Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 185811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 185811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
And obviously my sister had left relaying that news to me.
“My, uh…” I gave Mo big eyes.
His dark eyebrows shot up.
Dark brows that went with the dark stubble he normally sported (except at times like now, right after his shower, when he’d shaved) and then there was dark hair on his arms.
This possibly meant dark hair on his chest, and other, better places, something I could not wait to discover.
My thoughts turned to the choice he’d given me at our first meeting of being in the room with him while he showered. Considering current events, that was a choice I no longer had.
And that was a crying shame.
But indisputably prudent.
“New boyfriend,” I finished, my voice kinda husky.
His lips twitched before his attention turned because Smithie was bowling through the door.
The bossman didn’t even look at me. He went direct to Carla, concern evident on his face.
God, I loved that guy.
“You have a new boyfriend?” Mom asked in my ear.
I focused on the task at hand.
“She has a what?” I heard boomed over the phone before I could answer.
Tex was awake.
Not a surprise.
Definitely a wildcard.
Tex had no kids. Tex’s history was a long story, and not much of it, until he met Indy Nightingale, was good. And one could say, considering after he met Indy he’d been shot, clubbed in the head, kidnapped and blew up a warehouse, that wasn’t good for him either.
But Tex would tell you all that had been a hoot.
And Tex was the finest man who ever breathed.
But he was a character.
A booming character, in all ways that could be, including audibly.
And the years that he’d been involved with the Rock Chicks (this being from the beginning, when he rescued Indy after she was kidnapped, this being when he got himself shot for that effort), plus the years he’d been married to my mom, he’d adopted all of us.
Especially me and Jet.
He was not a man who would hold my hand at a fair and shout how he needed to get cotton candy for his best girl.
He was a man who would run into the burning building me, my sister or especially my mother was in, even if there was little chance he would find us alive.
He’d risk his life, and give it, to try.
Obviously, I adored him.
“You’ll meet him Sunday,” I told Mom. “Listen, can you help Carla out?”
“We’ll meet him Sunday,” I heard Mom say, not to me, to Tex. “His name is Mo,” she went on.
“Mo? Hawk Delgado’s Mo?” Tex boomed.
Shit.
Of course Tex knew Mo.
Great.
My eyes went to Mo to see him standing guard over Carla while Smithie prodded her ankle.
From Mom to Tex, “I don’t know, sweetheart.” To me, “Does this boyfriend work for Hawk Delgado?”
“Um…yeah,” I said.
“Yes,” Mom told Tex.
“Well, all right!” Tex bellowed. “Boy’s as big as a house, built tough as a tank and he ain’t no chatterbox. He’s over, I don’t gotta listen to him blather on about a play-by-play of the last Broncos game while I’m watchin’ me a Bruce Lee film. Tell Lottie I approve.”
I nearly giggled, even though I had no idea who made him listen to a play-by-play of the last Broncos game. All of the Hot Bunch were Broncos fans. But none of them were men to hang at Tex and Mom’s house with their one hundred and fifty cats.
Though, I had a feeling they’d dig on Bruce Lee films.
“Tex approves,” Mom told me.
“Great,” I replied, now with a smile in my voice.
“I still haven’t met him yet, Lottie,” she warned.
Mom was going to love Mo.
“You will Sunday,” I reminded her. “Now about Carla.”
“Text us her address, honey. We’ll head over there as soon’s we’re dressed.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I murmured.
“Anytime, darlin’ girl,” she murmured back. “Love you.”
“Love you too. And tell Tex I love him.”
To Tex, “Lottie sends her love.”
A low boom of “Sheeee-it.”
I smiled.
That meant Tex loved me too.
“Later, Mom.”
“See you Sunday, Lottie.”
We disconnected as I watched Mo lift Carla like she was a sheet draped over his arms.
My nipples tingled and my thoughts went where they shouldn’t.
That being my hope he was just as much of a powerhouse in bed.
He carried her behind the screen so she could dress.
“I’m takin’ her to the hospital,” Smithie informed me.
“Good,” I replied.
Mo came out from behind the screen.
“Mo’s gonna help me get her to my truck. You lock the door behind us,” Smithie ordered. “And don’t leave this room. Mo’ll be back as soon as we get Carla in the truck.”
I nodded.
Mo scowled at me.
“I’ll lock the door, Mo,” I assured.
He scowled some more before he dipped his chin.
I turned my attention to the screen, thus Carla, and called. “Mom and Tex are heading over to your place as soon as they get dressed. You might want to call your sitter.” I paused, “And warn her about Tex.”