Counting Sheep

Chapter 20

Hazel nodded, her way of saying she slept well and Layla was surprised.

While Hazel had some nights better than others, there hadn't been a single night where she had been completely free from her night terrors. It confused Layla slightly and she wondered why last night Hazel hadn't had any nightmares.

Was it because they were with Julian?

Did Hazel perhaps feel safer having the large man to protect them?

Layla only sighed and cuddled the girl closer. "Well, I'm glad you slept good, sweetie."

Hazel nodded again against Layla's chest and just as Layla was about to speak again, a long loud growl came from Hazel's stomach.

Layla widened her eyes and pulled back slightly to meet the little girl's gaze. "Well, someone sounds hungry!"

Blushing, Hazel smiled and nodded her head. Layla patted her back and moved to get up, throwing her legs over the side of the bed before pulling her robe on over her shoulders. She held out her hand after Hazel jumped from the bed. "Ready?"

The little girl nodded and hand-in-hand they walked from the back bedroom.

Layla bit her lip nervously and found that Julian was still passed out on the couch, laying on his stomach with his long, large arm hanging off the side of it.

Hazel saw him and tugged at her hand until Layla reluctantly let her go.

Quietly, the little girl creeped over to the big man, her head cocking to the side as she examined him from the top of his head, to the tips of his toes.

She looked at Layla and wrinkled her nose, making Layla try to hold back her laugh as she nodded her head and wrinkled her nose, too, whispering, "He does need a change of clothes, huh?"

Hazel nodded her agreement once again before returning to stare at him, her wide eyes filled with curiosity and wonder.

Her eyes came rest to on the large bandage covering Julian's arm and she looked up at Layla with a silent question.

"Yes, he is okay, honey. Now, don't wake Mister Julian. He had a long night. What do you want for breakfast?"

Hazel quickly padded around the couch before running into the kitchen, her face alight with a childish delight that Layla was beyond happy hadn't been ripped from her completely when she watched her mother be murdered.

She opened the fridge and pulled out what she wanted and from the amount of food she grabbed, the little girl seemed to be wanting a feast.

Bacon, eggs, sausage, hash-browns, along with sliced fruit.

But Layla didn't mind. She was just happy the little girl had a twinkle in her eye and a glow to her face.

Almost immediately after she had picked the food out, she turned and ran to go back to the couch where Julian was. Layla shrugged and began to cook.

As she did so, she couldn't help but think of the previous night. The look in Julian's eyes as she had tended to his cut had long kept her awake after she had climbed into bed beside Hazel.

First, the overwhelming longing, want and need that had been his gaze had nearly been her undoing.

Then, it was almost as if his eyes had glazed over and she had the distinct feeling that he hadn't been mentally with her in that moment.

It was almost like he had been remembering and when he had finally focused back on her, there had been a clarity in his beautiful ice-blue eyes that she hadn't seen before.