Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“That looks pretty danged good to me,” I hollered back, my pulse speeding erratically as we approached.
She hopped from foot to foot, the child wearing another one of those adorable sundresses, her soft blonde curls done in pigtails that swung around her head. “That’s because I’m extra smart.”
“That’s right, you are,” I told her as I set the basket onto the soft green grasses below then grabbed the edge of the blanket and tossed it out.
It unfurled, and I knelt as it drifted down to the lawn. Maci hopped into action and grabbed the other side to help straighten it.
“And a huge help, too,” I told her. “Wouldn’t have been able to get this blanket down here without you.”
“That’s because we gotta do things together.”
“Yup. Together.”
I glanced up at Emery who wavered at the side.
Wasn’t sure how one person could look so captivated and terrified at the same damned time.
Maci scrambled onto the blanket on her knees. I plopped onto my butt on it and stretched a hand toward Emery. “Come on, lovie dove.”
Redness streaked all over that pretty face, and she hesitated for only a beat before she dropped to her knees, teeth gnawing at that bottom lip as she inched forward until she was in the middle with us.
Maci grabbed either side of Emery’s face and screeched, “It’s picnic time!”
Laughter rolled out of me. The kid was so adorable I couldn’t fully process it half the time. The way my heart felt like it was going to blow whenever I looked at her. Way everything that was wrong seemed to right itself when she was in my arms.
“You’re hungry, huh?” I asked as I grabbed the basket so we could pull out the food.
“Don’t you know you get hungry when you’ve been workin’ in the kitchen all day?”
Amusement rolled, and Emery and I shared a glance, our love for this little girl so distinct.
She and I pulled everything out of the basket, Emery ripping off the lids to the containers.
One held these cute little sandwiches that had been cut into different shapes.
Another with fruit, crackers, and cheese.
Plus three juice boxes.
Maci was the one to pass those out. “One for you. One for you. And one for me,” she peeped.
I picked mine up, unwrapped the straw, and jabbed it into the foil hole.
Holy hell, had my life changed.
From tequila to juice boxes.
I brought the tiny straw to my mouth, and not for one second did I feel the need to complain.
“Fought you would like that because cherry is my favorite, and I know it’s your favorite too since we got all the same favorites.”
“That’s right, we do.”
Maci grabbed a sandwich and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing around the ham and cheese. “Like this one,” she garbled around her food.
Affection pulsed. I was probably supposed to tell her to chew with her mouth closed, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that right then. Not when today was about this.
About this family.
About making it permanent.
I couldn’t help but look at Emery, guts getting all twisted up again as I peeked at her nibbling at the edge of a sandwich, blonde hair stirring in the gentle breeze that whispered through the trees.
Every distinct curve and line of her gorgeous face striking beneath the bright rays that slanted in through the giant shade tree above.
The sound of the stream babbled in the distance, and I didn’t think I’d ever felt as much peace as I did right then, even though I was shaking apart in my boots at the same time.
Maci gobbled up three sandwiches, chattering the whole time.
“Wow, you sure are hungry,” I told her as she stuffed a giant piece of watermelon in her mouth, something I’d been sure to pick up when the three of us had been at the store since I knew it was definitely one of her actual favorites.
A swell of protectiveness hit me unbidden. It felt like I was hunting the whole time I was at that store. Searching through every face like I might uncover the motherfucker who’d tried to abduct Emery, this piece of shit who’d disappeared without a trace.
We hadn’t been able to pick up on his trail.
Not one damned clue as to who it had been.
Four days had passed without any other incidents in town, but I wasn’t about to chalk it up to random.
Maci’s tinkling voice cut off my spiraling thoughts. “I’m a growin’ girl. I’ll be five ’fore you even know it, and that means I’m gonna get to go to school. Did you know my best friend Nolan goes to school?”
“Sure did.” I hesitated, nerves gripping me tight, and I glanced at Emery for encouragement. For her to give me the go that what I was doing was right.
Moisture brimmed in those toffee eyes, her spirit so alive, wrapping around me like an embrace.