Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
She was about to tell him to forget dinner and take her to bed when her stomach growled. He was right. She was hungry.
Hawking held her hand as they headed back to the basement. When they arrived, everyone was already gathering around the big table, and the smell coming from the steaming platters in the center made her mouth water.
Celeste shuffled closer. “Are those meat pies?” She inhaled deeply.
Sadie nodded. “Yes. Don’t they look delicious? I kept hearing about meat pies from the guests, so I asked the chef if he would make us some. He seemed excited to prepare a locally famous dish for us.”
“I love meat pies. I haven’t had one in ages. My mother used to make them. They are the perfect comfort food,” Celeste informed them as her Daddy pulled out a chair, helped her sit, and pushed her closer to the table.
“I’m sure we’re in for a treat,” Magnus stated. “So far, everything we’ve eaten here has been divine. I’m going to have to start working out an extra few hours a week if I don’t want to gain twenty pounds.”
Celeste giggled. “I don’t think any of you are in danger of getting flabby.” These six men were the most muscular male specimens she’d ever been this close to. “Do you guys even have an ounce of body fat?”
Kestrel tugged on his ear lobe. “Here, I think.”
Rocco snorted. “Delicious dinners or not, if we’re going to continue to find and protect a gaggle of Little girls, we’re going to need to be fit and sharp.”
Phoenix reached for the serving tongs next to the closest platter. “I’m starving. While we eat, we should probably discuss a protection detail for this upcoming trip to town. I’m glad we don’t have to leave the south island for Celeste’s interview, but I still think we need to be diligent.”
Kestrel nodded agreement as he picked up another serving utensil and snagged three pies from the closest platter. “I was thinking about that. What if we transport Celeste by helicopter?”
Caesar took the tongs from Phoenix. “I had similar thoughts. I was thinking if we left the resort by boat, perhaps no one would notice. I bet every entrance and exit available by car is being monitored.”
Celeste felt an overwhelming sense of belonging while she listened to these men discuss her safety so matter-of-factly, as if they were a family and she was an important member. It made her tear up a little.
“You okay, CB?” Hawking asked, tipping her chin back to meet her gaze.
She nodded and grabbed her napkin to dab at her eyes. “I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone so devoted to me before, and now, I have all of you.”
“Do you have family, Little one?” Rocco asked.
She shook her head as Hawking released her to put a pie on her plate. “My parents were older. They’ve both passed. I don’t have any siblings.” She wiped another tear.
Hawking set her plate down and leaned closer to kiss her temple. “You have a family now, Cuddle Bug. All of us.” His voice was husky with emotion.
“Thank you. All of you.” She looked around the table at everyone’s smiling faces and nods of agreement before she sucked back her sadness and turned her attention to the disappearing pies.
The pile of pies was high. Celeste couldn’t imagine how the eight of them could possibly eat that much food, but somehow, after dining with this group several times, she figured there wouldn’t be a crumb left in about half an hour.
The room grew silent as everyone started eating. In a moment, moans of approval filled the room. “This is so good,” Celeste said as she lifted the flakey mince-meat-filled pastry to her lips again.
Rocco groaned. “Delicious. Mine is chicken, I think.”
“Mine is steak and mushroom and, maybe, also cheese,” Hawking said, tipping it to examine it closer.
“Probably. That’s a pretty popular one,” Celeste informed him. She eyed his pie longingly.
Hawking caught her, took one more bite, and then snatched hers from her hand and replaced it, trading with her.
When her eyes widened, he grinned and took a huge bite of the mincemeat. “Damn, this one is also fantastic.”
Celeste had to fight the tears that wanted to well up again at his kind gesture. He really was the best Daddy in the world. She took a bite of her swapped pie and closed her eyes around the flavors that burst on her tongue.
Sure enough, it didn’t take long for all the pies to disappear, though she noted the men made sure she and Sadie had as much to eat as they wanted before they continued filling their stomachs until everything was gone.
“Uh, guys,” Sadie said, “we still have dessert.”
Rocco set his hand on the back of her chair and shook his head. “No way I can eat another bite.”