Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37508 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37508 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Baylor’s eyes were closed when she muttered, “Did it hurt?”
“Yeah, it hurt something awful. Tore up my arm and the back of my thigh. Bruised a couple of ribs, too. But Pop heard it and came running. He grabbed me up and got me to Doc, and I got all patched up.”
She didn’t respond. She lay there all still and quiet like a little angel. I lowered my voice even more as I said, “After that, the brothers started calling me Skid. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but I didn’t say anything. I just kept riding. I had another tumble or two, and I figured the name suited me after all.”
I gave her hand one last squeeze and laid it on the bed next to her as I whispered, “Night, sleepyhead.”
I was careful not to wake her as I stood and made my way over to Laken. She gave me a soft smile as she said, “You’re good with her.”
“She makes it easy.” I leaned in and kissed her before adding, “Her momma does, too.”
She stepped closer and whispered, “I’m not ready for the night to end. You want to watch a movie or something?”
“Yeah, a movie sounds good.”
I followed her into the living room, and we both settled on the sofa. Laken grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. She started flipping through the channels, and I used the opportunity to take another good look around her apartment. It was warm, in that lived-in way, and the little touches of Laken went a long way.
But it was small. Too small, and it wasn’t exactly safe. The deadbolt was loose, and the lighting outside was dismal at best. I held no judgment against Laken for the state of the place. She’d gone above and beyond to make sure she kept a roof over their heads and food on the table, and she’d done it all on her own.
There aren’t many who could pull it off, but she had. And she’d managed to raise a hell of a kid in the process. That thought had me leaning over and kissing her, soft and slow. When I pulled back, she gave me a look and asked, “What brought that on?”
“Just thinking about how incredible you are.”
“Well, you’re pretty incredible, too.”
She curled into my side and rested her head on my shoulder, and we both turned our attention to the television. It was an older movie I’d seen a few years back, but I didn’t give two-shits about the movie. My focus was solely on Laken. She felt so damn good in my arms, and I hated the thought of the night coming to an end.
I didn’t want to leave her.
I didn’t want to leave either of them.
It had only been a few weeks, but she and Baylor had come to mean a lot to me. More than I’d ever thought possible. I wanted more than a few random nights here or there. But I knew what she would say. I knew what everyone would say. It was too soon. I didn’t need to rush things, but in my gut, I knew this was what I wanted.
And I was a man who had never been afraid to go after what I wanted.
I glanced down at Laken, and my chest tightened when I realized she’d dozed off on me. Her eyes were closed, her breathing was shallow, and her body was completely limp against mine. I might’ve taken offense if I hadn’t known what that really meant.
She trusted me, and that meant more than any damn movie.
I didn’t want to move, but she’d had a long day. She needed a decent night’s sleep, and that wasn’t going to happen on this tiny sofa. I slid my arm under her knees and the other under her back and stood. She made a tiny whimper, but she just rolled her head toward my chest and kept sleeping.
“That’s right. I’ve got you.”
I carried her into the bedroom and carefully lowered her onto the mattress next to Baylor. I eased the covers over her, and I stood there for a moment, just watching her sleep. Seeing her so peaceful and content did something to me. There was no doubt about it.
I’d fallen and I’d fallen hard.
There would be no walking away from her. She was mine. She just didn’t know it yet.
10
LAKEN
Iwoke up early and was about to get out of my wonderfully cozy bed when I remembered it was my day off. I’d promised myself that I would sleep in, so I curled back into my pillow and tried to drift back off to sleep. It wasn’t hard. I was still tired from the night before, and Baylor was tucked against my side. She was warm and cuddly, and in a matter of seconds, I was out.