Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 48446 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 242(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48446 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 242(@200wpm)___ 194(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
He beamed at me, and when I tousled his hair, he reached for my hand.
I took the little hand in mine and squeezed it for a second as I realized I had not eaten since the day before. “God, I’m starvin’.”
“Sit down,” Cyrus ordered me as I walked into the kitchen.
I moved up behind him and wrapped my arms around the man. I loved hugging him, and the amazing part was that he always let me.
“Thank you for cookin’ so late,” I said, kissing his ear. “I appreciate it, Cy.”
He stilled in my arms and let his head fall back into the crook of my neck. I supported his weight and kissed his temple, loving the feel of his silky hair in my face.
“So, Weber…” Carolyn cleared her throat. “Where did you come from?”
I gave him a last kiss, a final squeeze, then stepped free and walked over to her and the boys. “I was in Guthrie, Oklahoma, at a stock show. I showed some horses for a man, did some saddle bronc for exhibition.”
She nodded, her lips pressed together. “And where are you off to next?”
“Alaska.” I sighed. “Gotta be out near Anchorage before Christmas.”
“Why?”
“Oh, I got me a job for the holidays,” I answered, noticing that Tristan was picking at his eggs. “And I need the money.”
“I—”
“Pardon me,” I stopped her, leaning forward, chin in my hand as I looked at her oldest. “You gotta eat them eggs, Tris, or you ain’t gonna get no bigger.”
His dark sapphire eyes flicked to mine.
“I swear you won’t. My mama told me and Spence that the only way we got so big was because we ate everything that was put down in front of us and we slept when we was told.”
“If I eat everything, I’ll get as big as you?”
“Yessir,” I assured him.
“But I don’t like plain eggs.”
“You like cheese on ’em?”
He nodded.
“Well, lemme see what we can do.”
I went to the refrigerator, found a bag of shredded cheese, and brought it back and told him to tell me when. Micah lifted his plate for some too, and Pip just started chanting the word for me until I sprinkled at least four tablespoons on his eggs as well.
Once they were all settled, I put it back, took the plate with the pile of eggs, bacon, and pancakes Cy offered me, kissed him, and leaned against the bar so I could look at the boys and their mother.
“Sorry, you were sayin’?”
Her breath quavered. “Weber, is the job in Alaska going to turn into something more?”
“Not that I know of.” I smiled at her and then at Cy as he put a bottle of Tabasco down beside me. “Thank you.”
“And here,” he told me, placing the tall glass of milk he’d poured for me close as well.
“Y’all want some milk?” I asked the boys.
“Juice is better,” Tristan told me.
“Not this late at night, and milk is always better’n juice. Or water. Water’s best.”
They asked Cy for milk, and Micah smiled at me when he started drinking his.
“Weber.”
I looked back at Carolyn. “Ma’am?”
“Please, call me Lyn, okay?” She sighed. “Would you consider staying here for the holidays and watching my kids for me?”
I squinted at her, certain she’d lost her mind.
“I… The reason I’m here right now is that my husband left for Las Vegas this afternoon with our nanny.”
“On a trip?” Though why would her husband go on a trip with the nanny if the kids were… Oh. Got it. God, I really was tired if it took me that long to figure things out. “I’m sorry,” was all I could think of to say.
“Me too.”
I looked at Cy, and he appeared pained and mad and worried, all at the same time.
“Weber.”
Looking back at her, I saw how she was chewing her bottom lip.
“I would ask my parents to help me, but they live in Half Moon Bay, and Tristan has soccer and piano, and Micah has to see his therapist, and he has an art class.”
Why was she—
“And I didn’t make any arrangements for Pip because I thought I didn’t have to, but now his preschool is out for the holidays, and he still has a music class, and they all have karate, and so now…now I’m screwed.” I felt the weight of her stare. “Unless I get some help.”
“Ma’am—”
“Lyn,” she corrected, eyes steady on me.
I shook my head.
“Weber,” she said, sucking in her breath. “I really need you.”
I studied her face. “I’m not one to accept charity, Lyn. I thank you for your kind offer, but you don’t know me from—”
“My brother knows you,” she interrupted. “And I see how you are with my boys firsthand, and I have never seen them take to anyone so fast, especially…” She widened her eyes, motioning to Micah. “I could drop them off every morning, and you can have my car, and I’d be here between five thirty and six every night to pick them up… Starting Monday, I’m in trouble. I don’t have the time to find someone I trust, and I can’t afford not to work, definitely not now that I’m a single mother.”