Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
I immediately zone in on their matching bathing suits. “Are those—”
“Yes, they are beavers,” Harley finishes my thought. “Jewls’ brothers thought it would be funny to send them.”
“Little do they know, I took pictures that will go in our Christmas card.” Jewls strips off her cover-up, grabs two of the floats from the wagon, and comes into the pool.
“I think they are adorable,” Willow offers.
“I love them, but my mom will have a stroke when all our friends and family receive our card with her precious babies wearing shorts with beavers. My enjoyment will be watching Huey and Duey get reamed out.”
“Huey and Duey are nicknames for her brothers,” I clarify.
Major hands off the boys one by one to get them in the floats, then removes his shirt, coming into the water.
“Why do I get the impression you plan to stay a while?” I grumble.
Harley giggles. “You were right, baby. This is fun. And I totally see the twinkle in his eyes.”
Ace sits next to her, taking her hand. “Told you.”
“Okay, we’ve been rude enough. You’ve met my husband, Major, I’m Jewls, and these are our demons, Levi and Koby.”
“You know Achilles, but I’m Harley.”
“I’m Willow.” There’s a hitch in her voice as she tries again to step out of my hold. I ease up enough for her to stand but keep her in my arms.
“We know.”
“Good to see you again, Willow.” Major smiles knowingly at her.
“Y-y-ou too.”
I drop my gaze to see her eyes darting between the ink on Major and Ace’s chests. She’s too polite to ask, but her curiosity is evident.
“We all have identical dates,” I explain softly, knowing this could be a landmine. Her apprehension about my career—past and present—is already an issue for her fears.
“Is there a significance?”
“Survival.” I brace for any reaction.
“That’s really… touching.” She skims her fingertip lightly over the sequence.
“How are you feeling, Willow? We heard what happened.” Harley swings the conversation.
“I’m great. It was a fluke thing.”
“Nothing about finding you lifeless and bleeding was a fluke,” I counter cooly.
“That was a bit dramatic. I fainted and bit my lip. All was well after a few hours.”
“Doesn’t sound dramatic to me. Surprised he let you out of the hospital without cause,” Ace throws in his two cents.
“That’s because you are a barbaric nutcase. Talon is more refined.” Harley rolls her eyes.
“I should be fine to go back to work on Friday,” Willow announces.
“Not happening.”
“Excuse me?”
“Not going back to work until next week.”
“Says who?”
“Me.”
She tries again to get free. “Did you get a medical degree in the last hour that I don’t know about?”
“Nope.”
“Then you have no right to dictate.”
“How’s that for being refined?” Ace gives a slow whistle, while Major chuckles.
“Oh boy, we just met, but heed my advice. It’s better not to argue with them when they are set on something,” Harley advises breezily.
“Yep, go with the flow,” Jewls agrees.
The three women exchange a look that is clear to read. Willow perks up. “You’re right, maybe next week.”
Fortunately, I’ve had enough time to read these women’s minds.
She’s not fooling me, but it’s not smart to rile her up while we have an audience. Not sure how much more neglect my dick can take.
“Harley, how are you feeling?” Willow nods to Harley’s stomach. “Ace told me you were pregnant the day I met Rowdy.”
Harley cuts her eyes to her husband with a sneer.
“I’m sorry, was I not supposed to know?”
Harley shakes her head. “No, I’m still mad at Achilles for that day. The men kept you a secret.”
“Blame Talon,” Ace throws me right under the bus.
“I’m not blaming Talon. You’re my husband and aren’t allowed to keep secrets. Talon having a girlfriend is a huge secret!”
“To his defense, I’m not sure I’m the girlfriend.”
There’s a beat of silence before all of them burst out laughing, setting off a chain reaction from the boys.
“Wish you would have held out a little longer. It was fun watching this asshole squirm,” Major jokes.
“I don’t squirm. And I had my reasons for keeping my business tight. This right here is a prime example.”
This is Rowan’s doing. Ford messaged me she was on her phone the instant they left the house. She was a wreck, not knowing what Willow overheard. Watching her run away, Rowan realized how her words may have been mistaken.
Ford had to physically carry her to his truck to intercept her from barging in and explaining.
Since she tipped off the other women Willow was here, I knew my time was limited. Which is why I asked the guys to stall and give me one day alone.
No such luck.
“Don’t you people have jobs?”
The guys are scheduled tomorrow night with me, but Jewls and Harley are typically at work during the day.
“I finished my appointments this morning.” Jewls’ job as a social worker went to a flexible schedule after the birth of the boys.