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)
“Not especially. What’s going on?”
“I had to go to a meeting in Missoula, and my childcare for the rest of the day has fallen through. Do you mind going to watch Birdie until I get home? It’ll be around eight when I get back to town.”
Well, there goes garden planning, but that’s okay. I love that little girl.
“Sure, of course. Where is she? And do you mind if I take her to my place?”
“I don’t mind at all.” The relief in his deep voice is real. “She’s at home with the only babysitter I could find, but she’s just bailed on me.”
“Okay, don’t worry about it. I’ve got her. Just swing by when you get back to town.”
“Thanks, Mill. I appreciate it.”
“Drive safe.”
I hang up and head into town, bypassing my house and driving a couple of blocks farther to Bridger’s place on the edge of town. His house is cute, with a well-kept yard, but it’s a total bachelor pad. There are no flowers, no patio or porch furniture. No wind chimes. And I know that the inside is just as simple. He and Birdie have all the conveniences, but there are no pictures on the wall or extra pretty pillows on the couch. It’s so…bland.
He's such a man.
I pull into the driveway, and a teenager that I don’t know comes running out the door toward me.
“Are you picking up Birdie?” She sounds way too excited at the prospect of being rid of the kid.
“Yes. Who are you?”
“Shayna,” she says, as if I should just automatically know. “Sorry, I just can’t stay the rest of the day. I have stuff to do.”
“But you took the job.”
“Yeah, because have you seen Bridger? But then I realized that he wasn’t even here. It’s just the kid, and that’s such a drag. I have a party to go to. See you!”
And then she runs to her car and zooms out of here so fast, I’m surprised there isn’t smoke coming off her tires.
Birdie and I stare at each other for a minute, and then I can’t help but laugh.
Birdie grins and plays with her little dark braid.
“Hi, sweet girl.”
“Hi, Aunt Millie. She didn’t like me.”
“Oh, you’re pretty much impossible to dislike. I think Shayna just had a crush on your daddy and didn’t think this through. You wanna come hang with me at my new house?”
She jumps up and down, so excited, and I’m suddenly glad that my day took an unexpected turn. I haven’t spent much time with this little one lately, and I’ve missed her.
“Yes!”
“Good. Let’s go in and grab you a few things, and then we’ll go to my house. I’ll fix you something to eat. How have you been feeling?”
Birdie’s been dealing with an illness that no one seems to be able to pinpoint. She has good days and bad days, more good recently, which is a huge relief.
Some doctors think that it might be something that she just grows out of, but it would be better if we knew what in the hell it was.
“I feel fine. Kind of sleepy.”
Being lethargic was the biggest culprit. Keeping this kid awake has been a chore for the better part of a year.
“Do you need a little nap?”
“Not right now.” She slips her little hand into mine as we go inside. “I want to see your house.”
“Okay, baby. Let’s do that.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
HOLDEN
Ihaven’t been inside of my wife in two fucking days, and that’s about to change right now. My guys and I worked our asses off today to finish cleaning up from the fires and get everything ready to go for branding tomorrow, and that means that I’m headed home in time for dinner.
And for dinner, I plan to spread her wide and eat my fill of Millie.
Hearing her cuss those women out in her shop this morning was fucking sexy. I have no idea what got my girl so riled up, but after watching her claim me, show them her wedding ring, and then throw them out on their asses, I wanted to boost her up on that counter and sink inside of her right then.
She’s beautiful when she’s pissed.
I pull into the driveway and am walking through the door when I announce, “You have ten seconds to get nak—”
I stop cold when I see a little dark-haired, brown-eyed girl staring up at me, and all my plans for the evening immediately shift.
“Uh, hey, Birdie.”
“Holden!” Birdie jumps up and runs to me, throws her arms around my waist, and squeezes. “You’re here!”
“I am.” I laugh and bend over to kiss her head. “I live here.”
“With Aunt Millie?” She frowns. “Why?”
“Because we’re married, sweetheart. Where is she, by the way?”
“She just went to the bathroom.” Birdie takes my hand and leads me to where she was sitting on the couch. “I’m watching Paw Patrol. Come sit with me.”