Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 128801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Paisley frantically waved back at me like a goof.
I worked through the lock and let her in, and she came flying at me, long hair so blonde it was almost white, wearing a red tank and cut-off shorts and her signature cowgirl boots.
She threw her arms around me and swayed me back and forth, squishing me and making me laugh as she clung to me like she had thought she would never see me again. “Doodle-Boo.”
Then she released me so quickly to take me by the outside of the upper arms I thought I’d get whiplash. She gave me a small shake. “Why in the world didn’t you call me? I’m so mad at you right now.”
My brows rose to the sky. “And you wanted me to call you in the middle of the night, when you’re all the way out in the middle of nowhere?”
“Um, yes, isn’t that what I’m for? To come running when you need me? But okay, fine, I know Ryder is closer and it was the actual wise choice, but I’m still mad.” It was a pout and a tease.
Then her expression deepened as she searched my face. “Are you okay? I can’t believe that happened.”
“I’m fine. I mean, it was scary while in the middle of it, but I know Ezra’s going to find whoever it was.”
“I’m glad Ryder was there.”
My stomach tipped, and I tried to ignore the fact that I could hear his footsteps echoing from his room above. The way I constantly felt him, his movements and his breaths.
The way he was all bristly and rough.
The way he was so caring and sweet underneath.
“Me, too.”
“Auntie Paisey.” Kayden climbed to his feet, and he bounced over in all his roly-poly adorableness.
“My K-Bear.” She sang it as she swept him into her arms. She spun him in a circle, making him squeal, before she hooked him on her hip.
“Evie?” he asked, smacking his chest in a clear demand for Paisley to bring her little girl to him.
Paisley laughed her deep, throaty laugh. “Not today, K-Bear. She went on a special ride with her daddy, just the two of them.”
“Aw, that is really sweet,” I said.
“I know.” I swore she swooned. “They’re so precious together, I can hardly stand it.”
“That makes me so happy.”
Joy radiated from her. The genuine, real kind that you could almost reach out and touch.
“I’m so thankful for it,” she admitted.
Emotion crested before she seemed to shake herself out of it and set Kayden back on his feet, then she lifted the strap of the bag she had draped over her shoulder. “Are you sure you’re up for working on the menu?”
“Do you think I’d let anyone else cater Caleb’s special day?” And honestly, I was glad for the distraction.
She giggled. “True. Besides, no one could compare, and I’d have to spend the next two weeks weeping in bed before I could heal enough to even begin to look for someone else.”
I touched my chest. “The atrocity. I would never let that happen to my bestie.”
“You better not.”
I let go of a soft laugh. “Why don’t we get set up at the kitchen table?”
I picked up Kayden and carried him into the kitchen where I put him in his playpen with a bunch of his toys to keep him occupied.
Every part of me tightened when I thought about why it was down here rather than upstairs. The way Ryder had insisted on buying that crib, then had spent two hours putting it together.
I bit my lip, taken back to how hot it’d been in that room. The way his skin had become damp as he worked, the way his black tee had clung to the sweat.
Watching him put that crib together was like watching my own personal porn.
Paisley pulled her laptop from the bag and opened it, and she also took out a notebook and a bunch of different colored pens.
“Do you want something to drink?” I asked her.
“Iced tea?”
“Coming up.” I went to the refrigerator so I could pour each of us a glass from the pitcher, ignoring the way I could feel the curiosity in her eyes as she followed me with her gaze.
“So, where is Ryder, anyway?”
I cleared my throat. “Upstairs.”
“Hmm…” was all that came out of her.
I set the teas on the table then took the seat next to her and turned the focus on why she’d come here. “So, do you have any ideas about what you’d like to serve?”
She tapped into her computer, and she brought up a Pinterest board with about a thousand different of those ideas.
I laughed. “Uh-oh, we are serious about this.”
She cast me a side-eye, only the hint of a tease remaining there. “We are definitely serious about this, Dakota. Really serious. I want him to know how much he means to me.”