Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“You’re an angel, but we’re good. Thank you for the offer. I miss my girl.” Brooks clears his throat. “And my husband. A quiet night in is exactly what we need.”
“Well, if and when you’re ready for that break, call me.”
“You’re going to have to compete with Mom and my mother-in-law,” Brooks tells me.
I lift my arms and flex my muscles. “I can take them, and if these don’t work”—I motion toward my biceps—“I have these.” I bat my long eyelashes that frame my baby blue eyes. I’ve been told many times that my eyes are lady killers and I have been known to use that to my advantage a time or two. No shame in my game.
“You’re too much.” Palmer shakes her head and grins.
“I’ll see you guys later.” With a wave, I head out the door, and I’m off to pick up my date.
“How was your first week of school?” I ask my niece. She’s sitting across from me in the booth because that’s what big girls that go to kindergarten do. Her words, not mine.
“Uncle Rush, it was so much fun!” she exclaims. Her voice is loud, but this place is packed tonight, and no one even turns their head at her excited reply.
“Yeah? Did you make any friends?”
“So many friends. Except for Jacob.” Her little nose scrunches up in distaste.
“What happened with Jacob?” I ask, already wondering what I’m going to have to do to get this kid to leave my niece alone.
“He pulled my hair at recess.” She’s appalled, and I have to clamp my mouth shut to keep from laughing. “Then, when we were in line to go to lunch, he tapped on my shoulder but moved to the other side.” She rolls her eyes. “He was trying to trick me.” She scowls.
“That’s not cool,” I say, feeding into her annoyance with this Jacob kid.
“Right?” she asks, sounding much older than her five years.
“Aside from Jacob, the meanie, what was your favorite part?”
She taps her index finger against her chin. “Miss Greene. She’s so nice and so pretty, Uncle Rush.” There are two kindergarten classes at Willow River Elementary. One of the teachers taught me, and the other has been the center of my thoughts over the last week.
My reply is halted when Blakely starts bouncing in her seat, waving her arms in the air. “Miss Greene!” she calls out.
I turn when I hear a soft feminine chuckle. “Blakely, how are you?” Crosby asks. Feeling my gaze, her eyes find mine. “Rushton.”
“Are you having a dinner date too?” Blakely asks, and I make a mental note to pick her up something special for reading my thoughts and voicing the words.
“I’m going to order something to take home to eat.”
“Alone?” Blakely asks, her brow furrowed.
“Yes.”
“No. You can eat with us, right, Uncle Rush? Miss Greene can have some of our pizza. I gots pepperoni, we can share,” she tells Crosby.
“Got,” Crosby and I correct at the same time.
“That’s what I said.” Blakely scoots over in the booth and pats the spot next to her. “Sit.”
“I really don’t want to intrude.”
“No intrusion. Blakely was just telling me about her first week of school. She’s rather fond of you.”
Crosby’s eyes soften as they move to Blakely. “She’s such a joy,” she replies softly.
“Join us. I insist.”
“What he said.” Blakely is once again bouncing in her seat.
“You’ve already ordered.” Crosby tries to protest.
“More food than we can eat. Breadsticks, a large pepperoni, and large meat lovers.”
“For the two of you?” Crosby asks, her eyes wide.
I shrug. “I’ll just box up the leftovers and send them home with Blake. My sister-in-law is expecting their second baby in a few short weeks. This way, she won’t have to make lunch tomorrow, and it gives both her and my brother a break.” Her eyes soften at my words.
“Then you should save it for them.”
“Nah, there will be plenty left over. If I need to order another to pull off my plan, I will. Please. Join us.”
“Please, Miss Greene.” Blakely puffs out her bottom lip and bats those long Kincaid eyelashes, and I know Crosby is going to be joining us for dinner.
“Thank you.” She slides into the booth next to Blakely.
It’s hard as hell not to just stare at her, but I’m not that guy. This night was about my niece, and while she’s with me, it will remain that way. I can sneak looks at her sexy teacher without her noticing.
“So, you told me about Jacob and Miss Greene.” I flash Crosby a grin. “What else happened this week?”
“We got to color the letter A, and Miss Greene told us all kinds of words that start with the letter A. We had reading time, and recess, and lunch, and it’s so much fun.” She sits back against the booth as if her confession took all her energy. I’m not buying it. I’ve seen my niece in action. She’s got more than that in her.