Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 37828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“Then we walk,” he stated.
“But I can’t walk.” Brody sighed. “It’s hard to explain.”
“Families are complicated,” Autumn agreed.
Hmm, yes, he was beginning to understand that.
“Then let’s simplify things. If they are mean to either of you, we leave. Then I’ll come back and rip the flesh from their bones.”
“Fox, we discussed this,” his Pup told him. “What did you agree to?”
He sighed. This was ridiculous.
“Daddy,” Autumn said.
“Fine. I agreed I wouldn’t harm any member of your family, even if they were mean or annoyed me.” However, that meant physical harm. Ensuring their lives were miserable wasn’t part of the agreement.
Both of his babies were staring up at him.
“I’ll be good,” he promised.
Yeah, right.
Taking both of their hands in his, he led them toward the door.
Brody was nearly peeing himself with nerves.
His sisters were going to embarrass him. He just knew it. It was inevitable. They seemed to think it was their main purpose in life.
That wasn’t what was stressing him out, though. Nope, mostly he was concerned about how the Fox would react.
The Fox leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Calm down, or I will pick you up and carry you out of here.”
Right. He didn’t want that.
Reaching out, he opened the door. His palms slipped. He was sweating, despite how cold it was out here.
When the door finally opened, he let out a low groan. Yep, it was as bad as he’d thought. Because standing there in the foyer were all six of his sisters. And they were all wearing T-shirts with photos of him on the front.
Naked photos of him.
And not all of them were from when he was a kid.
His oldest sister, Jodie, had a photo of him when he got drunk at his twenty-first birthday party and they’d stripped him to put him to bed.
“You guys are a bunch of jerks.”
He heard a stifled giggle and glanced over at Tutu. But she had her head turned away.
“Aww, Boo-boo, don’t you like our T-shirts?” Jodie asked. Her long hair was bleached almost white and cut into a bob.
“You can’t tell me that Ma has seen those,” he said.
“Course not,” Lissy said, dimples appearing as she grinned. They all drew their cardigans over the images. They were all ugly Christmas sweaters.
He groaned. “I am not taking a family photo wearing one of those.”
“You will,” Anna sang. Her dark hair was up in pigtails today and she looked so young.
They were all awful. And he had no idea what he was doing here. Finally, he realized how hard the Fox was holding his hand and he glanced up at him.
“It’s just in good fun,” he whispered to him.
“You’re upset.”
“I’m fine. Promise.”
“What is going on out here? Why are you all in the foyer? Come in. Come in.”
Brody instantly relaxed at his Momma’s voice. She stepped in, staring at his sisters suspiciously. They all stared back innocently.
“Uh-huh,” she muttered. Then she turned toward them. Brody braced himself. This was his Momma. He loved his sisters. But it was his Momma who held his heart. Who had the power to destroy him if she didn’t accept his unusual relationship. He’d warned them all. But it was a different thing to meet the people he lived with.
However, no matter what any of them thought, he was never giving up his Tutu or his Sir.
“My boy,” she said, stepping forward, her whole body softening. She wrapped him up in a hug.
She moved back, holding his arms. “Look at you. Are you getting thinner? Have you been eating?”
“You know he only eats pizza and burgers, Momma,” Nina said.
He stuck his tongue out at her over his mother’s shoulder.
“You need to eat better. We’ll get some veggies into you.”
“He’s eating well,” the Fox said smoothly. “I’m making sure of that.”
His mother turned to the Fox and Brody’s breath caught in his lungs. Oh shit.
“Is that so?” she murmured. “You must be Raev?”
Brody bit his lip nervously. The Fox had given them one of his personas to use with Brody’s family and any friends who didn’t know his identity.
“Yes, hello,” the Fox said smoothly. “Raev Foxhill, but please feel free to call me Fox.” He held out his hand and his mother shook it.
Okay. So far so good.
“Call me Bella.” She still eyed him suspiciously. “You’re taking care of my son?”
“Always. His wellbeing and happiness are very important to me.”
Brody sucked in a breath. Wow. How did the Fox know just what to say?
His mother nodded. “Good.” She wasn’t won over yet, but he knew that the Fox had to have earned some brownie points.
Then she moved her gaze to Autumn who was half-hiding behind the Fox, staring out at them all nervously. He knew his momma wouldn’t fail to fall in love with his Tutu.
“And you must be Autumn.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” Tutu whispered.