Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“You brought the wood chips I needed.” His eyebrows knit together. “You’re here. What else do I need?”
“I’m…” I hesitate and run my hand over the back of my neck. We’re past this, aren’t we? Blake doesn’t need my approval or my gratitude. Every action shows how much he loves my sister. “I’m proud of you. Not many men would step into the role of fathering someone else’s kid so selflessly and so completely.” Shit, Heidi’s own father couldn’t do it. The realization hits me hard, wiping my mind clean of anything else I had planned to say. “Thank you.”
His face pinches, hands clench and release at his sides. Several emotions seem to flow over him. Maybe I said too much. Overstepped, yet again.
“You know I don’t ever want to lie to her.” He stops and seems to search for the right words. “But I don’t want her to grow up feeling different.” He gestures toward Heidi. “Especially since we’re having another girl.”
My fucking eyes sting. Must be the smoke coming off the grill.
“I love Alexa like she’s my own,” he continues. “I hope that adopting her the second I was able to will make sure she never doubts herself. Or how I feel about her.”
No words. What can an uncle say to that?
“Holy shit, are you speechless?” he asks.
“Don’t ruin it,” I warn.
“Seriously, though. Don’t thank me for doing the only thing I know how to do. I hope over time people forget and don’t constantly bring it up around her, you know?”
“Yeah, I hear what you’re saying.” He wants to protect her from even the smallest emotional scars. “Love you, brother.” I reach for him, giving him a quick, tight hug.
“You’re awfully huggy lately,” he says, pulling away and slapping my shoulder.
“Only with family.”
One heavy hand slaps down on my shoulder, and another on Blake’s. “You two want to step aside and let me handle this?” Wrath asks.
“No.” Blake shrugs him off. “My grill, my way.”
“What’s welterweight doing? Supervising?” Wrath squeezes my shoulder.
The corners of Blake’s mouth twitch, like he’s considering telling Wrath I’ve been over here getting all emotional with him. Then his smile fades. He points his grill tongs at the bags of wood chips. “Talking about all the different kinds of wood chips. Pecan, Apple, Hickory, Plum—”
“I got it.” Wrath nods quickly, then slaps Blake’s shoulder again. “Congratulations. You’re a lucky man.”
Blake’s shoulders tense, waiting for whatever obnoxiousness is about to come out of Wrath’s mouth. “How’s that?”
Wrath lifts his chin in Alexa’s direction. “You’ve officially got a cool-as-shit daughter.”
Blake’s expression relaxes. “Yeah, I do.”
We spend time bullshitting about grilling, and a run Wrath wants to take to visit our Virginia and Tennessee charters. “This time, we need Rock to come. You too, Teller.” Wrath elbows Blake. “Deadbranch needs to see how a real president behaves.”
Blake chuckles, “Yeah, go tell him that.”
“Call me when the steaks are done.” Wrath grabs two cans of seltzer from the cooler and joins Trinity on the outdoor couch.
Charlotte jogs up the steps and rushes past us into the house.
“You all right?” I call after her.
“Yup!”
Blake’s mouth twists. “Got news to share?”
I sigh and jam my hands in my pockets. “She doesn’t want to say anything yet.”
“Heidi already told me Charlotte was puking before court.” His smile grows wider. “She’s very excited. But I understand if you want to keep it to yourselves for now.”
“Thanks.”
Heidi joins us, rubbing her back and staring after Charlotte. “She okay?”
“Are you?” I ask.
Murphy steps behind her and starts kneading a spot on her back that makes her close her eyes for a second.
“Thank you,” she says, smiling up at Blake. She sniffs and stares at the grill. “And I’m starving.”
I lift the grill lid to show her the steaks.
“That’s great.” Heidi slides her gaze between the two of us and grins. “But what are you guys eating?”
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Teller
“This isn’t what I had in mind for a bachelor party,” I grumble. In two weeks Charlotte and I are finally getting married. Wasting an entire night at Crystal Ball is the last thing I need.
“And you know I wouldn’t ask unless we really needed you there,” Rock says in his quit-your-bitching tone.
And yet, he’s not going. “Fine.”
“Bro, things are finally turning around,” Dex explains. “We’ve got Loco’s girls starting the early shift. Then amateur night at nine. Place will be packed. Blue and Butcher are out. I really need the help.”
“I already said fine.” I cross my arms over my chest, not giving a fuck if I’m acting like a petulant asshole. “I’ve got a ton of shit to do before the wedding, though.”
“Monday, I’m all yours,” Dex promises. “I’ll help you with whatever you need.”
I blow out a quick breath. “Thanks.”
“We’re not mind readers, knucklehead. If you need help, just ask,” Rock says in a slightly less annoyed voice.