Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Oh, Lord.
“Um, no,” she said. “I don’t want any worms.”
“Oh.” His little face fell. “What about grubs? I can get you those.”
How did she tell him no without disappointing him?
“Why don’t we leave them in the ground where they’re safe?” Nico suggested.
“That’s no fun,” Ace muttered. “Aren’t you coming out, Lottie? Keir said that maybe we could build a tree house. You could come sit in it when it’s ready.”
“A tree house? Perhaps we should get someone to go and get some stuff. Or can you buy them premade? Maybe I could call and buy one. I’m sure they’d deliver it today, but I’m not sure how you get it up in the tree.”
Ace and Nico stared at her.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“You don’t buy a tree house,” Ace told her. “You build it, and we don’t need no adults to help us.”
“You don’t? That doesn’t sound all that safe. Where are you building it?”
“I dunno. Out in some tree. Come see.” Ace grabbed her hand, tugging.
“Oh, I um—” Ace was surprisingly strong, and she stumbled forward as he pulled at her.
“Whoa, easy there, Ace,” Nico said, wrapping an arm around her waist.
A shiver raced through her. One of arousal and need, not fear. It was bizarre. If anyone other than her brothers touched her, she would freeze. But with Nico, all she felt was warmth. But she didn’t understand why she felt that way with him.
Maybe it’s because you can’t have him.
Yeah, maybe that was it.
Ace frowned up at Nico. “Let Lottie go. I wanna show her.”
“She doesn’t want to go right now,” Nico said firmly.
“Ace, what you doing?” Keir called out.
“I wanted Lottie to come see where we’re building the tree house, but this guy won’t let go of her.”
Keir frowned and ran over. His too-knowing gaze took everything in.
“We’ll show her later. Once we’ve got it all done. It will be better then.”
Ace sighed. Loudly. But he let Lottie go. Keir drew him close and whispered something to him. Ace looked up at Lottie and nodded.
“Oh, yeah, I forgot,” he said to his brother.
Embarrassment flooded her.
“Sorry, Lottie. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” Ace asked, looking worried.
“Course not,” she replied. “I’m tougher than I look.”
Ace scowled, looking at where Nico stood. “You can let go of her now.”
Lottie cleared her throat and stepped away from Nico. Ace gave a nod of satisfaction then turned to run off.
Keir studied Lottie for a moment. “You okay, Lottie? I’m sorry about Ace.”
“Nothing to be sorry about,” she told him. “But I think maybe you should have some help building the tree house. It doesn’t sound safe.”
“It’ll be fine. We built one at home.”
“You did?”
“Uh-huh. Better go, though. Ace’ll mess it up if I leave him.” He raced off before she could say anything more.
“Let’s set up the picnic inside, okay?”
She nodded. That was a big fail. “I’m sorry I’m so difficult.”
“Hey.” Reaching out, he took grasped hold of her chin. “You’re not difficult at all. Understand me?”
She gaped at him, not quite knowing what to say.
Maybe it was because he’d already seen her starting to panic and hadn’t made her feel bad or awkward, but she felt more at ease now. A wave of tiredness hit her after they set the picnic up just inside the doors.
“Sit down,” he said with concern. “You look pale. Here, drink this.” He poured her some sparkling orange juice and handed it to her once she was sitting on the blanket.
“Thank you.”
“Will you be all right if I go check on what they’re up to?”
“Yes, thank you.”
As he strode away, she couldn’t help but stare at his ass.
What was she doing?
After checking on the two boys, Nico hurried back to Lottie. He didn’t like how pale and breathless she’d gotten before. She was clearly exhausted. He wondered if he could get her to nap. Although how he’d do that when he couldn’t even get her outside with him, he had no idea.
She said she could go out with someone she trusted. So, all he needed to do was build up her trust in him.
Easier said than done, however.
Impatience bit at him and he forced it down. He’d waited this long; a few extra weeks or months wouldn’t matter. Right?
The problem was that they couldn’t stay here with her until she learned to trust them. And coming back and forth might not work. It would take him longer to earn her trust.
One step at a time.
First, the picnic. Getting to know her better. Building a relationship. And trying to put Liam in a good light.
Not the easiest of tasks that was for sure.
Nico put a big smile on his face when he saw her worried expression. “They’re fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, Ace wanted to build the hut up high in this huge tree, but Keir had already told him that wouldn’t work. Got a sensible head on his shoulders.”