Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Fuck.
I guess I should’ve expected that. I mean, why would a woman like Baker want a man like me? We’d already established that she was too good for me.
I grimaced as I straightened my spine, resolve and determination taking root inside of me.
Maybe if she spent time with me when she was “healthy” I could show her the value that I brought to the table.
Maybe…
“Shad…”
“Please,” Shad begged. “Frieda’s fuckin’ beside herself with how she’s acted. But Baker’s so goddamn stubborn, like her. Neither one of them is gonna give in, and I gotta figure it out.”
“I’ll see if I can sneak in a conversation about that,” I said. “But I’m not pushing her. If she doesn’t want to talk about it, I’ll drop the subject immediately.”
He sighed. “That’s all I can ask for I guess.”
“I’m walking out the door,” I said. “I’ll keep you updated.”
The walk from my front door to hers was short.
I didn’t bother to hide my arrival because I knew Audric was in there with Lottie, distracting her from my arrival.
I did, however, roll the bike out of the garage and down in front of her house so she wouldn’t overthink things.
She wouldn’t hear me pull up, but she’d chalk that up to not paying attention and being distracted.
I knocked on her door, and Audric answered with a knowing grin.
“Copper,” he drawled. “I’m surprised I didn’t hear you pull up.”
I flipped him off and pushed inside, seeing both of the kids on the floor.
Holt’s head flipped my way, and he immediately was waving his hands.
I walked over to him and lifted him into my arms while Lottie watched on.
Lottie was a cute kid, but my eyes were all for Holt as I pulled him into my arms and gave him a squeeze.
“Hey, kid,” I said softly into his ear.
“Dadadada,” he repeated, just like he always did when he saw me.
Fuck.
It made my heart physically ache to hear him call me that.
“Copper?”
I looked up and the breath exploded from my lungs at what I saw.
Baker’s hair was curly and wild, just like I loved it.
She had on a hip-hugging, knee-length skirt that left nothing to the imagination, a black top that blended into the black skirt, and gold jewelry that I’d bought her.
Not that she knew that I’d bought it for her.
It was yet another one of those special deliveries.
Big gold hoops that I’d caught her admiring in a shop window on her walk to the park with Holt.
Gold chained necklace that dipped down low, almost to her belly button.
And gold bangles at her wrist, something that I’d also noticed her check out, though only because she’d noticed it on a post and clicked on the website and left it up on her computer.
She looked fucking beautiful.
But the icing on the cake was the black heels with the red bottoms that I’d observed her admiring on a woman who was at the park with her kid during a lunch break.
She’d oohed and awed over them for ten minutes to herself.
“You look beautiful,” I said, unable to stop myself.
Baker’s face flushed. “Thanks. You look handsome yourself.”
Holt took my face and plastered his entire mouth over my nose, causing me to laugh and pull him gently away. “That’s kind of gross, Holt.”
He babbled some more.
“Can I see him for a minute?” she asked.
I handed her son over to her, and watched as she smothered him with affection, so different from the woman that I’d met just a few short months ago.
It was refreshing and real, and the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen in my life.
“Be good for Uncle Audric, Holty,” she ordered. “He’s new to this two baby thing.”
“He’ll be good,” I said as I took him from her again and whispered in his ear. “Don’t make me a liar, Holt Matthew.”
He squealed in delight and threw himself at me, once again going for my nose.
I grinned and placed him down on the ground next to Lottie and gave her a little belly rub which elicited a smile.
When I stood, it was to see Baker watching me with an intensity that I couldn’t quite read.
“You’re good with him,” she said, eyes taking me in. “Like you’ve done it a thousand times before.”
“Nieces and nephews,” I lied.
I spent time with Holt almost every single night.
Sometimes he was awake when I did that. Sometimes he wasn’t.
But I got my quality time with her kid no matter what.
One of my favorite places to be was in the chair in her living room, rocking away with him in my arms.
“Ready?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Is the bike okay?” I asked. “I brought you a thing to go over your hair before you put the helmet on.”
At her careful nod, I pulled out a silk bonnet that Keely had suggested that I use for Baker’s hair.
Baker’s eyes went soft.