Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“All’s fair in love and war, Daddy,” she told him. “I love you, and that was a cupcake war.”
“Not what I was imagining you’d all do with those cupcakes,” he said dryly. “But yeah, I think the Fox has done fine, and Autumn and Brody seem to have enjoyed themselves, which is probably what he cares about most.”
Yeah, she was pretty sure they were the only reason he’d come here. The Fox wasn’t used to social events like this. He wasn’t used to having friends or having people care about him. You just had to be careful how you let the Fox know how you felt.
You also had to be careful about what you said around him, or you could end up with a gift that you really hadn’t expected. Like when she’d mentioned how much she’d love to see a baby elephant, and she’d then found two first class tickets to South Africa along with a voucher for a safari in her handbag last week. She still hadn’t shown Duke those yet.
Sometimes it was like she had a fairy Foxmother.
But she’d never say that to the Fox, of course.
Or to Duke.
“I’m going to go help Ink with the fireworks. You okay, baby?” Duke asked her.
She smiled over her shoulder at him. “I’m perfect. I have everything I could ever want or need. How could I not be?”
Turning her to him, he kissed her lightly before rubbing his nose against hers. “You are everything I could ever have hoped for, Little Rebel. Now, you stay back here, understand? Right by the others.”
“I will, Daddy. Have fun playing with your rockets.”
He was laughing as he walked off.
And, yeah, she confessed that she watched his ass as he moved.
Magnificent.
Walking over to Millie, she sat in the seat next to her. “How’s the foot going?”
“It’s going nowhere,” Millie said. “And neither am I.” Her sore foot was elevated on another chair with an ice pack on it. “Hack checked it over, and he said it’s fine.”
“Actually, I said that you look like you’ve twisted it and it’s slightly swollen, and to keep off it and elevate it,” Hack told her sternly. “And you’re going to listen to your Daddy and let him take care of you.”
Millie sighed. “Rats.”
Mr. Fluffy let out a small sigh, almost as though echoing Millie. He was lying at her feet with a pair of earmuffs on. He looked ridiculous and cute at the same time.
The other dogs were in Ink and Betsy’s bedroom which was well soundproofed.
“It’s all right, Mr. Fluffy. I don’t blame you,” Millie told him, reaching down to scratch his head. “You can’t help it if you want a hotdog. I get it. That food you’re eating tastes like shit.”
Sunny let out a surprised giggle. “Poor Mr. Fluffy.”
“Ooh, I think they’re getting ready to set off the fireworks,” Millie said, sounding more cheerful.
“Has anyone seen the boys?” Betsy asked, walking over with Zippy. She sat on a chair on Millie’s other side. “I can’t find them anywhere.” Zippy sat down on a rug that had been laid out on the ground. “I swear, those two are going to give me gray hair.”
“They’re just naughty, Mama,” Zippy told her. “Unlike me. I’m an angel.”
All three women looked down at the little girl in surprise. An angel, huh? Sunny had to hold back another giggle. She wasn’t sure that she would describe Zippy as an angel exactly.
“Ooh, look at that. Here they come,” Zippy said. She squealed and clapped her hands as fireworks started exploding in the sky.
So pretty.
12
FOX, BRODY, AND AUTUMN
The Fox wrapped an arm around each of his babies as the fireworks lit up the sky.
“Oh, they’re so pretty,” Autumn said, gasping with each one that was set off. They were standing far away.
The Fox wasn’t going to risk anything hitting his Bunny or Pup.
“They sure are,” Brody said, adjusting his glasses as he stared up into the sky.
They stayed silent for a long moment, and he just held them tight, spending more time staring down into their faces than he was up into the sky.
“Don’t you think they’re pretty?” Autumn asked.
“Not as pretty as what I’m looking at.”
“Ooh, that was smooth, Sir,” Brody told him.
“I can be a smooth talker.”
They were both silent.
“Sure you can,” Brody said, patting his back.
“Absolutely,” Autumn added, leaning her face into his chest.
Why didn’t he believe they were being sincere?
He was totally smooth, like butter.
The fireworks finished. Hmm. They were nice, but a bit tame. He could see why those twins had found some more entertaining fireworks.
As Ink and Duke started heading back toward them, the Fox saw some shadows coming out of the trees. There were those boys. Did anyone else see them?
Hmm, it seemed not.
“That was so much fun,” Autumn said, turning to look up at him. “Do you think we could have fireworks on my birthday?”