Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“When?” I asked.
“Soon,” he said, reaching for my untouched Powerade bottle, flicking the lid open. “They’ll be here in about two to three hours. I couldn’t find a way to tell them no.”
“Right. Don’t tell them no.” I took a deep, steadying breath to dispel the lingering nausea. It didn’t help. “I’ll need to order in food. I’m not up to cooking. Do we need any baby supplies?”
“Nope.” Something in his tone had my gaze lifting to his cocked brow.
What now?
“They’re comin’ with the portable baby bed we sent when she was born.”
Dammit, I was outed. Beau had insisted I not spend over thirty or forty dollars on presents when the baby arrived. What could you even buy with such a low limit?
“I don’t think portable baby beds cost forty dollars max with delivery.”
“I got a deal.”
“You’re lyin’,” Beau countered. Damn straight. I rolled my eyes, then my head, and finally my body followed, turning to move between Beau’s spread legs, and placed my coffee cup on the counter behind him. I didn’t want him to be mad at me, mainly due to his cheap ass nature. He needed to leave future gift giving to me.
“Ding, ding, ding, some detective you are. Hold me.”
“Naughty boys don’t get lovin’” Beau replied, his lip curving up on the edge.
Ignoring that ridiculous edict, I wrapped my arms around his waist. It didn’t take much more than a few seconds for him to pull me closer.
“So we had sex at the party?” I asked, my cheek landing on his chest, staring out the back windows at the swimming pool. “Did I enjoy it?”
“’Course.”
“The way my ass feels, I’d say you hit it out of the park.”
Beau caressed a hand down my back. I was in desperate need of a shower and our guest drink options required an inventory check. The thought of booze ruined the small amount of willpower I’d managed to rally.
I shrugged off Beau with a yawn and started for the bedroom. My guy grabbed me by the wrist. “I’m goin’ to the store to get Scott some beer.”
“Give me twenty minutes, and I’ll go with you.” That suggestion seemed ambitious, but we’d see how it went.
Beau just shook his head and let me go. “It’ll take you longer. The shower alone takes you twenty minutes.”
“Make scrambled eggs. I’ll be fast.” I left him there to argue with himself. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking, and my hair wasn’t going to style itself.
I never imagined I could adore Beau more than I did, but boy, I got it wrong. The way he cradled Daisy Mae, Scott’s baby daughter, melted my heart in the most gratifying way. We needed to have children of our own someday.
“Sir, your credit card has been declined.” I had to rewind those words in my mind as I shifted my attention from the peaceful scene to focus on the phone call.
“That’s not possible,” I finally answered. “Can you try again?”
“I did, three times,” she said. “You’re a good customer.”
Sure, I appreciated the sentiment, but how did being a good customer have anything to do with my credit card? “Thank you?” I answered.
My shoulders tightened, and my belly knotted. It had to be a power play from my father. Were all my credit cards suspended now? “Can I pay cash to the delivery driver?”
“Absolutely. The total’s seventy-five twenty.”
“Great,” I said. Seventy-five dollars seemed a high price to feed four people.
“Give us about thirty minutes. Thank you, Dash.”
“You too.” I ended the call and brought myself back to the present. I’d delve further into this tomorrow.
With barely a toe through the door onto the patio, Beau’s gaze locked on mine. He swayed back and forth, cradling the baby like a pro. My heart did a somersault. “At first he was all like, nope, not touching her, and now I’m not sure he’ll ever let her go.”
“I feel like bein’ a godparent is like being a grandparent. I can love on her then give her back.” Beau’s genuine grin and heartfelt words hit me right in the feels. What a loving man. A good mix of loyalty, strength, and tenderness. No matter what curveballs my parents tossed our way, we would manage it together.
“Her face scrunches up at any noise or change in the breeze. I can tell she’s a fighter with a warrior’s heart.” He ran the tips of his fingers in small circles over her heart. “But I think she’s done somethin’ in her diaper.” He walked slowly toward Scott, suddenly ready to hand her off.
“I’ve got this one,” Lauren said as if anyone else was trying to take on the duty. Beau gently handed Daisy Mae to her mama who cradled her just as tenderly as Beau. “I’m gonna feed her. Maybe we can both take a quick power nap. I’m tired.”