Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
After another moment or two, Jude sets Maggie down on the floor, and Maggie runs toward her mother, grinning. Jude realizes that she has been watched and smiles and waves her hand shyly. Everyone coughs and looks away or, in some other manner, pretends to be doing something, anything else as they suddenly move about the space again, picking up things, cleaning things, or talking to each other. We are hilariously dorky at trying to pretend we weren’t watching them, and it is painfully obvious.
I can’t help but wonder what Jude talked to Maggie about, and that lingers with me for a while. After pie and coffee and a little more storytelling, the men help put the babies to bed before moving to the kitchen to clean up as the women sit outside on the patio and visit with each other.
Rem is the first one to start asking me questions, which does not surprise me. I had the sense that my brothers couldn’t wait to get me alone all night for this specific moment.
“So, I thought you were never going to settle down, dude.” He is razzing me, trying to irk me. It doesn’t work.
“Hey, you know what it’s like when someone comes along that you don’t expect, and that was never a part of the plan.” I splash him with a wet sponge, giving him hell right back.
Seb butts in. “Well, if you are going to settle down, that’s the girl to do it with. There is nothing about her I don’t like. She fits. You need to lock and load that shit as fast as possible.”
“He can’t fucking lock and load it yet, he hasn’t known her that long.”
“Anybody can do anything, at any time, when it’s right. That one is right. Besides, the girls already like her. You know how hard that’s going to be to duplicate? We will never see that again in our lifetimes. They are too different. But the three of them?” Seb nods. “They’re three peas in a pod.”
Pops jumps into the kitchen. “I better see her at every fucking dinner from now on. That’s all I got to say about it. And I ain’t asking, either. You better not screw this up, Son.”
“Pops, you can’t lay that on me. Jude gets to decide what she wants, and this is probably a lot for her.” Actually, I know for sure that it’s a lot for her, but I’m not about to tell them that.
Pops nods his head. “Yeah, I can see that, but we’re also good for her. Even if, for some reason, you are stupid enough to not marry her, she still belongs here. We’re adopting her. Period. End of subject.” He walks out, and I shake my head, wondering how I will be able to convince Jude to join us.
Rem shrugs his shoulders and says, “The Lord has spoken.”
I realize then, I feel happy and free. Never before have they given a stamp of approval on any part of my life. When I joined the military, Pops was excited, but Rem and Seb were disappointed, even if they never said it.
Seb and Rem had different paths, ones that involved picket fences. Not my path. Or, at least, I had never thought I wanted a picket fence. But now? God knows, I have been thinking about them lately.
Their approval is a big deal, and Pops liking her as much as I do? Yeah, that is just icing on an already fucking delicious cake. I would be a fool not to keep her if I could.
When we arrive home, Jude kicks off her shoes and sinks into the couch. I do the same but remain standing in the foyer.
“Would you like something to drink? Maybe some tea?”
“Tea? I think it is a little too late for me to have more caffeine.”
“No, I was thinking of some sleepy time or chamomile. Something soothing, and while you drink it, we could sit and talk for a bit. Unwind.”
“I would like that.” She nods.
“I have a request, then if you don’t mind?”
“Sure. What is it?”
“Would you stay in that dress a little longer?” I grin at her, unable to help it. She looks so fucking hot. It’s been driving me crazy all night. Part of me wanted to rip the thing off and lick the skin beneath while the other wanted to just stare at her all night.
She chuckles, and even from a distance, I can see her eyes sparkling. “Yes, Lex, I will. But don’t keep me waiting too long. I might slip out of it and into some pj’s.”
I laugh and head into the kitchen. I make us a quick pot of tea and bring it in with two cups. Before my ass hits the couch cushion, I ask, “So, today must have been overwhelming as hell for you. Did they make you feel as comfortable as you looked?”