Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
I stretched my arms out to the sides as I turned toward her. “Sure am.”
“That’s really good because we gotta be with our very best friends.” She said it as she clambered down the steps and came racing to jump into my arms.
I picked her up and hugged her close as I inhaled her precious scent.
Drawing her goodness in, a thousand brand-new oaths made in a heartbeat as I held her.
It only magnified and lifted when I felt the presence slowly emerge from the house.
Both tentative and eager.
That thing that thrummed between us sparking to life. A vibrating glow in the afternoon light.
“Hey,” I said when Emery came to stand at the top of the porch steps, her stunning face and that tempting body basically obliterating my mind.
Words lacking because there just weren’t enough of them to describe what she did to me.
“Hey,” she whispered back.
“Better get on my way. Have things to catch up on at The Sanctuary.”
With Maci still in my arms, I turned to look back at Theo. “Thank you, brother, for being here.”
Sincerity deepened his expression. “I’m always here, Kane. For whatever you need and whatever that looks like.”
I gave him a tight nod. “I know.”
The jut of his chin felt like a pact.
“Thank you, Theo.” There was a speck of confusion in Emery’s words, not sure why I’d insisted that he be here.
“My pleasure,” he told her.
“I hope your dinner was your pleasure because it was so, so good!” Maci peeped.
Theo laughed a warm sound. “Dinner was definitely my pleasure. Bye, sweet thing.”
He ruffled tatted fingers through her hair.
“Bye, Uncle Theo!”
My heart skipped a beat, unsure where the sentiment had come from, but fuck, it sounded right.
My daughter becoming a part of this family even when she didn’t know it.
We watched as Theo climbed onto his bike, the powerful engine rumbling when he kicked it over then took it to the driveway.
When he disappeared around the bend, I turned, my footsteps slow as I eased up the steps. I stopped at one lower than Emery, bringing us face to face.
Toffee eyes swam with uncertainty. With all the questions that blazed between us.
“Missed you,” I said.
Didn’t fucking care that it was inappropriate.
Against all the rules that she was setting for us.
The fire between us made it clear what we were supposed to be.
Giggling, Maci grabbed my face in both her little hands. “I fink you missed bof of us.”
“Yeah, Angel Face, I definitely did.”
THIRTY
KANE
Me
Dinner was delicious. You didn’t have to do that, but I have to admit, I’m glad you did.
Little Warrior
It was nothing. I wanted to take care of you since you always seem to be taking care of us.
Me
Just imagine all the ways I’m really going to take care of you.
I sent it from where I lay in my bed, not ashamed for a second to launch the innuendo with it.
When it came to Emery Voss, mine had been ringing in my head on repeat. Mine when I had no right to make the claim, but it felt like it’d been purposed for me to do it, anyway.
Not because she was Maci’s aunt.
I was going to love that little girl with every beat of my heart for all my days, no matter the circumstances.
It was because of who Emery was.
Whatever I’d recognized in her in that beat of awareness the first time I’d seen her.
Her presence spearing through me, flaying me down to that sacred spot where I’d kept all the pain and loss shored. Where I’d convinced myself that I was so much better going it alone.
Living life without any attachments other than the ones that had been made to my family. Thinking I’d been given one purpose and that was the extent of what I deserved. Thinking I couldn’t shoulder the burden of loving because when that love was ripped away, it hurt too fucking bad.
But maybe I’d known it in that second.
In that hammering of one single moment.
One thing I knew for sure? It was the way my pulse went erratic when my phone finally blipped with a response.
I’d been tiptoeing since I’d gotten back yesterday.
Giving Emery a moment to wrap her head around what had happened between us on the phone while I’d been away.
Little Warrior
Are you trying to sweet talk me right now?
The night seeped in through the windows though I was wide fucking awake.
Very aware that she was only twenty feet down the hall. Every ounce of restraint I possessed kept me locked behind closed doors.
But we needed this.
For her to get me.
To know me.
To trust me.
I was the last fucking guy on the planet she should since I was telling so many lies, but I didn’t know how to let her in on who I really was.
It was dangerous pulling her into it.
Both for her and my crew.