Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“Talk to me.”
“Seriously, I’m fine.”
“Francisca,” he clips, and my chin jerks back in surprise.
I’ve never heard him sound annoyed or angry before. It’s a little scary, and for some crazy reason, it’s also kinda hot.
“Okay,” I give in because he’s obviously not going to. “I was just thinking that I should be the one researching things and looking up information. Shouldn’t I?”
“I think you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to, which is taking care of yourself.” He closes the distance between us and curls his hand around my jaw. “I’m not self-centered enough to believe that I was the only one caught off guard by the fact that you’re pregnant. And we’re a team now, so if you don’t feel like you can handle something, you can pass it over to me, and I’ll deal with it. Even if it’s just looking up shit online and giving you updates about what you might experience each month.”
My throat gets tight, and tears fill my eyes. For a guy who had no desire to be a dad, I have a feeling that he’s going to be a great one. “Okay.”
“Now, are you ready to experience some chaos firsthand?” His eyebrows lift in question.
“I hope so.”
“I’ll be there with you.” He leans down, touching his lips to my forehead, then opens the door while calling for PJ to come with us.
After getting on the elevator, he presses the button for the third floor, and what seems like only a second later, the doors open back up. Even before we reach the apartment at the end of the hall, I can hear the sound of kids laughing, people talking, and music playing. It sounds like happy chaos… but chaos all the same.
“You okay?” He takes my hand, and I tip my head back to look up at him.
I’m pretty sure I’d be okay in any situation if I were with him.
“Yeah.”
When we reach the door, he doesn’t knock. He pushes it open, and PJ ducks behind us to hide. But to my surprise, as a big dog that looks like a wolf saunters toward us, he forgets all about being scared and hops toward it excitedly.
“This is Skye,” Dayton tells me, then chuckles when a white ball of fur zooms in out of nowhere and side-tackles PJ. “And that’s Dolly.” Laughing, I pet both of my new furry acquaintances, then watch the three of them run off and disappear into another room, where I can hear the sound of kids screaming and laughing.
“They’ll be okay. Let me introduce you to everyone,” he says, and I turn to find six sets of eyes pointed in our direction, most of them with curiosity etched into the features surrounding them. I remember the couple I met when I was with Dayton down in the lobby, but everyone else is new to me.
Still holding my hand, he leads me toward everyone gathered around the island in the kitchen and starts making introductions as the kids, who had been in the other room, come in laughing with the dogs following behind them.
His brother Clay, with all his tattoos, looks the complete opposite of his wife, Willow, who’s a petite blonde with a kind smile. Their son is an adorable mix of the two of them and obviously obsessed with his dad.
Miles is also a big guy with rugged features and dark hair, and his wife, Emma, is stunning. Their daughter, who Miles shares with another woman, is adorable and obviously the ringleader of all the kids, who follow her wherever she goes.
Tucker and Miranda, who I met and liked the moment I first saw them, grin at me. I can’t help but to notice how perfect they seem together and how sweet their little family is. As I get hugs from the girls and smiles from the guys, I instantly feel welcome. I also have a lot of questions.
Sure, Clay, Miles, Tucker, and Dayton could all be biological brothers, but I know Dayton said he grew up in foster care and that he doesn’t know his family. So it leaves me to wonder what the story is here and how all of them are connected.
As Dayton guessed, it isn’t long before the girls all draw me in to hang with them while the guys go to watch the kids in the playroom. All except Jenny, who Miranda keeps with her so she can give her a bottle.
“Do you have any nieces or nephews?” Emma asks as I watch Miranda burp Jenny, who is half asleep after eating.
“No. Honestly, I’ve never had much contact with babies. None of my friends have kids—or not yet at least—and my cousins who do have younger kids live out of state, so I don’t see them often.”
“Do you want to hold her?” Miranda asks when she finishes burping Jenny, and panic wraps around my insides.