Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
She smiles at me. “You know you’re in trouble, right?”
But even as she says it, her eyes are sparkling.
I grab her hand and hold it up. “Where’s the ring?”
She shrugs. “I figured you didn’t want to explain that to your family.”
I almost ask her to go back and put it back on, but I let it go. She waves to everyone in the kitchen and the dining room, but I pass them all to find my mom, dad, and Eli in the living room. “Mom, Dad, this is Lindsey. Lindsey, this is my mom and dad.”
Mom pops up from the couch. “Lindsey. Oh, I’ve heard so much about you.” She hugs her. “Welcome to the family. We’re so happy to have you and Eli as part of the Brody clan.”
Lindsey looks at me, and I nod at her. Is that guilt on her face?
She smiles at them, and Mom insists she sit down with her. My mom has a way of making people feel comfortable, so it isn’t long before they’re deep in conversation and Lindsey is wiping her tears from laughing so hard.
I’m watching from the corner of the room. My dad is with Eli and my mom is with Lindsey when Logan elbows me in the side. “She’s a good fit for the family.”
I agree with him. Now if only I can convince her of it.
Skyler comes out of the kitchen. “All right, the food is ready. Everyone eat.”
You don’t have to tell my family twice. People are in line, circling the island where all the food is set up. Everyone eats, laughs, and tells stories. Lindsey starts to relax, but it’s not until after lunch and she’s setting up her lights and props that she is most relaxed.
I walk up to her. “Can I help?”
She surprises me by walking up to me and wrapping her arms around my waist. “Thank you, Mills.”
I lean back to look at her face. “So you’re not mad at me.”
She smiles up at me. “No. A little notice would have been nice, but no, this is actually perfect. I would have been nervous about meeting your parents and—”
“Why would you be nervous? Everyone that meets you loves you. Eli too.”
Eli is hitting the wiffle ball on the other side of the yard with my dad. She looks over at him, smiling. “I wish Tammy could have been here for this. We always talked about how we wished we had a big family… She would have loved this.” Her face drops. “Eli is going to be devastated when we leave.”
I hold her possessively against me. “Maybe you don’t have to.”
Her head jerks to look up at me. “What do you mean?”
I shrug and hold her left hand finger in my hand. “I mean, maybe you and Eli can stay, and we can make this permanent.”
First there’s hope in her eyes, and then she looks away. “Miller, we’ve completely turned your life upside down.”
I stop her. “No, you haven’t. If anything, you’ve made my life full.”
“Can I go first? I need to get this done and back to the ranch,” Ozzy interrupts.
He was the one most reluctant about doing this, but he also likes Lindsey, and I think he would do anything to help put a smile on her face. Lindsey links her arm with his. “Thank you so much for doing this, Ozz. I know it’s not your thing, so it means a lot that you’re here and willing to do it.”
Ozzy hugs her. “You’re welcome. Now where do you want me?”
I watch Lindsey work, and she is truly happy behind the camera. She has a way of capturing people, and it’s obvious she enjoys what she does.
The whole family gathers for pictures, and to my surprise, no one complains—not even Ozzy.
Between shots, I step up beside Lindsey. “We’re not done with that conversation from earlier,” I murmur. “We’re going to finish it.”
She glances at me, then nods. “Okay.”
By the end, my mom works her usual magic, convincing Lindsey to hand over the camera. A few minutes later, she’s directing us instead. She gets shots of Lindsey with Eli and me, like she’s been part of us all along.
CHAPTER 21
LINDSEY
I burrow into Miller’s arms.
The Brodys have been gone for hours. Eli has gone to sleep because tomorrow is the day. The custody hearing.
Miller has his arms around me and his legs threaded with mine. His voice is a husky whisper. “You okay?”
I shrug instead of answering.
He turns me to my back and hovers over me. His hand trails softly across my cheek. “Did you have fun today?”
I put my hand on his chest. “You know I did. Thank you, by the way. I appreciate everything you do for Eli and me.”
He holds me to his chest. “You don’t have to thank me. I like seeing you two smile again.”