Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 131916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
I shifted on my feet, uncertain of what I was supposed to say or do.
“Charleigh?” She muttered it like a question.
“Hi.” I awkwardly fluttered my fingers at her.
Could I be more obvious?
“Did you even know Miss Charleigh was goin’ to be waitin’ for us here, Auntie?” Nolan bounced, his fingers threaded together like he was issuing a prayer.
Her attention volleyed between the two of us.
“Um, no, I did not even know that Charleigh was going to be here waiting for us.”
“Well, surprises are really good. I like surprises. Do you like surprises, Miss Charleigh?” The child was a perfect whirlwind. It wasn’t so hard to force a smile to my face.
“As long as they’re the good kind,” I told him.
He giggled like mad. “Well, I think you’re a good surprise. What do you think, Daddy-O? Do you think Miss Charleigh is a good surprise?”
River’s gaze swept to me. So intense it nearly bowled me over.
Redness splashed my cheeks, and I couldn’t look away from him as he stared at me before he said, “Yeah, I think she’s a really good surprise.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
RIVER
Shit. I’d allowed myself to get carried away, which wasn’t all that shocking considering I’d had the girl propped on the counter, her sweet little body tucked up close to mine.
Woman making me insane with the greed pounding through my veins. So out of my head with my desperation to have her that I’d let it slip my mind that Raven and Nolan would be right around the corner.
Should’ve given Raven a heads-up that Charleigh was going to be here when she arrived, but I hadn’t had the fortitude to think it through.
I was too fucking wrapped in the need to hold her. Protect her. Please her.
So, there I stood with my cock straining so fucking hard I thought I might pass out while my sister stared daggers at me like I’d stolen her favorite plaything.
Considering she’d chosen Charleigh as her best friend, I was pretty sure she was worried that I had. That I was going to do something stupid and fuck it up.
No question, I would.
Made it worse that she’d asked me to leave her friend alone if I didn’t plan on actually pursuing something real with her, warning me that Charleigh had been hurt enough and she didn’t need me adding to that.
And fuck. It was the last thing I wanted. To hurt Charleigh more.
Raven cleared her throat, shucking off the surprise as she waltzed the rest of the way into the kitchen. “Well, I’m glad to find you here, Charleigh, you know, since I waited for you at the shop and then texted you to let you know I needed to leave and then I didn’t hear from you. I was getting worried.”
She sent me another cutting glance.
Yeah, I was in trouble with my baby sister.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t even check my phone.” Charleigh patted her pockets while she looked around like she’d misplaced it, her attention landing on the purse that rested on the island right next to where I’d had her propped.
Redness heated her cheeks. No doubt, she was instantly picturing me having her there.
“It’s fine. I really was worried for a minute, but it looks to me like things are handled.”
Another searching glance my way as my sister set the two shopping bags she’d carried in onto the counter. “So, what are you doing here?”
“Did you come over for dinner?” Nolan shouted it right behind Raven’s question, the kid completely missing the implications swirling through the room.
“I was going to—”
“Yeah, she is staying for dinner, Nolan. So why don’t you guys hang out for a bit, and I’m going to do a quick errand, then I’ll bring dinner back. How’s that sound?”
“It sounds like you’ve got a smart plan, Daddy-O.”
Nah, was probably the biggest fool who lived with the things I was planning to do, but I knew I’d do whatever it took to give Charleigh the life she deserved.
The one she was begging for.
Uncertainty pulled through Charleigh’s expression, and I knew if we were in private, she would demand to know where I was going. I reached out and touched her hand, the girl the flame that licked through my senses.
“Gotta handle something. I’ll be back soon. Chill with my sister and Nolan.”
“Yeah, you should probably go. It seems Charleigh and I need to catch up.” Raven pulled a bottle of wine from a reusable bag and waved it in the air. Unquestionably, Charleigh was about to get the third degree.
But what Charleigh wanted to divulge to her was between them, and I didn’t want to stand in the middle of it.
A small smile tweaked Charleigh’s mouth, and she whispered, “I could definitely use one of those.”
“Good.” I started across the kitchen, ruffling my fingers through Nolan’s hair and tilting my head at Raven’s questioning expression as I passed.