Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“When are you getting married?” It’s a joke—I know by his smile he’s just teasing—but when I answer, it’s not.
“I got her ring. Just waiting to take her out on the boat again to ask her. As soon as I can get our moms to plan it, we’ll get married. I’m not fucking around with this. I’ve waited long enough. Not gonna take my time.”
“Christ, you’re going fast.”
“Not fast enough,” I say, and he grins then his expression shifts.
“Are you moving in with her, or is she moving into your place?”
“We talked this morning. I’m moving in as soon as fishing starts to slow down.”
“He lived there,” he states quietly, and I know he means Gabe. I no longer feel that ever-present jealousy when it comes to him. I don’t know what happened to it, but it’s gone.
“Yeah, and he’s gone in a way he’s never coming back.” His expression shifts at my words, filling with remorse. “She likes living next to her parents, and Lyra is comfortable there. I’m not asking them to leave, not when I’m getting everything I want in the end.”
“Like I said, happy for you, man.” He lifts his beer toward me.
“And like I said, not as happy as I am.” I watch Lyra and Bre as they come out of the bathroom and start toward our table, only to stop when someone steps between them and us. When I see it’s Gabe’s father, my muscles bunch. “Fuck.”
Bre told me she talked to Gabe’s mom the day after we made it back into town. She told her she wasn’t comfortable with Lyra being so far away for so long, especially with how young she is. She told me Patrice wasn’t happy about her decision and hung up on her. I stand quickly and head across the mostly empty restaurant.
“You won’t allow us to take our granddaughter to see her family, but you got no problem shoving a man who’s not her father down her throat,” I hear Jack say when I’m close, and my temper flares.
“Step back,” I growl, stepping between him and Bre.
Jack turns his cold stare on me. “You are not in this.”
“You’re wrong.” I look back at Bre and then down to Lyra, who’s hiding behind Bre’s legs. “Take Lyra and wait in the truck, babe.”
“Come on, you two,” Lincoln says, picking up Lyra and grabbing Bre’s hand.
“Do not walk away from me,” Jack seethes, grabbing Bre’s arm tight enough that she flinches in pain.
I see red. I grab his wrist, squeeze tight until he releases his hold, and then yank so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if I dislocated his shoulder. “Do not touch her, ever.” I grip his wrist. “Not fucking ever.” I look at Lincoln. “Get them out of here.” He nods and leads them away, and I wait until they’re gone to look at Jack, not letting up on the hold I have on him.
“Get your hands off me.” He jerks away, his face red and pissed off.
“Stay away from them, Jack. Unless Bre contacts you, you do not approach them again, especially not like you just did.”
“That’s my son’s wife and my granddaughter.”
“Your son is gone. That’s my woman and my girl. You are not a part of Lyra’s life. She doesn’t even really know you or your wife. You want to change that, I’m sure Bre would love for you to get to know Lyra, but you do not get up in her face and spout bullshit.”
“Fuck you,” he spits, his eyes scanning the restaurant before he storms off.
“You okay, Den?”
I look at Marty, the owner, and lift my chin. I pull out my wallet, drop some cash on the table, and take off to check on my girls.
“Everything all right?” Lincoln asks, meeting me at the front of my truck.
“Not sure,” I reply, looking through the windshield and meeting Bre’s worried gaze.
“You still heading out this evening?”
“Probably not.” After that scene, I’m not exactly thrilled about the idea of my girls being home without me there. “I’ll touch base with Zach and go from there.”
“Let me know. And if you need anything, I’ll have my sat phone on.”
“Thanks.” We say a quick goodbye before I swing in behind the wheel.
“Denver?” Bre starts, breaking the silence as I pull out of the parking lot and head for the house.
I jerk my head toward the back seat. “Wait until we get home, baby.”
“Right,” she murmurs.
I grab her hand, lacing our fingers together and trying to get my temper under control. “You okay, gorgeous?” I ask Lyra, meeting her gaze in the mirror, and she nods, but I can tell she’s confused by what just happened. Maybe even scared, and that does not make me happy.
When we arrive at the house, I carry Lyra inside and Bre sets her up with her iPad in the living room before we head to the kitchen to talk without her hearing.