Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Emery cleared her throat. “Kane, this is my mother, Wendy. Wendy Voss.”
I tore my attention from the child and forced myself to standing.
The older woman on the other side of Maci stirred, no doubt in discomfort, because there was something about this that was highly fucking uncomfortable.
You know, considering I’d had a kid with her dead daughter, and I had no clue who she was.
I roughed a flustered hand through my hair, a thousand words locked in my throat.
Apologies and sympathies that I hadn’t earned the right to offer.
“Good to meet you,” I finally managed.
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Kane.” Her smile was small but genuine.
Maci stole my attention when she pulled her hands free of their hold and bounced her way over to me, little arms flying in the air in excitement.
“Well, I fink it’s a very good choice that you want to be my friend, Mr. Kane, because havin’ fun is my specialty.” She stretched a tiny hand out in front of her, clearly wanting me to shake it. “So, what d’ya say? Best friends?”
Amusement wound with the heavy emotion.
This kid was adorable.
Beautiful and sweet and filled with this eagerness and light that chased off the shadows that lurked around me.
My hand shook out of control as I slowly reached out to shake hers, her tiny hand disappearing in my tattooed grasp, though there was no question she was the one who had her clutch on me.
Warmth streaking far and wide as she cast me the brightest smile as she pumped her little arm up and down.
“Deal! That’s a best friend pact, and you’re not allowed to break it,” she gushed, not stopping for a breath when she flipped right into another subject. “You wanna go swimmin’ now?”
A soft chuckle rolled out.
Tiny tot was a whirlwind.
“Well, I didn’t quite come prepared.”
I gestured to my jeans and motorcycle boots.
Appalled, her green eyes bugged out. “What? You don’t got a bavin’ suit? Well, you better hurry it up and go to the store.”
Emery’s hand was suddenly on the child’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Maci. Maybe he can go swimming with you another time.”
Except I wasn’t supposed to have that.
Another time.
Every damned cell in my body revolted at the notion.
Pure fucking mutiny.
“But that’s not even fun.” Maci gave a little pout.
Last thing I was about to do was disappoint her, so I pushed to standing and held up a finger. “Give me one second. I just might have an idea.”
I backed the couple of steps to the picnic table and sat down on the bench facing them, and I leaned over and untied my boots, shucking them and my socks from my feet. Then I rolled my jeans up the best that I could.
It only brought them to about midway up my calves, but it was going to have to do.
Standing, I lifted my arms out to the sides. “How’s that?”
Maci cracked up like it was the funniest thing she’d ever seen, head tossed back and face tipped toward the sky. “Are you gonna go swimmin’ in your jeans, Mr. Kane?”
“Guess I am.”
My attention drifted to Emery. To Emery who was toiling. Not sure if she should give or reject this idea.
Maybe what she was really contemplating was gathering Maci back up and running.
Shield her from the threat I brought.
Except, I didn’t want to be that.
Didn’t want to be a threat or a detriment.
This thing deep inside me that was flaring hot.
The only threat right then was the fact that I was getting ready to burst from the seams.
Wendy broke the tension that stretched between us. “Why don’t you all go swimming for a bit, and I’ll set up our picnic?”
A frown pinched Emery’s brow. “Are you sure, Mom?”
Wendy’s gaze landed on me, studying for a moment, her reservations palpable though hedged in hope. “Yeah, you three go on. I’ll handle this.”
Maci hopped into the air with her hands thrown above, hands clapping in time with the bounce of her feet. “I already got sunscreen on so the sun can’t bite me, and my bavin’ suit is on under my dress, so I’m all ready! Watch!”
She tore out of her dress to a pink one-piece bathing suit she had on underneath. A dolphin splashing out of the ocean was printed on the front.
“See, Mr. Kane! I got a dolphin because dolphins are so smart, just like me.”
Affection roiled.
Brimming and building.
“I bet you are very smart.”
“Well, yeah, no way are they gonna win me at cards.”
She turned to Emery. “You got your bavin’ suit on, too, Auntie Em? We gotta get in right now!”
It was the first time I allowed myself to fully look at Emery today.
Probably shouldn’t have.
Probably should have kept my unruly eyes on the child in front of me.
On what was important.
But there I was, taking her in where she stood itching ten feet away.