Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“What did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know. I’m too hungry to think.”
“Okay. I’ll give you three.” I thought for a minute, then said, “Chinese, pizza, or wings.”
“Can’t we get wings with pizza?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, then, that’s more like two choices.”
“Okay. Chinese, pizza and wings, or barbeque.”
“Pizza and wings.”
“Why didn’t you just say that?”
She shrugged. “I needed that third option to be sure.”
“Pizza it is.”
I pulled out my phone, placed the order, and got back to work on the boxes. I carried the ones I’d finished out to the burn pile and got busy clearing out the living room. I was still at it when the pizza arrived. We stopped long enough to eat, and then we were back at it.
Brooke continued in the kitchen, and I wrapped things up in the living room. Anslee was becoming whiny that she couldn’t get into the cabinet. Brooke let out a tired breath. “Someone’s not liking the safety locks on the cabinets.”
“I should’ve gotten them put in first thing. Then, she wouldn’t know what she’s missing.”
“We were pretty busy, and she’ll be fine. She’s just tired.”
“Want me to put her down?”
“Would you mind?”
“Are you kidding? I could use the break.”
“I wouldn’t get my hopes up,” she scoffed. “Grumpy pants isn’t going to be happy about giving up those pots and pans.”
“She’ll be fine.” I walked over and scooped Anslee into my arms. “Isn’t that right, peanut?”
And just like that, she smacked me with one of the lids and started wiggling to get down. Brooke giggled, but she didn’t intervene. She knew I could handle it. I pried the lid from her hand and set it on the counter, telling her, “You can have that back tomorrow when you make our pancakes.”
That didn’t win me any smiles, but she didn’t scream and cry either. I considered that a win. I took her to the nursery, changed her diaper, put on her PJs, and grabbed her favorite storybook. I could’ve just rocked her there, but I figured she’d be happier in the recliner.
I knew I would, so I carried her to the living room. After I got us settled, I opened the book and started talking in a low, steady voice. “Here we go, peanut.”
She didn’t fight me, but she didn’t exactly give in either. She was fighting it with all she had. She’d rub her eyes and yawn so hard I thought she’d pass out, then she’d perk right back up. Yeah, she was a stubborn little thing, and my God, I loved her for it.
She toyed with the collar of my T-shirt, her fingers absently twisting the fabric as she listened to me read. I kept reading, but I wasn’t even sure she was listening. I smiled and leaned down with my mouth close to her ear. “You know you’ve got me wrapped around your little finger, don’t ya?”
She blinked up at me with those bright blue eyes that looked so much like mine it still made my chest ache. She answered with a sleepy grin.
I shook my head and whispered, “Yeah, you ain’t even gotta try.”
I kept rocking her back and forth, listening to the old floorboards creak beneath my boots. After the last few weeks, the quiet didn’t feel real. There were no emergency meetings. No wondering who the Coyotes were gonna come after next. Chains was six feet under, along with every threat he’d tried to leave behind.
His kid was with his mother, and that was that.
Benson was free, and we made sure he was well taken care of.
Everything seemed to be back to normal, which gave me more time to spend with my girls, and I couldn’t have been happier about that.
Anslee let out another tiny yawn, and her little fingers finally let go of my shirt. I knew I had her then. Her eyelids fluttered once, and then she finally gave in. I kept rocking and just watched her sleep.
A couple months ago, I'd been worried about proving myself worthy of wearing a Fury patch. Now, I was a brother. I'd found the woman I'd loved since I was barely more than a kid. And I'd discovered I had a daughter who somehow managed to make me love her more every day.
There was only one thing that could make it better. Being careful not to wake Anslee, I stood and carried her down the hall, easing open the nursery door with my shoulder. I laid her gently in her crib, tucked the blanket around her tiny legs, and stood there for another minute just watching her sleep.
Before I walked out, I leaned down and whispered, "I love you, Peanut."
I quietly pulled the door almost closed before making my way back to the kitchen. Brooke was still in the kitchen, but she’d moved from the dishes to the utensils. She was so enthralled in putting them in exactly the right place that she didn’t even notice I’d come up behind her until I slipped my arms around her waist.