Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Gill shot me a look, his expectations clear. I dragged Jewls to the kitchen, kicking and screeching, while Gill and Margo handled Caleb.
The commotion died down, but Jewls was unhinged. She paced the kitchen, murmuring things I couldn’t understand.
Toby came in. He took one look at his sister and pinned me with a deathly glower.
“You love her?”
“More than anything.”
“You plan to make this right?”
“I’d do it tonight if she’d agree.”
That was enough for him. He went to Jewls and hugged her tight, whispering something low.
She stopped murmuring, and I expected tears. Instead, she scowled at him and pinched his side until he howled.
“No, dirt-for-brains. Last time I let you pick out a name, you named my gorgeous white thoroughbred Doobie.”
He smiled proudly, and that was it.
Caleb was gone when we went back to the living room.
Outside of the incident with her brother, our time here has been good.
“I’m bummed.” She stares over my shoulder. “We never got to have sex in the red room.”
“Red room?”
“Kinda like a green room, except it’s painted red. There’s a room in the back of the barn set up like a suite. We usually camp out there watching and waiting for when a horse gets close to labor. It’s closed off with an air unit, kitchen area, and couches for resting while we watch the monitors in the stalls. I’ve always wanted to have sex in there.”
At the mention of sex, my cock springs to life. It’s been a while, and sleeping next to her these last few nights has been torture.
“Baby, you don’t drag out our goodbyes, we will be in my bed in a few hours.”
“Are you trying to bribe me to hurry out of here?”
“More like incentivize.”
She lifts on her toes, curling a hand around my neck. “My house has less chance of interruptions.”
“Your bed creaks every time I pound into you. One of these days, it’ll give out. Not taking that chance.”
We get to the barn doors and see the golf cart speeding down the road, dust and gravel flying.
Caleb slams on the brakes behind my truck, his eyes passing right over me and looking at his sister sheepishly as he stands. I bite my lip to conceal my approval of the shiner outlining his eye socket.
“Can we talk?” he asks Jewls, still avoiding me.
“Not unless you came to apologize.”
He finally swings his gaze to mine. “Do you mind? This is between family.”
“My family is standing next to me.”
“Fuck, dude, can’t you give her a second of freedom? I need to talk to my sister.”
“I respect that, but when you had the chance to talk, you went off the rails. Not taking that chance.”
“I’d never hurt her.”
“She cried for fifteen minutes straight, broken-hearted over your reaction.”
Jewls’ grip tightens. “Major, I’ll be okay. You can go back to the house. If things get out of control, I can handle myself.”
“Not fucking happening. You’ve proved you can handle yourself. But he’s fired up to take this out on someone and that someone is not you.”
“Jesus, Jewls, is this the man you want fathering your child?” he barks with venom.
“Yes, Caleb! I love him. He loves me. Like I said last night, this wasn’t planned, but the baby isn’t any less loved. You need to get on board if you want to be a part of our life.”
He jerks back as if she’d struck him. “I know he loves you. It’s hard not to notice, but in case I am blind, Mom reamed me last night and this morning. Then Toby shows up, spouting shit to set my ass straight.”
“You acted like a lunatic. My baby’s first memory will be his or her uncle storming their father and me having to lay you out.”
His face pales and eyes fill with dread. “Is that possible?”
“No numb nut! The baby is the size of a gumdrop.”
Relief washes over him, and his lips curl to one side. “I wouldn’t say you laid me out.”
A lifetime with brothers suggests this argument is over. The concern and love Caleb has for Jewls shines through.
“I’ll make sure we locked Doobie in her stall. Give you a few minutes with Caleb.”
She looks at me appreciatively. “Okay, honey.”
“Then we’re going home.”
“Home,” she agrees.
“Major,” Caleb is at my side offering a hand, “I was a dick. I won’t apologize for wanting to shelter my baby sister, but my family has pointed out a few things that I overlooked.”
“You love her. But know this—I love her, too. With all that I am.”
“I’m trusting that.”
“Respect.” I drop his hand and kiss Jewls softly. “I’ll be close.”
“It’ll be okay.”
I leave them, checking all the stall doors to give them time. Doobie stares at me woefully, tilting into my touch.
“I know you miss her, girl, but I’ll bring her back soon.”
Both our heads swing to the loud shriek coming from Jewls.