Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Rose had pulled her miniature rocking chair into the kitchen to watch Sage make breakfast. The soft creak of Rosie rocking her wooden chair told Sage the girl was anxious.
Grady had laid down the law at breakfast yesterday after Rose tried to bolt from the table without finishing her eggs. He told her, “Once you’re in that chair, little miss, you stay put until your plate is clean. No exceptions. And I want you to answer with your words when Miss Sage asks you a question.”
Sage smiled to herself, biting her lip and silently answering, Yes, Daddy. I remember.
Even thinking about his firm tone made her tummy do flips. She loved it when he got all strict and growly. It made her feel Little and safe and a tiny bit naughty all at the same time.
She busied herself with taking a butter knife from the drawer, all the while hoping her brave girl would answer.
“Strawberry jam… please,” Rose answered, her voice still husky from disuse but growing stronger every day. Every syllable was more beautiful than a whole choir of angels singing.
Sage grinned so wide her cheeks hurt. She turned just enough to wink over her shoulder at Rosie. “Strawberry jam it is. Good job, sweetheart. That sounded real pretty.”
Rose’s cheeks pinkened up adorably, but she didn’t duck her head the way she had a few days ago. Instead, she picked up her fork and poked at her scrambled eggs. Where there had been only sadness before, Sage was beginning to see more and more joy in everything Rose did, even eating eggs.
She is my heart. Sage didn’t think she’d ever get tired of seeing Rosie’s smile. So, what was she going to do at the end of the summer, if Rose didn’t need her anymore?
Nope.
Her brain shut that down immediately. No need to worry about something that would happen that far down the road. Grady had said they would discuss it when the time came. She would just have to trust him.
The screen door banged open, and Grady’s boots thumped across the floor. Sage’s stomach did that familiar happy swoop it always did when he walked into a room. He had it all. Tall, broad-shouldered, and smelling like the most masculine man alive. If he could bottle that scent of his, he’d make a million dollars.
He dropped a kiss on the top of Rose’s wavy hair, then moved behind Sage, sliding one big hand around her waist. Rose giggled when he pressed a slow, warm kiss to the side of Sage’s neck.
“Mornin’, Wildfire,” he murmured against her skin, voice low enough that only she could hear. “You smell like vanilla and trouble. My two favorite things.”
She leaned back into his solid chest for just a second, savoring the heat of him and allowing his big hands to lift her against him. This had been their routine for the past week and had become her favorite part of every morning.
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Daddy,” she whispered back, her voice a little breathy. “But right now I’m busy making sure Rose eats her breakfast like a big girl.”
Grady chuckled, the deep sound rumbling through her and straight down between her thighs. “Good. Because I’ve got plans for us later.”
He gave her hip a slow, possessive squeeze that made her tummy flutter before he let go and sat down in a chair at the breakfast table. Turning to Rose, he asked, “How’s my best girl this morning? You want to join me over here at the table?”
Rose dutifully took the plate off her lap and moved from the rocking chair to a place across from Grady. She looked up at him, eyes bright and proud. “Good, Pa. Sage is making strawberry jam toast.”
Grady’s eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise and pleasure. Sage sat beside Rose, placing her own plate and a platter of toast on the table. The look he gave Sage across the table said, “We’re winning, babygirl,” and her heart melted into a warm puddle right there on the seat.
“I see,” he said, leaning forward on his elbows. “You tell her what you wanted with words?”
Rose nodded, then caught herself and said clearly, “Yes, Pa. I said strawberry jam.”
Grady’s grin could have lit up the whole house. “That’s my brave girl. I’m real proud of you.”
Sage had to bite her lip to keep from beaming like an idiot. This man. The way he loved his daughter, the way he looked at her when she spoke, the way he looked at Sage when he thought she wasn’t paying attention. It made her feel soft and Little and cared for all at once.
She reached over to the platter and placed a piece of strawberry toast on Rose’s plate first and then put one on hers. With her bottom still carrying the faint, tender ache of last night’s spanking, every little throb reminded her exactly who she belonged to. There was nowhere else in the world she wanted to be.