Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Not happening. Not on his watch.
“Laken, we’ve talked about this,” Duncan said. “If you need to go up and down the stairs, you get someone to help you.”
“I am not an invalid,” Laken stated.
Eli gave her a firm look. “You need to sit.”
Laken threw her hands up into the air. “You’ve all lost it.”
A car headed up the driveway.
“Wyatt and Carson,” Duncan murmured.
The car stopped and their oldest brothers got out. Eli wondered for the first time why it was only Duncan who had found his girl.
Well, he and Kellan had now. She just didn’t know that. And Kellan still seemed to be in denial. Even though he’d been right there for the kiss.
They had to find a way to get her to talk to them. To get her to see that she could trust them.
“Jesus, you two have gone gray,” Eli joked. “You look like old men.”
“Yeah, we should get them a rocking chair each,” Duncan said.
“Here, sit down,” Joe said, getting to his feet and gesturing to the chair he’d been sitting on. “Duncan, I don’t think they should use the stairs either. They might trip and break something.”
Carson grabbed Joe, putting him into a headlock. “I’ll show you that this old man can still take you down.”
“Oh, it’s on!” Remington cried.
Suddenly, it was a free-for-all. Eli jumped into the brawl with a whoop and a grin.
Sometimes a man just had to let go and punch one of his brothers in the face.
“Get off the porch and away from my wife!” Duncan yelled at them.
They moved it onto the front yard.
A few minutes later, cold water splashed on them all and Eli looked up with a yell. Kellan was standing there with the hose.
“What?” Kellan asked as they glared at him. “I’m watering a pile of idiots. It’s for your own good.”
Duncan snorted and Shaw shook his head.
“Damn, haven’t had that much fun in ages and you go and interrupt it,” Wyatt complained.
“There’s always one killjoy,” Joe said as they all separated, getting up and brushing themselves off. Eli noticed that Carson was limping slightly and that Joe had a ripped shirt.
Good times.
“Hey, who has heard from Pierce and Tucker?” Wyatt asked as they sat down with beers Duncan grabbed for them.
“I’ve heard from Pierce. He’ll come visit when his tour takes a break,” Remington said.
“Tucker is another story,” Eli added. “Kellan hired someone to find him, but they haven’t tracked him down yet. We might need to go down to Costa Rica.”
Kellan nodded.
“Wyatt and I could go,” Carson offered.
“How long have you got off?” Duncan asked in surprise as he settled on a seat and drew Laken into his lap.
“Actually, we aren’t going back,” Wyatt said. “We quit.”
“We’re tired of the hours and the lack of a home,” Carson added.
“What are you going to do?” Eli asked in surprise. He hadn’t expected this.
“Don’t know,” Wyatt said. “Maybe buy a house and find someone to grow old with.”
“Too late,” Joe muttered.
“You better close your mouth.” Wyatt pointed at Joe who just grinned.
“Could be dangerous looking for Tucker,” Kellan warned.
“We’re up for a challenge,” Carson said. “Although we’re actually here to see Shaw.”
Shaw waved his hand through the air. “I’m doing well. You really didn’t have to come. I mean, who knew that me getting hooked on opioids and ending up on the streets would unite us all?”
Duncan slapped Shaw around the head. “Shut up. But yeah, let’s not wait until something like that happens again.”
Joe nodded. “I miss you guys.”
Eli’s phone rang and he glanced down at it. “It’s our boss.”
Damn it. His boss never called with good news.
You’re an idiot.
That was the conclusion that she’d come to after a good night’s sleep and a long lecture to herself.
She’d acted really immaturely. Instead of being an adult and talking to the guys about that kiss, she’d made their brother get rid of them.
Because she’d been embarrassed.
So this morning, she’d put her big girl panties on and headed to the hotel. Maybe she should have just texted them, but some things were better said in person.
Climbing out of her car, she grabbed Horse’s lead and walked into the hotel. Heading up to their rooms, she stilled as she saw the door open and cleaners inside.
“Hey there,” one woman said to her cheerfully. “Everything all right?”
“Um, I was looking for the man staying in this room. Eli?” she asked.
“Oh, handsome guy. He checked out, I’m afraid.”
“Did he go to another room?” she asked.
“Don’t think so. Heard him say something about going home when I saw him in the hall. Are you all right? Do you need any help?”
“No, I’m fine. I’ll just . . . leave now. Thanks for all your help.”
She rushed out of the hotel with Horse by her side and back into her car.
She leaned her forehead against the steering wheel.