Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 551(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 551(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
I give her a thumbs-up. “Got it.”
“But if I tap your head and I say goose, then you have to chase me.”
“Great refresher of the rules. Thank you, Junie.”
“You’re welcome,” she singsongs, skipping around our circle. “Duck. Duck.” She pauses beside me, before tapping my head and yelling, “Goose!”
I push up to my feet. “Oh, girl, you’d best run, ’cause I’m gonna get ya!”
“You won’t get me!” Junie is giggling as she sprints away. “I’m very fast!”
I make a big show of huffing and puffing while I chase her, wiping my brow with the back of my hand. “Goodness, June, you are fast.”
Junie is laughing so hard that she can barely breathe by the time I grab her and toss her into the air.
“Gotcha! Finally.”
Junie pats my cheek as I settle her on my hip. “You’re slow.”
“I’m old. There’s a difference.”
Ava is still laughing. “Is there?”
“Why is your face so spiky?” Junie asks, peering at my mustache. “I don’t like it.”
Ava’s laughing again. “I like it. A lot.”
“Y’all are putting me between a rock and a hard place right now,” I reply. “I value both your opinions. What’s a guy to do?”
Lee slowly shakes her head, a wistful look on her face. “Keep the mustache. Always.”
“Always,” Ava agrees.
“Can I play with Yella tomorrow?” Junie’s hand is still on my cheek. “She can come to my house.”
“She’d love to play with you tomorrow. Maybe y’all could come to our place this time? Give your mama a break from cleaning up after you heathens?” I glance at Ava.
Her eyes are soft. “We could probably make that happen, yeah.”
“Yay!” Junie yells.
“Indoor voice, please,” Ava says. “All right, it’s time for Mr. Sawyer and me to get going. Do you promise to be good for Miss Lee?”
“I promise.”
“You’re such a big, brave girl.” I give Junie a squeeze before setting her down. “Thanks for letting me borrow your mom tonight.”
Junie grins. “You’re welcome.”
“God she’s cute,” I murmur to Ava as we watch June make a beeline for Lee.
Ava grabs a jacket. “She is when she wants to be.”
“Aren’t they all? Here, lemme get that.” I take the jacket from her and hold it up. “We lucked out. It’s not as chilly as I thought it’d be, but you’ll still be glad you have this.”
Ava digs her teeth into her bottom lip before turning around to slip her arms into the jacket. I place it on her shoulders, arcing my thumb over the inside of her neck.
Her breath catches, a flash of heat moving across her eyes. “Thank you. Now let’s get the hell out of here before Junie changes her mind about her allowing you to borrow me.”
CHAPTER 21
Ava
BONFIRE
Sawyer looks—smells—good enough to eat. The Stetson is just … yeah, chef’s kiss. And the flowers? I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since.
He also drove over twenty miles out of his way to pick me up.
Not only that, he was an enthusiastic participant in duck duck goose. He and his mustache even charmed my nanny, for God’s sake.
Then there’s the fact that his truck is neat as a pin. No disgusting cups of discarded tobacco in the cupholders—Dan left his everywhere, even in my car. No trash on the floor. There’s not even a stray Goldfish or hair tie in the back, where Ella’s plum-colored car seat is strapped in.
It’s also a really nice truck. New. Safe. Cushy, even, with heated leather seats and a stellar sound system that pumps Teddy Swims songs as we drive through the deepening twilight.
“I had a cool, old F-150 before,” he explains. “But once I could afford something newer—something safer and more comfortable for Ella—I got this truck. When Mollie and Cash combined our ranches, they made my brothers and me equal partners in everything. Got a big pay raise that day.”
So that explains why he was able to splash out on all that champagne in Austin.
Also. It’s obvious Sawyer cares. Not about luxury or showing off his newfound wealth. But he takes care of his things the same way he takes care of his people.
He’s aware—he pays attention—in a way that makes my chest ache. He carries his weight. Takes on his fair share of life’s work and then some.
I’ve never met a man like him.
To be honest, I wasn’t sure they existed until—well, I met Sawyer.
“You feel all right leaving Junie tonight?” He drapes his wrist over the top of the steering wheel. He puts his other hand on my thigh, awareness blooming to life between my legs.
I love the way this man touches me. How casually, confidently possessive he is. I don’t think he could play games if he tried. He likes me, he wants me, and he isn’t afraid to show it.
“I’m getting better about it. I definitely needed the break. I’m a better mom when I can put my oxygen mask on for a bit, you know?”