Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“Morning, little bird.”
I laughed quietly. “Little bird?”
“You remind me of a hummingbird—always on the go.” His kiss was warm on my cheek. “Hello.”
I turned my head and pressed my lips to his quickly. “Hello.” I stepped back before I could do something silly like fling my arms around his neck and kiss him the way I longed to do. “Come in.”
He walked in, filling the small hallway. He handed me a bunch of flowers. “To say thanks for breakfast.”
His gesture made me smile. Especially considering his hands were still full with other offerings. I watched as he greeted everyone. He handed Paige a bouquet, crouched down to offer Lucy a bunch of daisies, then grinned at Evan. “Figured you for more of a chocolate kind of guy,” he said and handed him some Kinder eggs. Evan loved those. I had mentioned that the other night, plus the fact that Lucy loved daisies. It touched me that he remembered.
Evan grinned in delight. “Awesome. Thank you!”
Ronan bent again and handed Lucy an egg as well. He looked at Paige. “Hope that’s all right.”
She smiled. “It’s fine. Thank you, Ronan. Sit and we’ll put these in water and get coffee.”
“Do I smell cinnamon buns?” Ronan asked, sniffing the air. “I love cinnamon buns.”
“Beth makes the best,” Evan told him. “Lots of cinnamon and icing.”
Ronan met my gaze, running his tongue along his bottom lip. “Icing. My favorite.”
I knew what he was thinking. Remembering, the same way I was, about our kiss in the kitchen. How we’d both tasted of the icing. I felt the color flood my cheeks, and I turned and hurried to the kitchen. Paige followed me, reaching past my shoulder to get a vase.
“Nab him,” she muttered. “If you don’t, I swear I will. Flowers? Gifts for the kids? The way he looks at you? Damn it, girl. Does he have a brother?”
I had to laugh at her enthusiasm. She was even more hesitant than I was about men. Ronan had charmed her as well.
“Yes. I have no idea if they are younger, older, married…” I trailed off.
She hip checked me. “Find out, you selfish bitch. Stop hogging him.”
We both laughed, and it felt good. She grabbed the coffeepot and filled the mugs waiting on the tray. “You take this into the living room, and I’ll handle the flowers.”
I smiled and accepted the tray. “Okay.”
I walked into the living room, my smile getting wider. Ronan was on the floor, leaning against the sofa. Lucy was on one large leg, chatting at him, and he was listening intently. Evan was perched on the sofa beside him, also adding to the conversation. Ronan looked relaxed, not at all put out about being with the kids or annoyed at being used for a cushion. In fact, his wide hand was resting against Lucy’s back, making sure she was stable. I felt a lump in my throat as I watched them. I had never seen either of the kids respond to someone the way they were responding to Ronan. He seemed to have that effect on people. He certainly did with me.
He glanced up with a grin on his face. But he didn’t interrupt Lucy. I handed him a cup of coffee after adding cream the way I had seen him do. He watched me, accepting the cup with a wink, but never wavered his attention from Lucy. I sat down, observing him. He asked her questions, listening as she responded.
“I have sixteen stuffed animals,” she told him.
“Sixteen?” he repeated. “That’s a lot. Do you have a favorite?”
She scrunched up her face. “Mr. Teddy. He’s a teddy bear,” she added in case he was unsure. “I had him since I was a baby. He didn’t care if I only had one arm.”
Ronan nodded. “Good man.”
“I love him even if he only has one paw.”
“What happened?” he asked, as if it was the most important piece of information he was going to get today.
“A dog bit it off at the park. He tried to take my bear, and I pulled. All he got was the leg. Momma stitched him up so he was good.”
“So, you match.”
She nodded. “Yes. Do you have any stuffies?”
He leaned down, his voice low. “I have one. I keep him in my room. My dad gave it to me when I was little, and I have kept it all these years. He sits on my dresser.”
“Does he have a name?”
“Skittles.”
She rubbed her nose. “I like that.”
“Me too.” Then he turned to Evan. “Your sister tells me you love Lego. I did too.” He grinned. “Still do.”
That started another excited conversation. And the whole time, he held on to Lucy, making sure she didn’t fall.
Paige perched on the arm of my chair. “Damn it,” she whispered. “He is the whole package, isn’t he? Look at him with them.”