Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Spencer stared down at Hope who disappeared under his large hand. “I can’t believe this. I can’t believe she’s here. And I’m holding her.”
He could hear the rawness in his voice. Indie got up and then attempted to crouch by his chair. She winced.
“Do not even think about it,” he told her. “Go sit back down.”
“I wanted to kneel.”
“You just had a c-section two weeks ago,” he said. “You are not kneeling.”
“I’ll stand then.”
“Princess,” he growled. “Go sit.” He pointed at the sofa with his free hand.
She sighed. “Nope.”
Oh, she was getting herself in so much trouble.
“That sass is going to get your bottom warmed,” he told her.
Inde’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “You’re going to spank me?”
“Obviously not now. But it’s going in your naughty book. We won’t be neglecting that. There is going to be some reckoning.”
She pouted. “That’s not nice.”
“What’s not nice is the fact that you’re still standing here when you should be resting.” He made certain that his voice was firm.
She reached out to touch Hope’s head lightly. “Isn’t she the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen in your life?”
“Of course she is. She looks just like her mama.” He stared down at Indie, watching as tears entered her eyes.
She gave him a tremulous smile that he was grateful to see. He cupped the side of her face with his free hand. “So beautiful. I’m the luckiest man in the world. I never thought I’d have beauty like the two of you in my life.”
“Spencer,” she whispered.
“But you need to get sit down,” he added.
Indie rolled her eyes. Such a brat.
“I just needed to talk to you for a moment. To check in with you. Are you all right?” she asked.
“Me? Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?” But he couldn’t meet her gaze.
“Spencer, what’s going on?”
“Princess, that’s ten,” he growled.
“Spencer, I’m not moving until you tell me,” she said stubbornly.
He groaned. “Fuck. Fine. I didn’t want to say anything because you’re still recovering and you have a lot going on. I shouldn’t be burdening you with more stuff. But I . . . this happened on my watch. I came into the living room and found you on the floor, having a seizure. I’ve never known terror like that before, Princess. I was so scared. And I just keep thinking about whether I should have done anything differently—”
“Whoa,” she said. “What happened was not your fault. Even if you’d been right beside me it still would have happened. There was nothing you could have done.”
“Logically, I know that. It’s just going to take a while for it to sink in.”
“Make it sink in,” she told him. “This wasn’t on you. You’re the best man and Dada a girl could ask for. I love you.” She rested her cheek on his thigh.
He didn’t think that was true. Not yet, anyway. But he was determined to get there.
“I love you too. Now, sit before I make it thirty.”
“Thirty? What happened to twenty? We were only at ten.” She gave him a slightly shaky smile and he could tell she was getting tired.
“We passed ten a while ago.”
Rock opened the door and walked in. Good. Back up. Slade had already left for his meeting.
“Rock. Help Indie sit,” he barked.
Rock gave Spencer a surprised look as he saw him holding Hope. But he reached for Indie, wrapping an arm around her. She leaned against him.
“She wouldn’t sit,” Spencer told him.
“I’m fine,” Indie protested.
“Don’t lie,” Rock barked.
Indie gaped at him. Spencer understood. Rock wasn’t the bossiest or most dominant of them all. Slade was the big boss. Quaid was his right-hand. His enforcer. Rock was the watcher. Quieter. Calmer.
But he’d step in where needed.
And right now, it was definitely needed to get Indie to do as she was fucking told.
Rock carefully picked her up and carried her to the sofa, sitting with her on his lap and talking to her quietly.
Finally, Spencer felt like he could breathe again. He hated feeling torn between Hope and Indie. He really hated feeling helpless. It brought back memories of being at boarding school and feeling like he was fighting his enemies alone.
Until the guys came along.
His family. He fought for them and they fought for him.
And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Indie looked over at him and smiled. Then she held up her left hand, with the thumb, index, and pinky fingers held up, shaking it. Warmth flooded him before she pointed at her eye, then hugged her chest and pointed at him.
I love you.
67
Indie sat on the sofa next to Rock, resting against him. Spencer sat in a recliner across from them with Hope lying on his bare chest. She’d just gotten off the phone to Maggie before. Her best friend had wanted to fly over as soon as she’d heard that she’d had Hope, but they’d all managed to convince her not to. It wasn’t like anyone else could see Hope at the moment, anyway.