you guys want?"
Briar put her head on the table "Whatever you want darling" she said.
Caleb looked at Lizzie. "Hear that? Momma's put you at my mercy." He chuckled, pulling out a package of hamburger from the fridge. "Hope ya like spaghetti, Squirt!"
Briar chuckled lightly at the nickname.
Caleb started the water boiling and frying the meat. "What do you guys generally do for dinner?"
"Precooked meals" she said with a sigh.
Caleb felt sympathetic. "That must suck. Hopefully, you won't have to do that anymore. This'll be a nice change for you. You'll have to give me a list of Lizzy and your favorite meals."
"I'll get right on that" she teased.
Caleb raised an eyebrow and pulled a legal pad out of a drawer and tossed it and a pen in front of Briar. "Well, there you go…"
He grinned, chuckling as he flipped the meat.
"I was kidding" she said with an eyeroll.
Caleb stuck a tongue out at her. "Lazy." He stirred the noodles, checking a timer.
"Excuse me before I shot you I was on a car chase and I had to get out and run after the guy."
Caleb turned the burners down low and picked her up, sitting in her seat and swinging her into his lap. He nuzzled her cheek. "When was this car chase? I'm assuming you caught my friend, by the way?"
"I caught a old perverted man who take female and seduce them" she said "and it was an hour before I found you".
Caleb shuddered. "Oh, Old Inccu? Yeah, that bugger was a creep."
"your telling me I went under cover and that guy cannot keep his hands to himself."
Caleb's eyes flashed. "Did he touch you?!"
"Perhaps" was all briar said.
Caleb growled. "That little-" He slammed another pot onto the stove.
"Caleb calm down" she said.
Caleb just leaned over, taking deep breaths, his knuckles white as they clutch the edge of the counter.
Briar stood up and walked over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders.
Caleb turned around and held her. "Sorry.. just…"