Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Some people are saying it’s the El Nino effect; according to the weatherman, it’s just a winter storm.”
Ignoring her, I walked over to where Aspen was bent over the kitchen table, her computer in front of her.
She was no longer on the phone, and her head was hung like she was contemplating her life…or murder. I wasn’t really sure which one at this point.
My guess would be murder.
Lucky for me and Danny she was stuck in the house. For now.
“I think it’s time to get a lawyer,” I murmured from behind her.
She jumped, a glass of some sort in her hands.
“What’s that?” I asked, pointing at it.
She got up and started pacing.
“It’s a bottle. Water bottle to be specific. The review for this is going on my blog today,” she explained, her teeth worrying her lip as she spoke. “And I know I need a lawyer. I just don’t know what the hell I’m doing right now.”
She sat down on the couch with a thud, the bottle-or whatever it was- falling to the floor in her annoyance.
“Let me take care of it,” I said softly, pulling her back up and into my arms.
She blinked, staring at me.
“Okay,” she agreed softly. “But, how will you take care of it?”
I grinned.
“Trust.”
She blinked.
“Trust?”
I nodded.
“Trust,” I confirmed.
She shook her head, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips to my jaw.
“You need to get ready for work. It’s bad out, and I don’t want you rushing to get there,” she whispered.
I nodded. Returned her kiss. Then smacked her ass.
She laughed as she backed up, back pedaling so I couldn’t give her any more of that, then turned towards he kitchen.
“I’ll make you a bagel to go,” she tossed over her shoulder.
I smiled, then turned back to my kid, who was watching me.
“What?” I asked her.
“I’m happy for you, that’s all,” she informed me softly.
I walked over to the arm of the couch and took a seat.
“You make any decisions?” I asked.
She shrugged.
“I want to keep it.”
I nodded, knowing that would be her decision.
“You know what kind of responsibility that is?”
Even though I asked her, I knew she’d have no clue.
No one could know what being a parent would be like until they actually became one.
The good thing, though, was that Attie would have me. She would have Aspen. She would have my parents, who just might flip their lids when they found out. And, ultimately, once Constance came around, she’d have her mother.
She would never, ever be alone.
Not if I was here to have a say in it.
Twenty minutes later, I was out the door, a warm bagel in my hand.
I snarled silently as my feet nearly slipped out from under me, then turned and glared at the two women that were currently laughing their asses off at my expense.
“Not funny, ladies,” I called out.
Attie waved and Aspen blew a kiss.
I caught it, like only a man in love would do, and started back down the driveway.
Movement from the yard to the side of mine had me glancing in that direction.
The kid from next door, Ellison, stood in his front yard and stared at me, hate filling his eyes.
I nodded at him, but didn’t receive a nod back.
And when his eyes flicked from me to the two pieces of my heart still standing at front door, his eyes turned…odd.
Then he smiled, making a chill race down my spine.
“Morning,” he murmured calmly.
I nodded at him, then kept walking.
I got in my truck, and breathed a sigh of relief when the girls went inside.
Ellison, though, didn’t.
He stayed where he was, looking at where they had been standing not moments before.
And I made a decision.
Pulling out my phone I sent Aspen a quick text.
Drew: Watch the kid across the street. He’s giving me the creeps.
Then I sent another to Raphael, a man that I wouldn’t have thought I’d find a friendship with due to the fact that he’d been holding a gun on me only two days before.
Drew: Kid’s giving me bad vibes. Will you please keep an eye on him for me?
Raphael: 10-4.
***
Twenty minutes before my shift started at the fire station, I found myself standing in the chief of police’s office. I nodded hello to both Luke and Downy.
“Pretty snazzy quarters you got here,” I said, taking a look around at Luke’s new office.
Luke rolled his eyes.
“Fucking ostentatious, isn’t it?” He asked. “My wife was responsible for this. She thought since I was the new chief, that I needed to have an office that was warm and inviting. Her and my kids spent the damn day here a couple of weeks ago making sure it was ‘just perfect’.”
My grin fell from my face as I sighed.
“I got a problem.”
He nodded. “Didn’t think you’d be here if you didn’t,” he said. “Hit me with your best shot.”