Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 110721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
He stared at her for a long minute before once again giving her a nod of understanding. “Ready for dinner, Baby Bird?”
Taryn closed her eyes and pushed a breath through her nose. Did he call Wren that on purpose after she asked him not to?
Men.
But she forgave him quickly when he offered his hand to her son and he guided Wren to the house.
“Did you call me a baby bird?” her son asked.
Taryn could only see the outline of his profile as the man glanced down at her six-year-old. “Ain’t that your name?”
The sound of Wren’s belly laugh warmed her heart. “Nooooo! My name is Wren.”
“That’s what I said.”
“No, it isn’t!”
“Must need your ears cleaned out, Baby Bird.”
Taryn’s smile disintegrated the second she turned back and saw her mother’s expression locked down tight.
Great. Here comes a lecture in three…two…
“Taryn, have you thought this through?”
“Thought what through?”
Her mother flapped her hand around. “Whatever this is. I know you’re struggling to take care of the house, but this…” She shook her head.
“He offered me a place to live with my son for free, Mom. In exchange, I only need to help with his daughter.”
The things you have to do when you’re desperate...
“He might not be charging you rent, but I’m sure it will cost you in other ways.” She focused on the back door through which Wren and Stone disappeared. “How do you even know him?”
Shit. Her mother only knew a man stepped in to stop Vic that day, but because of the violence involved, she figured it was best not to tell her it had been Stone. Especially since Vic ended up in the hospital afterward for quite a while.
Knowing Stone had the potential to be that violent—even if only when pushed—would make her mother freak out and insist that Taryn not share the same roof.
Yes, his reaction had been a little over the top—even though she only saw the results afterward in light of her being knocked out—but at least he’d been brave enough to step in to help her.
“He was the one who stepped in to help me when Vic…”
Her mother lifted a hand. “Understood. But, Taryn, take it from me, you shouldn’t rely on a man. And this feels a lot like that.”
“Mom, I think I already learned that lesson.” A few times over.
“Are you sure about this? I’m worried about you, Taryn. I’m worried about my grandson. He seems like the opposite of a good man.”
Taryn sighed. “Are you going by facts or perception?”
“Well, he looks”—her mom flapped a hand around again—“unkempt.”
Unkempt?
He looked more together today than that first day she sought him out at the old school. But then, he didn’t have a hangover today and hadn’t just shared a bed with two women.
In fact, he looked damn good today. A tight, black tank hugged his amazing physique. The man certainly did not have a typical biker body. At least according to what she saw on Google. She figured they’d all look more like Patch.
“He doesn’t look respectable.”
Because he wasn’t. “Looking respectable and being respectable are two different things, Mom. You know who looks respectable but, in reality, isn’t? That’s who you should be worried about, not Stone.”
“Stone,” she huffed. “What kind of name is that?”
“A nickname. That’s all.”
“Well, I don’t like it.”
“Then, I won’t call you that. Remember, this is only temporary.”
“I can take Wren.”
Taryn’s heart skipped a beat. “No. I want him with me. And not only that, he’ll have Sunny. She’ll be the sister he never had.” Or at least she hoped so. There was no telling with Sunny’s attitude whether she would be kind to Wren or not.
Her mother clicked her tongue.
Taryn shook her head. “Please don’t turn into Grandma.”
Her mother squeezed Taryn’s arm. “I know my apartment is small, but if this turns out to be not as you expected, don’t hesitate to come stay with me. We’ll figure it out. You didn’t put the house up for sale yet, did you?”
“I’m meeting the agent this week.”
Her mother sighed.
“It’s for the best, Mom. The house is too much for me to handle, especially with only one income, and I’m worried Vic will show up at the door after he’s released. He blames me for his conviction and incarceration.”
“He deserves more time than what he got.”
“I won’t argue that.”
“But he’s a good example of some of the bad choices you make.” She turned her eyes back to the house. “Please be careful.”
“I will. Do you want to join us for dinner? I made Million Dollar Pasta.”
“Another time. I’m meeting the girls to play Pinochle tonight.”
She gave her mother a hug. “Well, have fun. Say hello to the ladies for me and thank you for dropping off Wren.”
Her mother squeezed her so tightly Taryn could hardly take a breath. “Please be careful, Taryn. A mother worries.”