Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Mav is her favorite person,” Cybil says to my back, and I look down at Claire and kiss her cheek before I walk her over to the man she is trying her hardest to get to. Once we are close, Maverick holds out his hands, and as soon as I hand her over to him, she curls into him, resting her head on his shoulder. I tell myself that my ovaries are not exploding as I watch him kiss the top of her head and hold her with a gentleness that comes from experience, but I know I’m lying. He looks good holding a baby, even better than he looks shirtless, and that’s saying something.
“I should get my stuff.” I turn to Cybil, and Tanner shakes his head.
“Let’s leave it in the truck; we’ll drive it down to the shop and unload it there.”
“The shop.” I plant my hands on my hips. “Are you already kicking me out of the house?” It’s a joke. Kind of, because I know that the shop is actually Cybil’s studio, a place Tanner set up for her so that she would have a quiet place to make her bags.
“Of course not.” Cybil steps in front of her husband. “You can stay in the house with us if you want, but we just thought that you would be happier having your own space. Tanner and the guys finished renovating the shop a week ago, so I thought that since there is a bathroom and a kitchen there now, you could stay there. I mean, it’s kind of like its own place, so you wouldn’t have to stress about finding a place to rent until you’re ready.”
“What about when you’re working? I know you like your own space.”
“The living space is completely cut off from my shop; you have a door and everything. Plus, with you there, Claire won’t be waking you up all hours of the night like she does us.”
“I don’t mind her waking me up.”
“I know you don’t, but I want you to be happy here so you’ll stay,” she says softly, and I shake my head at her before going to give her another hug. I know even with her having Tanner and Claire here, along with the group of friends she’s made, it’s been hard having my parents and me so far away from her.
“You’re stuck with me,” I tell her, kissing the side of her head before letting her go.
“Sorry all the hormones have made me a mess.” She wipes the tears from under her eyes.
“Don’t apologize. I cried this morning too.”
“Why?” She takes my arm in hers and starts leading me up the stairs to the front door.
“Because Maverick yelled at me.”
“He what?” She starts to spin around to look at him, and I laugh, tugging her with me into the house.
“He got upset that I was outside barefoot with a bear,” I tell her, hearing Maverick chuckle.
“What?” she asks, sounding horrified.
“When I got up this morning, I let Pebbles out to potty, and next thing I know, there’s a black bear coming around the corner of the house, and Pebbles, who thinks he’s much bigger than he is, ran up to it barking and chased it up a tree. Then like an idiot, I ran out into the snow after him because he wouldn’t listen to me and come back into the house. That’s how Maverick found me, outside running around half-dressed trying to catch my dog.”
“Oh my God.” She laughs as I take a seat on one of the stools in the kitchen. “Thank goodness you and Pebbles are both okay.”
“I know.”
“Well, maybe we should think about putting a fence up near the shop. That way you can let him out without that happening again.”
“I’ll just use his leash; he’s pretty good about not taking a year when I take him out, so I think it will be okay,” I tell her, then look up at Maverick when he comes to stand next to me, still holding Claire. “You want to come see Auntie Jade?” I hold out my hand, and she shakes her head no while she clings to him. “Don’t you have to leave already?” I meet his gaze, and he grins at me like I’m being funny.
“I don’t, but you can have her while Tanner and I take your stuff to your spot,” he tells me, then looks at Tanner. “When is Jade’s car going to be here?”
“Anytime. The guy who picked it up said that he’d be here before three,” he answers, and Maverick lifts his chin, then hands Claire to me. Since she is not even a little interested in me holding her and is fighting me to get back to him, I kiss her cheeks to distract her and tickle her until she laughs. Tanner, taking that as his cue, heads for Cybil and gives her a quick kiss before he and Maverick both head out of the house.