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)
My pulse sped an erratic beat.
Why did this have to be so uncomfortable? Make my stomach churn with a nausea I couldn’t shake?
These were the people who would replace me. People who would get to be a part of Maci’s day to day.
It both hurt and filled me with hope.
Lush trees towered above us, the thick, dense branches stretched out over the road and into the yards, shielding the massive homes that rested beneath their guard.
Kane made an almost immediate left onto a driveway that led down to a two-story house made of dark woods and stone and was fronted by a gorgeous wraparound porch.
There were a couple of motorcycles parked out front, and Kane came to a stop behind them.
“Is this it?” Maci peeped.
“Yep, this is it,” Kane said as he shut off the engine.
I was pretty sure the thud of my heart was deafening when he did.
What were these people going to be like?
I mean, look at Kane.
Okay, strike that.
Clearly, I liked looking at him a little too much.
But seriously, there was something there. An undercurrent. Danger rippling through his aura, verified by the innuendos that fell from his mouth.
Not to mention Theo. The pure menace that radiated from him.
Is that what they would all be like? Was I bringing Maci into some kind of horrible situation where she’d witness horrible things or was this a positive, these men who would gather around her and protect her with everything they had?
Nerves scattered, and I nearly came out of my skin when a hot hand suddenly landed on the top of my bare thigh, fingers digging into the flesh that was exposed by my shorts.
Kane leaned across the console, his voice rough as he murmured, “Don’t spin out, Little Warrior. Pretty sure they’re going to love you, too.”
“My only concern is Maci and how they’re going to treat her,” I rasped low.
Accept her.
Be positive influences for her.
Love her.
Emerald eyes twinkled. A softness subduing the stark. “These are the best people you’re ever going to meet.”
“Hurry it up, slowpokes. I gotta meet my new best friend,” Maci shouted, and Kane whisked away from me, stealing my breath as he went, my lungs bottoming out as he tossed open the door, climbed out, and went to Maci’s side.
The door swung open, and he unbuckled her and swung her up and into the air as he pulled her out. Maci howled with laughter, one second before she was on her feet and her hand was wrapped up in his.
He led her to the front of the car, that penetrating gaze on me as he waited.
Blowing out a sigh, I forced myself to unlatch my door and get out.
Warmth skimmed the air, and I could hear the faint trickling of laughter and voices coming from the backyard.
“Right this way,” Kane said with a gesture of his hand.
The same hand that he settled on the small of my back as I passed him.
A shiver tripped down my spine, and I faltered a step.
God, he was really trying to do me in.
Maci trotted along at his other side, their hands swinging between them, the child rambling away in her excitement.
“Do you fink he likes dolls? Because I got a lot of dolls. But I got books, too, and some games. I bet he really likes games.”
I finally managed to draw in a breath when Kane pulled his hand away when we got to the door.
He didn’t knock. He just pressed down on the latch and pushed it open, and he stepped aside to usher us in.
I took a tentative step into the great room of a modern house.
A huge kitchen sat off to the left, and an open living space was out in the middle that overlooked the yard beyond.
A curved staircase was to the right, along with a hallway that ran down that side of the house.
It seemed everyone was outside, and Kane guided us forward again, heading for the glass double doors that led to the porch.
The second he opened it, the chatter of voices clipped off, and a slew of eyes darted in our direction.
Nerves rocketed through me, and I found I couldn’t move.
Apparently, that was wholly unnecessary since Maci was enough action for all of us, bouncing out and smacking her hands over her head in time with her hops.
“Hi, everyone! I heard you wanna meet me real bad. My name is Maci!”
My heart locked.
Pained and overjoyed.
The little boy who’d been playing with a soccer ball out on the lawn turned around, his wavy blond hair blowing in the breeze, his blue eyes wide with his own excitement when he saw Maci standing there.
“Hey, hi, Maci! I’m Nolan! My uncle Kane said you were coming over to my house to play with me!” The little boy came bounding up the stairs, a dog wagging its tail as it ran along at his side.