Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“I’m on my way. I’ll have to stop by the house to get a gas can, so give me like thirty, okay?”
“Thanks. And please don’t tell my dad, okay?”
Millie smirks. “Sure thing. See you in a few.”
She hangs up and looks up at me.
“Feel like rescuing a teenager?”
“Let’s go. I’ll follow you home.”
“I was hoping for a ride. I walked this morning.”
I pull her to a stop and glare down at her. “You walked? Jesus, why didn’t you say something? I would have given you a ride.”
“Because that would have been the opposite of what I wanted. I like to walk to work.”
“Not at fucking five in the morning, Millie. Absolutely not.”
She rolls her eyes at me, earning her a smack on the ass, and she gapes at me.
“Did you just spank me?” Her cheeks are flushed in pleasure, and I file that little nugget of knowledge away for later.
“When it comes to your safety, you won’t defy me, baby girl.”
“God, you’re overbearing.” She grabs her purse and leads me to the door. After she sets an alarm and locks the door behind us, she follows me to my truck, and I open the door for her. “So, about the spanking thing.”
I tip up an eyebrow.
“Do it, and I’ll hit you back.”
I lean into the truck and press my lips to her ear. “Challenge accepted.”
After clicking her seat belt into place, I shut the door and walk around to my side of the truck.
“I have a gas can in the back,” I inform her. “No need to stop at the house.”
“Handy.”
Jake is the last kid parked in the lot when we pull into the high school. He’s sitting on his open tailgate, looking at something on his phone, and looks up when he hears us approaching.
He looks surprised to see my truck, and when we get out to join him, he immediately offers me his hand.
“Hey, I’m Jake. I heard you married my aunt Millie.”
I take his offered hand, impressed with his firm shake. “I did.”
Jake smiles at Millie. “Congratulations. I think everyone is pissed that you eloped.”
“Why do you say that?” she asks as Jake gives her a hug.
“Because they look pissed, and I can’t think of any other reason for it.” He shrugs, and Millie’s eyes fill with tears, and Jake looks at me in a panic.
“Shit, don’t cry. I don’t think they’re that mad. I take it back, Mill. Please don’t cry.”
“You’re the sweetest boy in the whole world,” she says as she folds him into a maternal hug that tugs at my heartstrings. She rocks him back and forth. “Just the best kid ever. You’re my favorite nephew.”
“You always tell Johnny that he’s your favorite. And August, too, when you’re holding him.” Jake winks at me, and I grin back at him. “So, which is it?”
“You’re all my favorite,” my girl replies as she sniffles. “And you give the best hugs. So, I guess I’ll do you a solid and not call your dad.”
Jake winces. “This is the third time I’ve run out of gas, and I’m pretty sure Dad’s annoyed. He doesn’t yell or anything, but I can tell.”
“I have an idea,” I say, getting the teen’s attention. I pull my wallet out of my pocket. “Take this forty bucks and tuck it into the glove box, like in the owner’s manual or something. That way, if you forget your wallet again, you’re not stranded. You’ll always have some cash on you.”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“Take it,” Millie says. “And put some gas in your truck. The fuel we brought with us should get you out to your ranch and back.”
“You’re the best,” Jake says and hugs her once more. “My favorite aunt.”
“You say that to all of us.”
Jake grins and then shrugs. “I cannot confirm nor deny that.”
“Brat.” She pulls on a lock of his hair. “You can always call me, by the way. For anything. I’ll always come get you.”
“I know.” He’s so happy and sure in that answer that it makes me smile. “Welcome to the family, Mr. Lexington.”
“You can just call me Holden,” I reply, oddly moved by his words. “And thank you very much.”
I get the gas poured into his tank, and then he’s off. Millie and I sit in my truck for a minute before I start the engine to go home.
“That’s what it should have been like for you yesterday,” she says before swallowing hard. “The same as what your sisters gave me today.”
“Babe, I’m okay.”
She turns to me and bites her lip. “I’m not. I’m not okay with it at all.”
“Let’s go home,” I murmur and start the truck, then drive the few blocks to the house. To my surprise, Millie’s mom is sitting on the porch, looking absolutely miserable.
“Mom,” Millie says in surprise.
As soon as I stop, Millie hops out and runs to the porch, where her mom stands and opens her arms for her daughter.