Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Colin jumped to his feet and dropped the watermelon rind to the blanket. “That one was really good, but I bet I can kick it farther!”
“Then you’d better get over here and show us,” Theo called as he swooped Finn down to rebound the ball. The adorable toddler cracked up as Theo flew him low and helped him kick it.
“You better watch out because I’m the super fastest,” Colin returned.
“Not even, Colin. You know I run way faster than you,” Addy chastised like she couldn’t believe he’d dare dream otherwise.
“I fastest!” Eva tried to keep up with Addy as her big sister went running toward the ball to intercept it.
Charleigh emitted a soft laugh. “Oh, I bet you have your hands full with the three of them.”
“They definitely keep me on my toes,” I said lightly before I admitted, “I couldn’t imagine my life any other way, though.”
Tenderness filled Charleigh’s expression. “No, there is no better sound than children’s footsteps and voices in your house. Even when they’re unruly.”
“Hope we have a whole slew of them running amok one day.” River’s deep voice was low with significance. He moved, sitting close to her so their shoulders touched as they watched the children play.
She let go of a dreamy sigh. “My heart hopes so, too.”
Feeling like I was intruding, I let my gaze wander, but it only wandered to him. To Cash, whose features morphed between gentle awe and abject fear as he watched my children.
My insides trembled. My own fear and awe wobbling out.
He glanced my way with that potent gaze. As if he felt the weight of my stare and the need that blustered out with it. I bit down on the inside of my cheek and jerked my attention away.
Crap.
What was I doing?
But I didn’t know how to stop this slow slide of giving. The way with each second, my reservations were being whittled away.
Theo suddenly hustled the whole horde of children toward our spot.
“It’s family game time,” Nolan shouted. “We picked hide and seek! You gotta be on my team, Daddy-O!”
River chuckled. “You want me on your team, huh?”
“Yup, because you know what my Momma-Dog says. You’re the stealthy sneaker.”
River sent Charleigh a glance that was riddled with a secret message I couldn’t decipher, before he slowly pushed to his feet. “Sounds good to me.”
“I’m on my mommy’s team!” Maci shouted.
“What? You don’t want me on your team?” Kane feigned offense.
She giggled like mad. “No way, Daddy, we gotta be separate so you can find us.”
Easy laughter rippled out of him as he stood then stretched out his hand to help Emery up. Something deep rolled out with his words. “Either of you ever go missing, I won’t stop until I find you.”
Theo reached for Piper. “Up you go, Pipes. It’s you and our Little Finn-Finn.”
“You find me?” Finn drawled in his adorable voice as Theo passed him to his mom.
“That’s right. I’m definitely going to find you.”
“I’m on my Mr. Cash’s team!” Colin shouted at Cash, who still lingered in the distance.
I could only feel the grunt that rolled out of him. The way the air trembled and the ground seemed to quake below.
“I’ll give you five bucks if you can actually get that grump to play.” Kane’s eyes gleamed as he issued the challenge.
“My Big Gwumpy Giant!” Eva smacked her chest. Claiming the man who, with each day, was claiming me. Or maybe I’d just forgotten that I’d always been his.
“Mr. Cash wants to be on my team, don’t you, Mr. Cash?” Colin shouted toward him.
Cash had that terrified look in his eyes again.
“I…uh…” He roughed a big hand over his head. “Usually sit these types of things out.”
“Please, please, please! You gotta play with us!” Addy suddenly darted in his direction, running across the field and grabbing hold of his hand.
It seemed a proclamation. That Addy had finally fully given. Distrust no longer in her eyes when she looked at him.
“I want my giant!” Eva jumped.
Uncertainty gushed from him on waves.
My heart nearly exploded when he relented and let Addy tow him toward us.
Otto whistled low. “Tell me the rest of you are actually seeing this?”
“Oh, I see it, brother, but I’m not sure I believe it.” Baffled, Kane blinked.
Addy jogged in our direction with Cash lumbering behind her. “Mom! You gotta hide, and we’re gonna have to find you.”
“Oh…”
Raven grabbed me by the forearm. “Don’t even try to get out of this. Family game means everyone.”
“And we never leave our family out!” Colin shouted, that precious grin directed at me.
My chest squeezed. “I wouldn’t dare miss this.”
“Looks like my Little Luna is going to have her first game of hide and seek,” Otto said in a gentle voice that still tumbled and shook in his chest. “Come to Daddy, my princess.”
She gave him a gurgled, toothless smile, that black hair so soft around her porcelain face. Nothing but dimples and chubby cheeks.