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)
Her pretty hazel eyes warmed and she pulled herself up so she was curled in a ball in his lap, not beside him on the bed, her cheek tucked tight to his chest, his arms around her.
Her head in his lap didn’t suck, no matter how he had it.
But still, having her in his arms was a whole lot better.
“I don’t like that I didn’t handle things too well,” she told his pec.
“You handled them fine,” he told the top of her head, pulling her closer.
“I buried it. Acting strong isn’t the same as being strong.”
“Whatever works, works.”
She tipped her head back. “I fell apart, Mo. Lost it in front of everybody.”
“Do you think any of those men care you lost it in front of them?”
“I—”
“Lawson’s kicking himself in the ass a million different ways, he laid it out for you and the way he did,” he shared. “Education, Lottie. Those men love you. As for Lawson and Lucas, they respect you. And the only thing they’re feelin’ now is honored you’d trust them enough to show weakness. I’ll tell you what, if Tex, Eddie, Hank, Luke and the rest had a choice, only one, either to be there for you and catch that guy or be there for you to catch you, they’d pick the second. In a way, they got that. So move on. They have.”
“But, they’re action men.”
“They’re men like me,” he declared, and her eyes widened. “When I saw him and knew it was him, my skin itched to be out there to take him down. But every other part of me needed to be with you. Trust me. You didn’t fight Smithie’s decision to keep them in the dark and I can tell you feel bad about that. But they got to be in on the important part, being here now for you, and they know it. So get over it. It’s all cool.”
“Right. You’re hot. Have a huge cock. You’re spectacular in bed. You approve of my OCD tendencies. And you’re quick as a whip?”
He grinned at her. “That’s me.”
“Then I hit the mother lode.”
Because he could.
He did.
That being, he pulled her up even as he dipped down, and he took her mouth.
He kept the kiss gentle and light.
He wanted more, and he’d get more.
But he’d take it later.
He broke the kiss and asked, “Chocolate sheet cake?”
“Yeah.”
“You gonna eat that?”
“Probably. But Mom’s just using this as an excuse to get Jet to make one because she loves it. Tex loves it. It’s Eddie and the boys’ favorite. But mostly it’s just because Mom loves it.”
He grinned at her.
It faded before he asked, “What’s up with her arm? That happen from the stroke?”
“Yeah. Her stroke. She had it a long time ago. She fought to get her leg back, but we thought she’d never have her arm. A couple of years ago, some physical therapist was in Fortnum’s, getting a coffee and chatting with Indy while she did. She’d had some success with stroke patients, even years after the event. Indy introduced her to Jet, Jet and Tex talked to Mom, they started working and she got some mobility back.” She shrugged. “Not much. It isn’t strong. She can’t fully grip or lift anything. But she can use it to shove things around to position them and stuff like that. Anyway, something is better than nothing.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Though hate that happened to your mom, baby.”
“Me too. But she survived and takes care of herself, Tex takes care of the rest, so it’s all good.”
“Yeah,” he muttered.
“Mo?” she called, and his focus went back to her. “Chocolate sheet cake means the boys are gonna come over. Since Blanca’s probably watching them, and will hear what happened to me, she’ll wanna know I’m okay so she’ll come over. If Blanca isn’t watching them, one of the Rock Chicks is watching them, so they’ll come over. I need to shower. Get ready, albeit belatedly, to face the day.”
He bent in and kissed her forehead before he said, “I’ll go down and make sure they’re cleared out.”
“I don’t mind them here.”
He studied her closely and saw what he needed to see.
“Then I’ll make that clear.”
She nodded and gave him a little smile.
“Mo?” she called again, even though he was looking right at her.
The smile he gave her wasn’t small. “I haven’t gone anywhere, baby.”
“I know. And that was what I was gonna say. Thank you.”
It might make him fucked in the head, but in that moment, he really didn’t care.
Because Mo knew the most precious thing he’d ever heard in his life was Lottie shrieking, I need Mo!
“You really want a big wedding?” he whispered.
“Is that a problem?” she whispered back.
“Not even a little.”
His girl smiled at him. It wasn’t small that time.
And Mo smiled back.
Much later, Mo stood on Lottie’s back porch, feeling his jaw get tight.