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)
The sound of the woods echoed back. The rush of the wind through the trees and the faraway whoosh of the river.
Only it was suddenly broken by a high-pitched squeal that echoed from within the cabin.
Duke barked, clearly in a playful way rather than a predatory manner.
Also keeping watch while I was away.
No question, loving every damned second of it.
My dog was smitten. The little traitor hadn’t slept next to me where I was camped out on the couch since the first night they arrived. Refusing to leave their sides. A sentry standing guard.
Had to admit, I was proud of him.
Heaving out a sigh, I swung off my bike, doing my best to put all my guards back into place as I climbed the steps onto the porch and moved to the door.
I pulled my phone from my pocket, inputted the code for the alarm, and worked through the locks.
I stalled out when the door swung open.
Eva was screaming, running with her hands over her head through the living room.
Duke was barking, right on her tail.
Colin was behind them, rapid-firing Nerf bullets from this giant orange gun that was half his size.
Every pillow from the couch was scattered across the floor, and the chairs to the round dining table to the left were pushed back.
All except for the one that Addy sat in with pieces of the beading kit I’d impulsively tossed into the cart scattered over the tabletop, though I was pretty sure half the beads were spilled onto the floor.
I might have been irritated except this fuckin’ delicious scent was coming from the kitchen.
Cinnamon and sugar mixed with something savory frying on the stove.
Daisy looked up from where she stood at the island. Her hair was in a messy twist and an oversized sweatshirt was draped off one shoulder.
So damned gorgeous she knocked me in the knees. Made my fucking heart sprint out ahead of me like it was trying to outrun my conscience that warned she could never be mine.
She blew a breath from those plush, full lips, making a loose lock of hair flutter off her forehead as she gave me a look of apology.
“I thought you weren’t going to be back for an hour. I was going to clean up after I—”
“We make coo-kies, Big Gwumpy Giant!” Eva cut her off as she ran around the far side of the island, little feet pattering against the wood floor.
Fuck me. The nickname had stuck.
The tiny tot changed course and those arms that had been tossed over her head were suddenly aimed in my direction.
She threw herself around my right leg.
A little cling-on that I doubted I could shake off if I tried.
She let go of all her weight, grinning up at me as she bounced against my leg. “You wike coo-kies? You gotta have dinner fwirst.”
“Everyone likes cookies,” Addy said, so matter of fact, she might as well have tacked a duh onto the end.
Addy was still a bit wary of me. Watching me like I might turn out to be a beast.
The kid wouldn’t be wrong.
“I get ten cookies!” Colin suddenly turned his attack on me. Rubber-tipped foam bullets came at me in a blaze. Pelting me in the chest and stomach and legs, which of course meant Eva was getting pinged, too.
“No fair, Cowin! I in time-out!” Eva cried as she clung tighter to me.
Colin kept right on firing like he was in some kind of commando movie. A spray of bullets pelting in every direction.
I flinched when the kid popped one off that hit me in the cheek, eye squeezing tight at the onslaught of mayhem that hit me from every side.
“Oh my gosh, Colin! What do you think you’re doing?” Metal clattered as she tossed something to the counter before she raced around the island for her son.
That sweatshirt draping all over her slim frame, the tiniest cotton shorts barely peeking out from underneath.
Legs toned and her feet bare.
Toes painted white.
An electric shock to my senses.
Colin cackled. “You see that? I got him, Mom! Kapow, kaboom!”
Daisy gripped the end of the Nerf gun, pulling it to the side so she could steal Colin’s attention. “We don’t shoot people with your Nerf gun in the face, Colin. Remember?”
I finally shook myself out of the stupor and blew out a sigh. “That is on me. I’m the one who picked it for him. He’s bound to play with it.”
Had tossed in a few things that I knew my brothers’ kids liked to play with. Nolan, Maci, and Finn always trying to show me their favorite toys anytime I actually got swindled into hanging out.
Figured Daisy’s kids would probably like them, too.
Air wheezed out of Daisy’s nose. “I know. I just…” She trailed off and looked to the wall. The worry she constantly wore sagged her shoulders.