Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Good night, Lee,” Beau said dismissively.
“We should probably stay too,” Scott said, unfazed by Beau. “It’s late and a risk to get home with how much we’ve had to drink…”
“Figure it out,” Beau said, finally sitting up and paying attention to his surroundings. “Lauren can get you home. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Har, har.” Scott tucked an arm back around Lauren and turned to leave. “He’s always testy these days. Remember when he used to be a nice guy?” He didn’t wait for an answer before adding, “It’s hard for me to remember too.”
The never-ending banter between those two left me hiding a smile. When I turned back to Beau, he bent over the arm of the chair to be right in my face. “You know, we could take off to Houston tonight. Amelia said Belle’s arrivin’ first thing in the mornin’. She’ll be here until we return on Monday afternoon.”
“How did Amelia respond to the idea of additional help?” I whispered. Amelia was quite protective of the children and preferred to keep other adults out of the house until they were properly vetted. No one ever passed her tests.
“I sold it to her as a present for the girls. She’s comin’ as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She’ll stay in character for the length of the stay,” Beau reminded me. “I showed her all the background tests she passed from Care.com.”
“Ahh, yeah, I remember now. She’s costing about three hundred dollars, right?” I asked. When Beau started to move away, I locked an arm around his neck, keeping him close. “That doesn’t seem like a lot for two days of Belle.”
“I didn’t think so either,” he said, giving a giant yawn in my face. “Let’s just leave tomorrow. Come to bed with me.” Of course Beau broke my hold and drew me up with him, walking side by side to our bathroom entrance. “She reduced her price because she’s lookin’ for a part-time job with us. She’s bringin’ a Disney library to read. The girls are so smart, they’re gonna have fun. She’s plannin’ a tea party in the treehouse.”
I pushed open the door, and cold air blasted us. Beau slipped inside first. I got the peck I expected as he passed by. “They’re so curious. I bet that’s how you were growin’ up.” He gave me another kiss with a giant grin while he descended then retreated. “At their age, I was flingin’ myself off the end of the boat dock. I never learned not to do it. They had to jump in and save me several times until I figured out how to save myself.”
“I love you,” I said, locking us inside the house before edging past Beau into the bedroom. “I’m going to check on the kids and shut the house down. I’ll be back to lay in bed and talk about nothing until you fall asleep on me.”
“I’m leavin’ shorts on the bed for you. The pajama pants have to go,” Beau said, disappearing into our closet.
“I can’t let you win,” I confessed, heading back to the bathroom.
“I know it’s hard on you,” he said with his head poking out of the closet. He was relaxed and still grinning ear to ear. He must have enjoyed the day. Those bright smiles he was throwing out were reserved for only the best of times. “Don’t worry, I won’t count the win. Consider it a birthday present.”
I lost him to the closet once again while I did my part to secure everyone inside the house and setting the alarm. As suspected, Scott’s two older children were gone. The rest of the girls were asleep on sleeping bags all over the living room furniture and plush rug on the floor. Both dogs were sleeping near them. Amelia dozed in her recliner. West was knocked out in a smaller rocking crib near her. He’d had a huge day. These scenes always filled my emotional bank until it spilled over. I vowed to never take any of this for granted. I flipped off the overhead light and started for my bedroom.
Beau
Since we married, Dash and I established a new anniversary tradition: we took turns planning the celebration. This year fell to me. Dash gave me the odd years due to my personality. He thought that joke was hilarious. Me? He needed to leave humor to those who knew how to deliver a joke.
This was our first anniversary alone since the kids arrived. In the theme of “go big or go home,” I’d splurged on a junior suite at the newly opened Escape Resorts, a luxury hotel on the west side of Houston. I aimed to wine and dine my guy. I envisioned medium rare T-bone steaks, artery clogging loaded baked potatoes, overflowing bottles of wine, and loads and loads of carnal sexcapades. We’d make up for every time our responsibilities thwarted our sexy time.