Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Dec—” I start, but he stops me.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“I feel like you’re getting the short end of the stick with this deal. She’s relentless.”
“I can handle it,” he assures me. “Blake, do you want to spend the day with Kennedy?”
She looks up and then down at her crotch. “I’m wearing wiener pants.”
I can’t help it. This time I lose the battle with my laughter. “How about we go to your place so that you can change? You’ll need to pack for tonight anyway.” I turn to look at Declan. “Anything specific that she needs?”
“No. She’s an easy kid unless she’s wearing wiener pants,” he says, rolling his eyes playfully.
“Okay.”
Blakely stands, and Declan points back at the table. With all her sass, she goes back to the table and packs the coloring book and crayons into a pink backpack, and drags them to where we stand.
“Thank you.” Declan releases me, takes the bag, sets it under the desk, and lifts her into his arms. “You be a good girl for Kennedy today and tonight. Mind your manners,” he tells her.
“I will, Daddy.” She gives him a loud smacking kiss that he returns with vigor. Finally, he sets her on her feet. “Kennedy is the boss.”
“She an adult,” Blakely says.
“That’s right.” Declan nods.
It’s so much fun to watch the two of them. “Do you need us to bring you lunch?” I ask him.
“No, thanks. Mom brought lunch when she dropped Blake off.”
“You better let her know she doesn’t have to pick her up,” I remind him.
He nods. “I will. You two have fun.”
“Bye, Daddy. I love you.”
“Bye, baby girl. I love you too.” He waves to her.
She’s already pulling on my arm, trying to drag me toward the door. “Just a second,” I tell her before turning back to Declan. “I’ll take care of her,” I assure him.
“I know you will.” He leans in and kisses me softly. “Have fun, baby.”
My belly twirls with lust and so many other emotions where Declan is concerned. With his daughter’s hand clasped tightly in mine, we head outside to Declan’s Tahoe.
“I’m here!” Blakely calls out as we walk into Brooks and Palmer’s house. Everyone laughs, and my little companion eats up the attention. “I brought Kenny,” she tells the room.
“Come on in. The pizza was just delivered,” Palmer tells us.
I get busy making Blakely a plate with a slice of cheese pizza and pouring her a glass of milk in her new cup with a straw that I bought her during our trip to Target earlier today. “Here’s a napkin,” I tell her, sitting her at the table. “I’ll be right back.” I then go back through the line to make myself a plate.
“You’re good with her.” I look up to see Ramsey watching me.
“She’s such a good kid,” I tell her.
“It’s different, though. It’s… more. That’s the best way that I can describe it.”
“I’m not doing anything more than what the rest of you have done for her.”
“Haven’t you? She watches you.” She nods to where, sure enough, Blakely is eating and watching me. She waves and smiles before taking another big bite of her pizza. “The two of you have a connection.”
“I’ve been spending a lot of time with them.”
She nods. “I worry about that too,” she says softly.
“Yeah, you’re not the only one. They’re hard to resist. Declan can be very convincing.”
She laughs. “Oh, I know. My fiancé is the same way. I’m not just worried about them, Kennedy. I’m also worried about you. It’s easy to see how much you care about both of them.”
“I do.” There is no point in denying it. I tried to fight it, but it was a waste of energy.
“How long until you go home?”
A knot forms and twists in my stomach. “Grandma has a couple more weeks in her cast. We’ll go from there.” I look at her, worried she’s going to tell me to stop spending time with them. I know that I should, that hearts are going to break, but I can’t help it where they’re concerned.
“I’m not going to warn you off,” she says, and my shoulders instantly relax. “I will, however, tell you to think about your future. What do you want it to look like? Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten? Are they a part of that? If so, there are some hard choices that need to be made.”
“Declan tells me not to worry about it. That it will all work out.”
She nods. “They’re my cousins, but I think of them as brothers. They’re all honorable and trustworthy, and when they love, they’ll love you with everything inside them. For the right woman, he’d uproot his family.”
“I don’t want that. I mean, I don’t want him to leave Willow River. He has his business, and he needs the support for Blakely.”