Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Maybe after my meeting today I can go pick her up and take her for breakfast or even bring her here for the day so she can do her own thing. I won’t bother her if she wants to be left alone.
Me: You got this, wildcat. I’ll be in touch later today.
Red: Thanks for checking in!
Seeing that I need to leave to get to the ranch on time, I set my mug in the sink and head out to climb into the SUV. I miss my little sports car, but it still puts a lot of pressure on my knees when I climb in and out of it, so it’s probably best if I stick with the Rover for a few more weeks.
The drive to my childhood home, out on the Hendrix Ranch, takes about fifteen minutes. I don’t bother to knock as I walk through the front door and follow my nose and the sound of chatter to the kitchen, where almost everyone is gathered around the island already.
“You made muffins,” I say with a grin and walk around to hug my soon-to-be sister-in-law, Darby. Her huckleberry muffins are the best. “You’re my favorite sister.”
Darby snorts and Ava’s eyes lift to me. She narrows them as she cocks her head to the side.
“I know all your secrets,” Ava says.
“No, you don’t,” I counter, and then Harper walks in carrying my niece. “Hey, now you’re my favorite sister. Give me the baby.”
“He’s quite fickle today,” Ava tells Harper. “And apparently, bribable with food and babies.”
“Good to know,” Harper says as she takes the sleeping baby out of her car seat and passes her over to me. I cradle her in the crook of my arm and watch as she sucks on her little pacifier.
“Now she’s happy,” I say as I sway side to side. “Don’t worry, Uncle X is here.”
“Yes, she was so worried,” Tucker’s voice is dry as he watches me with humor in his eyes.
“I’m heading out to the barn so you guys can do the sibling thing,” Darby says. “There are more muffins keeping warm in the oven if you want them.”
“We’ll want them,” I assure her. “Thanks, D.”
She winks, Tucker pulls her in for a heated kiss that makes Ava roll her eyes, and then Darby leaves through the back door.
“Blake was going to keep Belle, but he got called into the ER,” Harper says.
“She’s fine,” Ava says, waving her off.
Tucker moves in next to me and drags his fingertip down Belle’s soft cheek.
“She’s so tiny,” he whispers.
“She’s gained four pounds since she was born,” Harper says.
“Still a little thing,” I agree.
The front door opens, and Easton walks in, followed by a nervous-looking Indigo.
“I found someone outside,” Easton says with a grin and gestures for the young woman to follow him. “Come on in, Indie. We’re pretty casual around here.”
“Thanks,” she says and loops her dark hair behind her ear. She’s wearing a red T-shirt and jeans and has a bag draped across her body that she’s clinging to with white knuckles, and every line in her body screams nerves.
She’s damn fucking nervous.
“We have muffins and coffee,” Ava tells her. “Can I make you a cup?”
“Oh, um, no thank you. I’m okay for now.” Indie nibbles her bottom lip as she skims her eyes over all of us. “I forget that there are so many of you.”
“Hey, we’re all your friends here,” Tucker says. “Why don’t we sit at the kitchen table?”
Indie nods, and we circle the table, find our seats, and I brace Belle against my shoulder, lightly rubbing my hand over her little back. She sighs and nuzzles into my neck, and I’m in love.
Easton’s eating a muffin, and Tucker sets a whole platter of them in the middle of the table. Harper takes the chair next to me, and she places a mug of fresh coffee in front of me.
“Hey, thanks.”
“I’m your favorite.”
Ava glares at us from across the table, and I smile smugly as I take a sip.
“What’s going on with you, Indie?” Easton asks as he peels the wrapper off his fourth muffin.
The man can pack the food away.
Indie clears her throat and rummages around in her bag, then pulls out a piece of paper and lays it on the table in front of her, folds her hands on top of it, and clears her throat again.
“I’m—I just—” She takes a deep breath and looks like she’s on the verge of tears.
“Okay, deep breath,” I tell her. I’ve been telling women to breathe a lot lately. “You’re safe here, sweetheart.”
Indie nods and takes another breath and looks down at the paper in front of her.
“A couple of weeks ago, I decided that it’s time that I take a vacation. I’ve been running the store for a long time, even before Gran and Gramps passed away, and I never take time away. I could use a week to recharge my batteries, you know?”