Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
His gaze raked the length of my body, lingering on my boobs as he said, “Hey, want to come see the peacocks with us?”
The way he stressed the last half of the animal’s name was creepy, especially with his son sitting right there. Taking a step back, I bumped into Roan, who must have moved closer while they were waiting for me. He tugged me behind the stroller, then lifted Cassidy off his shoulders and handed her to me.
“What the fu—” He bit off his curse and took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring. “You don’t come up to a woman and ask something like that, especially when she’s somewhere with my daughters and me.”
The guy’s gaze landed on Roan’s face, and his beady eyes practically bugged out of his head. “Holy fuck, you’re Roan Ellis. Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to tread on your territory. I suppose I blew my chance at getting an autograph?”
“An autograph is the last thing I’m gonna give you after the stunt you just pulled.” Roan slid his arm around my back, wrapping his hand around Cassidy’s thigh where it dangled from my hip.
“Damn,” the guy groaned.
“I’m not gonna tell you how to raise your own kid, but I am going to insist that you watch what you say around mine. Or even better, get lost,” Roan growled.
The other dad held his palms up in a gesture of surrender. “Shi—um, I mean…crap. Sorry again.”
I bit my bottom lip to hold back a giggle as Roan stared the guy down while he rolled his kid down the sidewalk. His reaction made me feel better about the spurt of jealousy I’d experienced before he told me who his sister was this morning. It made my encounter with the creep worth it.
7
Roan
“Can we go again tomorrow?” Cassidy asked sleepily as I tucked her into bed.
I chuckled and kissed her forehead. “We have to give the monkeys a chance to miss us before we go back, Cassidy.”
“Oh. Okay, Daddy.”
“Love you,” I murmured with a tender smile.
“Love you. Love you, too Aunt Ava.”
“To the moon and back, Cassie-bear,” Ava said from where she sat at Cassidy’s feet.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, sweet cheeks?”
“Can Aunt Ava be my mommy, too?”
Ava gasped, and I fought back a smile. Way to go, kid. I leaned down until my mouth was right by Cassidy’s ear and whispered, “Working on it. Now go to sleep and have sweet dreams.”
She nodded and yawned as I placed a kiss on her forehead. When I stood and headed for the door, Ava followed close behind. After we left the room, I shut the door, then glanced at Ava. She still looked shell-shocked, but her eyes were soft and swimming with unshed tears.
I held out my hand and waited. It only took a moment's hesitation before she slid her palm against mine and allowed me to pull her into my body and wrap my arms around her.
“One of the few good things my brother has done was to bring Carrie into my life. She was my best friend,” she said softly.
“And you feel guilty that her daughter wants you to replace her?” I guessed.
Ava nodded and sniffled, giving me a pang in my heart. I didn’t like seeing her hurting. Scooping her into my arms, I walked directly into my bedroom. Without releasing her, I crawled onto my big bed, turning her back to my front before laying us down. Then I curled myself around her so we were spooning.
“You wouldn’t be taking her place, baby. Just like I’m not a replacement for their dad.”
“It’s not the same.” I felt a tear splash on my arm before she sniffled again. “My brother is an asshole, so they're better off with you as a dad. Carrie was a great mom.”
I sighed and kissed her temple. “Let’s try looking at this from another angle. Do you think Carrie would want her girls to go through life without the love and influence of a mother?”
“Well…no.”
“And don’t you think she would be happy to know that the mother figure in their lives is someone who she trusted and knows loves them every bit as much as she did?”
Ava was quiet for a moment, and I nuzzled my nose in the hair at her nape. “You know I’m right.”
“I suppose so. But I don’t think she’d want them to forget her.”
“Of course not, baby. That’s why I talk to the girls about her frequently. But honestly, I didn’t know Carrie very well. There’s no one better than you to help keep her memory alive.”
“I guess that’s true.”
“That story you told Cassidy this morning, about Carrie loving animals and the zoo…I had no idea. But I saw the way Cassidy lit up hearing that she had that in common with her mom.”
“But—”
I lifted up onto my elbow and rolled Ava onto her back so I could stare down at her. “No buts, Ava. When you have kids of your own, will you love Cassidy and Daisy any less than them?”