Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
A growl rumbles low in my chest at the same time Willow cackles again.
First up: help my wife deliver our son.
Second: kill my friends.
I drop my keys on the table and secure my gun in the drawer as Wolf comes barreling through to greet me.
“Hey, buddy, let’s get to our girl.”
He takes back off, leaving me to trail behind him.
I stop in the living room to review the pile of boxes delivered earlier today. The security monitors showed four trucks coming and going. I have picture proof each box was placed on the porch.
Which means Willow hauled them in herself.
Another half-dozen shopping bags sit close, all courtesy of Stacy’s earlier visit.
The smell of Italian grows stronger the closer I get to the kitchen, but Willow is not in her usual spot by the fireplace with Beckett.
A faint thumping comes from above, and I follow the sound to the only room up the stairs. Willow added this room to the original plans, explaining she thought we may want the extra space.
She rattled on about a playroom, game room, or whatever else we chose to do with it.
We were barely in the house two weeks before Beckett came and hadn’t discussed any plans for it since.
I stop dead when I find Willow on a ladder, hammering a picture hanger. My eyes go to our son who’s bundled in his little chair, his eyes darting around the room. Wolf lies protectively beside him, staring at me with understanding in his doggy gaze.
He knows Willow is in trouble.
“Princess, what the hell are you doing?”
She jumps, swaying haphazardly. I get to her in one stride, steadying the ladder.
“You scared me.”
“Don’t know how since we have a security alert system.”
Her eyes widen and she pulls her bottom lip through her teeth. “I must not have heard it over the hammering. You’re home early.”
“That’s what you have to say to me?”
“Damn you, Talon, this is supposed to be a surprise!” She tries to push me away, but I catch her under the arms and haul her into me
“We have a deal, and you’ve broken it multiple times today.”
“No, you have an archaic opinion that I am not allowed to do anything worthwhile.”
“You agreed to take it easy.”
“I do take it easy. It’s been seven weeks. I’m healed.”
“Not part of the deal.”
“Your deal. Carrying in a few boxes from the porch and decorating aren’t crimes against humanity.”
“Taking care of yourself and our son is your job right now.”
“We’re both fine. I wanted to work on my house today.”
“Then you wait until I get home.”
“This was supposed to be done to surprise you,” she huffs out. “But no, Captain America decides to come home early.”
My lips twitch at the reference.
“Nothing is worth you endangering yourself.”
“It’s a ladder! Barely four feet off the ground.”
“Lose the sass, Princess.”
“Ugh! Fine. Since you’ve already ruined it, you can help.”
She ducks out of my hold and goes across the room, turning a large frame my way. Not much shocks me, but damn if I don’t stand there stunned.
My first Little League and my LSU jerseys, side by side.
“I had your mom send these to my mom, and we had them framed. She brought it over today.”
“Shit, babe, it’s been a while since I’ve seen those.”
“When I had the architect alter the original plans, this was the inspiration.”
“My old baseball jerseys? For a game room?
“No, your accomplishments for your game room.”
“Mine?”
“Yes, I designed this especially for you.”
“Want to fill me in?”
She puffs out a breath, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. My cock goes hard at the annoyance in her expression.
“You are ruining the big reveal. This is a state-of-the-art, sound-proof, multi-functioning game room to rival all man caves in the universe.”
“Man caves in the universe?”
“Yes.” She flings her hand to the empty corner. “There will be a custom bar with a full-sized beer cooler. Over here,” she directs to the area in front of the windows, “will be a poker table for eight. It’s being delivered next week. That—” she spins, gesturing to the main wall, “will have an eighty-five-inch television with surround sound. The gaming systems are arriving this weekend.”
“You thought you could hide all this from me?”
“Not all of it because you watch the security cameras like a serial stalker, but I hoped some of it would be a surprise.”
“I pick out my television.”
“Huh?” Her nose scrunches in her adorable way.
“A man chooses his own television.”
“I planned to ask one of the guys to help me.”
I go to her, leaning the frame against the wall, and circle her waist. “I love the idea.”
The annoyance flees from her features and she wraps her arms around my shoulders. “You gave me my dream house, so I wanted you to have something special.”
“You give me everything.”
She lifts up, brushing her lips across mine. “I love you.”