Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
He parts his lips to say something and then thinks better of it. He snaps his mouth closed and nods before standing and heading straight for his wife. Not that I thought he would do something different. I watch as he stops to stand next to her, pulls her into his arms, and kisses her cheek. Palmer doesn’t seem to miss a beat as she continues her conversation with her sister.
“Uncle Sterling, call for me when she wakes up. She’s no fun when she’s sleeping.” Blakely climbs off my lap and rushes off to swim.
Brooks stands there for a few more minutes before he kisses his wife one more time and leaves her to visit with her sister. He makes eye contact with me, and I give him a thumbs-up, letting him know I’m set. He nods and moves to sit at the table with Orrin and Deacon.
“You know, you and your brothers should come with warning labels,” Alyssa says. She reaches into her bag, that I’m just now noticing, and pulls out a towel.
“At least he warned you and didn’t ruin your phone.”
“Oh, he remembers the last time. What was that, three years ago when he had to buy Ramsey a new one?” she asks.
“Yeah.” I chuckle. “He learned his lesson. And don’t lump the rest of us in with him. We didn’t toss you into the pool.”
“No. You didn’t this time.” She gives me a pointed look. “But then there’s this.” She nods to Remi sleeping peacefully on my chest, where I sit beneath the canopy avoiding the sun. This is a prime baby-holding location, and it will be my excuse not to give her up to anyone who tries to steal her from me. Knowing my brother, he’s going to agree. I grin. I win, and they don’t even know it.
“What’s that smile for?” Alyssa asks.
I look up and see that she’s stripped out of her shorts and tank top, and she’s in nothing but her white bikini. Her tanned skin glistens in the sun. I have to pull in a deep breath because the sight of her knocks the breath from my lungs.
“This is the best spot to hold her. As long as I don’t move, I get dibs on sweet Remi.”
“That’s another thing.” Alyssa shakes her head. “Do you and your brothers realize how sexy it is to see you all shirtless and holding a baby? Hell, even fully clothed? If you’re looking to find a woman, babysit this sweet thing, and carry her around. You’ll have every single woman in Willow River falling at your feet. Hell, probably a few of the married ones too.” She laughs as if her words don’t faze her, but I can see the strain in her expression, and that laugh doesn’t reach her eyes.
“What about you?”
“It’s a hot package, Tank,” she confesses.
“You calling me hot, Tink?”
“Come on.” She rolls those beautiful brown eyes. “You know you’re hot.”
“Maybe, but I like when you say it.”
“Put those away.” She points at my face.
“What?”
“That smile. The naked chest, the muscles, the baby girl. It’s too much.” She shakes her head, and my smile grows.
“Come sit with me.”
She moves to the chair next to mine. “Here.” I pat my lap.
“Nope. You’re going to give me that baby, so I can snuggle her.”
“Sit here and I’ll snuggle both of you.” She freezes and stares down at me.
“Alyssa!” Kennedy calls out. “Ramsey needs your help. My husband won’t let me intervene.” Kennedy points toward the pool where Rushton has Ramsey in his arms, running toward the water. They crash into the crystal blue, and both come up, spluttering and laughing.
“Oh, it’s on, Kincaid.” Alyssa tosses her towel onto the fence behind me and takes off toward the pool.
“No running!” Blakely calls out, making us all laugh.
I watch as Alyssa dives into the pool. She swims over to Rushton and jumps on his back, trying to dunk him. Ramsey tries to help her, but they’re no match for him.
“Piper!” Alyssa calls out. “Get your pregnant ass in here. We need backup.” Heath tosses his head back in laughter as Piper strips off her shorts and hands them to him before she leisurely steps into the pool. Piper stays back and laughs as Ramsey and Alyssa manage to take him down. And so it goes. They all play and goof off in the pool, and I’m content to sit here holding my baby niece and watch them.
No one tries to steal Remi from me, and part of me thinks they know I need her in my arms. If I wasn’t cradling her, my hands would be holding Alyssa, and we’re not there. Fuck me, I want us to be there, but we’re just not. That’s on me. I need to work this shit out in my head. With each passing day, it’s harder and harder to hide how I’m feeling. I thought the “take things slow” advice was a good angle, but now I’m not so sure. Maybe going all in and not wasting any more time is the better option.