Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 94205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Anytime she’d ever asked her mom, she’d told her not to dwell on the past.
“I wish I could talk to someone who knew him. You know? To help keep him alive. So he’s not forgotten.”
“Hey,” Butch said. He placed his hand on her cheek and turned her face toward his. “He’s never going to be forgotten. Because of you. Because he’s alive in you, baby girl. When you look in the mirror, it’s his eyes staring back at you. And we’ll keep his memory alive by talking about him. And if we ever have kids, we’ll tell them about their granddad too.”
She threw herself at him, the tears pouring down her face as he held her close, rubbing her back.
“It’s all right, baby. You let it all out. Good girl.” He kept murmuring to her, soothing her.
Gradually, she regained control and drew herself back. She wiped at her eyes, knowing she must look a mess.
“Wait. I have some tissues.” He drew a small packet from his back pocket and opened it, pulling one out. “Ta-da!”
She had to giggle. He looked so proud of himself. He tilted her head back so he could wipe her face. Then he grabbed her a fresh one so she could blow her nose.
“You came prepared.”
“I did.” He cupped her chin, holding her still. “Doing okay? We can come back tomorrow if it’s too much now?”
“No. It . . . it’s a lot, but I want to stay and talk to him for a while. Is that weird? It’s probably strange, right?”
“Nothing that you need to do is strange, understand me? You take all the time you require. I’m just going to give you both some private time and wait over here. But if you need me, you call out. Understand?”
“Yes,” she whispered. As he went to turn away, she grabbed his hand. He looked over at her. “You’re the best, Butch Malone.”
“Course I am. You chose the best Malone.”
“I chose the best person in the world to be mine.”
He grinned. “You won’t get any argument from me.”
She spent the next hour talking to her daddy. Telling him everything that had happened. By the end of it, she was exhausted, but she also felt far lighter.
Almost happier.
Standing, she walked over to where Butch waited. He stood and drew her close, holding her. With each minute he held her, she could feel her insides settling.
Maybe her dad was dead, and her mom gone.
But here was a man who loved her with every breath he took.
And that was everything.
“Okay, baby girl?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she replied, leaning back to smile up at him. “I really think I am.”
Leaning down, he kissed her lightly. It might have been her imagination but it felt like a warm breeze ran over her.
Like her dad was there, looking down on her.
Bye, Daddy. Love you.
“Hello, you’re speaking with Lara,” she answered her phone. She probably should have paid attention to the fact that it was a private number.
She was distracted by the gorgeous man standing half naked in front of her, chopping firewood.
They were staying in a cabin in the woods. A trip to try and relax and get over everything that had gone on with her family.
Well, not that she considered them family anymore. The Malones were her family and she adored them.
Emily had been given a reduced sentence as she’d spilled everything she knew about her dad and where he could have gone. However, the Feds still hadn’t caught them. Truthfully, she was relieved. She didn’t want her mom to go to jail, no matter how bad a mom she’d been.
Butch felt slightly different. He wanted Chandler to pay for everything he’d done. He was pissed that he’d gotten away. She knew that Alec had put feelers out to see if they could track him down. She’d told them all not to bother.
But Butch had told her that being a Malone meant they always protected their own. That meant making Chandler suffer. And she knew that he wanted her mom to pay for her part too.
However, she knew that losing everything he’d built was likely the best punishment Chandler could ever be given.
“Hey, babe,” a familiar voice drawled.
She straightened. “Axel?”
Why would he be calling her? And hadn’t she blocked his number?
“That’s me. How are you, babe?”
“This isn’t your phone.”
“Ah, nope. Got me a new number. For . . . reasons. Anyway, I have great news.”
“You do?”
Butch had turned to check in with her, something he often did after what happened with Emily. Whatever he saw on her face had him moving toward her.
“You’re back in!”
“Sorry?” she asked.
“You’re back in the band.”
“I am, am I? What happened to the new girl? The one that was prettier, thinner, and more talented?”
“She wasn’t nearly as good as you, babe. Sure, she was hotter. But you’re more talented.”