Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Ready?” Ramsey asks.
I take a step back. “Yep.” Palmer’s voice is way too chipper and guilty as hell, but I couldn’t care less. I don’t care if anyone finds out about us. I’m into her.
“Have fun.” I wave.
“Kiss!” Blakely calls out.
I laugh but go to her, kissing her cheek. “Be good today.”
“I will, but we’re all leaving, Uncle Brooks.”
“You ladies all be careful,” I amend my statement.
“Not that,” Blakely scolds me. “Rams and Palmer need kisses too.”
“Oh, is that how this works?” I ask my niece when really all I want to do is take her to the toy store and buy her everything she wants.
“Yep. Thems the rules, Uncle Brooks.”
“Well, we can’t be breaking the rules. I am your favorite uncle, after all.”
“For right now,” she says, making my mom, Ramsey, and Palmer laugh.
“You little stinker.” I tickle, and she wiggles in Ramsey’s arms. “Ramsey, be careful, and have fun.” I press my lips to her cheek.
“Now, Palmer. Ice cream is waiting,” Blakely instructs.
I turn to look at Palmer, and her eyes are wide as if she can’t believe I’m about to kiss her in front of my family. She has nothing to worry about. I’m not going to kiss her like I crave to, but my lips against her skin is enough to hold me over. For now. I step in close, placing my hand on her hip, and kiss her cheek, closer to her ear. “Be safe, beautiful,” I whisper and release her all too soon. “Have fun,” I tell her, my voice normal considering the desire I feel from even that small amount of contact with her.
“And be safe,” Blakely reminds me.
“Be safe.” I wink at Palmer, and a slight blush coats her cheeks.
“Tell Dec we’ll bring her back later.” Ramsey smiles like she knows all my secrets, and hell, she just might. I’m not trying very damn hard to hide them.
Not today.
“Bye, Mamaw!” Blakely waves, and then they’re gone.
“How’s it coming out there?” Mom asks.
“Good. Archer’s killing it.”
She grins. “I’m so excited. Next weekend’s Sunday dinner is going to be homemade pizza.”
“Sounds good, Momma.” I kiss her cheek and head to the kitchen for a bottle of water. I down it in one go, toss the bottle in the recycling bin, and get my ass back to work.
“What’s that?” Merrick asks, pointing at me.
“What?” I wipe at my face.
“You’re smiling.” Maverick’s voice is accusing.
“Did Mom give you happy pills?” Orrin jokes.
A car pulling out of the driveway gets their attention. “Who’s that?” Archer asks, wiping sweat from his brow.
“Oh, Ramsey picked up Blakely,” Declan tells him. “She’s taking her for ice cream.”
Archer grins. “Blakely is all smiles, I’m sure.”
“She was,” I tell them.
“Jade and Piper are meeting them,” Orrin says, sliding his phone into his pocket. “She just texted me.”
“Palmer was with her.” I work on keeping my facial expression smooth, not giving anything away.
“Was she now?” Ryder smirks.
“Girls’ day, I guess.” I shrug like it doesn’t matter to me.
“Interesting.” Sterling crosses his arms over his chest.
“What? That they’re having a girls’ day? Blake asks for it all the time,” I remind them. “She had a blast when they all stayed at Deacon’s.”
“Oh, we know.” Rushton laughs. “I’ve heard her ask Dec daily if they can do it again.”
“You’re in a better mood.” Archer grins.
Assholes. They know they’ve got me, but I’m like a vault. I’m not giving them anything. “Got out of the heat for a few.” It’s a lame excuse, and we all know it.
“You were gone like ten minutes,” Maverick points out.
“And you went for a drink that you didn’t get,” Merrick adds.
“I chugged a bottle of water while I was in there.”
“Uh-huh,” Merrick replies.
“Are we doing this or not?” I ask them.
“As much as I’d love to give you shit, I want to get this done,” Archer says, picking up his tools and getting back to work.
Thankfully, they leave it alone and get their nosey asses back to work.
“I love it!” Mom hugs Archer, then makes her way to do the same with each one of us. She doesn’t give a single fuck that we’re covered in sweat. She’s used to sweaty hugs from this brood. “Next Sunday, homemade pizza,” she announces, just as she did with me earlier.
“You’re making me hungry,” Rushton complains.
“Well, you’re in luck. Lunch is ready. I called in for a couple of subs, and Ramsey picked them up for me.” Mom turns to look at Orrin. “I was supposed to tell you Jade was here.” Mom chuckles when Orrin grins and jogs off toward the house.
“What about you?” Sterling asks me.
“What about me? Am I starving? Yes.”
“You going to go kiss your girl?” Declan goads me.
“I gave Blakely a kiss before she left earlier.” They don’t need to know that I kissed Ramsey and Palmer too.
“Oh, Dec, it was so cute.” Mom goes on to tell Declan and the rest of my brothers the story, spilling the beans.