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9.

It took him a good five seconds to recover before regarding her calmly. "Hey, Natali. I was just making some breakfast. You're welcome to join us."

If looks could have killed, Bradley had little doubt he'd be dead on the very spot where he stood.

"No thank you," the dark haired woman tossed out witheringly. "And you haven't answered my question. Why are you here?"

Clearing his throat, Bradley focused on whisking the lone egg in the bowl into a fluffy peak. "Stefani didn't tell you she and I were seeing each other?"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Of course she did. I didn't know it was serious, though. Like sleeping over serious. You are aware she was just engaged a few months ago, right?"

He didn't know how to respond and thankfully he didn't have to because Stefani walked into the kitchen then, clad in lounge shorts and a tank top, holding Lea on her hip, the dogs trailing in behind them.

Shooting her sister a pointed look, she turned to Bradley. "This little lady was calling for you. I think she woke up and she didn't know where she was. We had some tears, huh, pumpkin?"

Lea buried her face into Stefani's neck and she kissed the top of her head. "It's good now, sweetheart. We found him."

Bradley took his daughter into his arms, rubbing her back. "Sorry, love. Didn't mean to disappear. I bet you forgot we weren't at home."

Solemnly, she nodded. "You weren't here." Her lower lip jutted out and he cradled her cheek.

"I know and I'm so sorry. That must have been really scary for you. But," he looked into blue eyes that mirrored his own, "I came downstairs because I wanted to surprise you and Stefani with breakfast. Scrambled eggs and English muffins and some fruit."

Brightening, Lea looked to Stefani questioningly. "Strawberries?"

Stefani laughed, laying her hand on the little girl's arm. "I think that can be arranged."

Bradley observed Natali silently watching the scene play out in front of her, her expression blank.

"Love, do you think you can help me rinse off the fruit?" After she nodded in agreement, he carried her over to the kitchen table, settling her into a chair. He brought her a bowl of water to soak the variety he pulled from the refrigerator, along a stack of paper towels to dry. Rising to sit on her knees, she went about her task diligently.

"Nat, what are you doing here? It's barely seven." Stefani asked quietly. "You know you could have called."

"You asked me to meet you here, remember? You just about begged me to come to the photo shoot this morning with you. And when I complained 7:30 was an ungodly hour, you bribed me with breakfast." Her eyes narrowed. "Which I can see is being taken care of already."

"Shit," she muttered, her hand swiping over her brow. "Sorry," she looked over, making sure Lea hadn't heard. "I completely forgot. I think Ashley overslept, too. She was supposed to give me a wake-up call."

"She did. In fact, she called several times. We both did. Since I was meeting you anyway, I told her I'd come over now to make sure you weren't dead." Her eyes drifted from her sister to Bradley and back to Stefani again. "I didn't know we were having a sleepover, Stef. I would have brought my pajamas." Her words were flippant.

"Oh, c'mon, Natali, stop," Stefani shook her head. "We're all adults."

"Bradley here was just telling me things were serious." Natali faced him. "No offense, dude, but she isn't the position right now for anyone to be taking advantage of--"