Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“Mmm!”
Ellie beamed at them and clapped her hands in celebration. “I know, right? Now I know the next cupcake for Christmas. It will be chocolate with…”
“Ellie! It’s going to be a surprise, remember!” Lark said after slapping a hand over her friend’s mouth. “Oh, it looks so much better out here already without those bushes. It will help the resale value.”
“I hope he doesn’t have to sell,” Nicoya commented before adding, “but it does look better, and I’m glad to know that a realtor thinks so too. Want to give the guys any more advice about the outside?”
“Nope. Axel obviously knows what he’s doing. I’d leave it up to him. I’m ready to get in there and tackle the entryway. I want it to sparkle when Ricky comes back,” Lark said with a determined air.
“Go for it. Let’s work a couple more hours and stop for lunch. Keep up the great work. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of you,” Nicoya thanked them.
As five more cars pulled up to the curb, fit guys and girls piled out. Nicoya looked at them with her mouth gaping open. She walked forward with Avery and Trace behind her to greet the off-duty police officers who had shown up to help.
“Thanks for calling in reinforcements, Captain,” Nicoya said when everyone had introduced themselves.
Axel loved seeing her smile at the sight of Riley and Kiki writing everyone’s name with a marker on their coveralls like a name tag so they’d all learn each other’s names. The Littles were making the best of this tough job by having fun and making friends.
“I don’t know if I’ve got enough food,” Nicoya confessed, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.
“Isn’t there a Little who runs a restaurant?” Axel struggled to remember the names of all the Littles he’d met at Blaze.
“Good idea. I’ll call Elizabeth at Nibbles & Bites. She’ll be glad to whip up some food for us. Heaven knows Ellie brought enough cupcakes for the entire police force,” Tarson commented with a playful roll of his eyes.
“The proper ratio of cupcake to sandwich is important,” Ellie observed, not bothered at all by Tarson’s teasing.
“Thanks, Tarson.” Nicoya smiled at everyone as they got organized for the next round of improvements.
She snuck her hand in Axel’s to squeeze his before whispering, “These are such good people.”
“I’m glad to know all of them. It makes this feel like home now,” Axel observed.
“This is your home,” Nicoya stressed with a silent message that she needed him to stay there.
“I know, Niki. I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter Fifteen
With aching muscles, Nicoya stepped into the shower. “Thank goodness we had those coveralls. I had no idea what we’d find in there.”
“You should be very proud of yourself, Little girl. That house looks at least four hundred percent better,” Axel congratulated as he flicked the shower curtain closed behind them.
“It does. Ricky’s going to be knocked over when he sees it. I’m so glad we got it all done in one day. So many people came to help.” Nicoya dipped her head back into the water to wash her hair. She needed to wash every inch of her body even though she’d worn the coveralls for protection.
“I think you all used products containing a million lemons today. The whole atmosphere changed inside, and it smelled amazing.”
“Yeah. It’s a ton better. There still could be some improvements, but it’s perfectly livable now. I took a bunch of pictures. I’ll go visit Ricky at the rehab facility this week and give him a sneak peek so he doesn’t have a heart attack when he rolls inside,” Nicoya shared.
“That would be nice. I’m sure he’s thought of it today and wondered what was going on.” Axel turned her around to pour shampoo on her wet hair.
“I know. That feels good, Daddy.”
“I’m glad. Are you okay with pizza tonight?”
“Yum. I think I could eat a whole one myself. I think I burned through a million calories today.”
“You worked very hard. I’ll order two when we get out.”
They stood quietly together as the warm water eased their muscles and washed away the yuck from the day. Axel’s fingers felt amazing massaging her scalp.
“You can do that for a few hours,” she mumbled, closing her eyes.
“We’re both going to be wrinkly when we get out,” Axel warned.
“I’ll risk it.”
When he patted her bottom, she turned around to rinse the suds from her hair. His hands washed her body as she made sure all the lather was gone from her curly hair. It liked to hide bubbles in different places.
After grabbing his liquid soap, Nicoya squeezed some out into her hand and soaped up his chest, leaving curlicues in the lather for decoration. “Turn. Let me get your back.” She kneaded the hard muscles of his shoulders and neck. Nicoya had watched how physically demanding his job was as they’d pulled and dug up the bushes from the front yard.