Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 37828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“Oh, yeah,” she drawled slowly. “You looked so adorable. Like having my own giant Smurf.”
He shot her a quelling look. “You are never dyeing my hair again.”
“Fine. I mean . . . I was only practicing anyway. Your hair is perfect the way it is. But maybe we could do a bit of a cut. It’s getting kind of long.”
“No. No way, Tutu. Do not even think about it.”
Her bottom lip dropped out in a pout. “But how am I meant to become a hairdresser if I don’t practice?”
“I think you might have to practice on your dolls.”
“Ooh, that’s not a bad idea. You’re so clever, Brody-bear.”
“Aww thanks, Tutu. Now, we better get that toboggan upstairs and back into storage.”
“Why do you think that Daddy won’t let me do any tobogganing? Why buy a toboggan if you’re not going to use it? That just seems silly to me,” she said as the two of them started carrying it back upstairs to the storage room.
“Well, maybe he’ll let you use it if he’s sitting behind you. And he’s steering.”
“But I’m great at steering.”
“Uh-huh, I’m sure you are, Tutu.”
“Somehow, I think you’re doubting me. That’s not very nice.”
“I’m sorry, Tutu. You’re right,” he said as they placed the toboggan back into the storage room. He drew her in for a hug.
She leaned against him, feeling exhausted. There had been too much excitement tonight.
“You need to be in bed,” he whispered.
“So do you.”
“I’m older, I can handle staying up late,” the last word was said on a yawn.
“Uh-huh. Sure. Come on, big boy. Let’s go to bed.”
“I didn’t call myself big boy,” he protested.
“Didn’t you? You should.” She winked at him over her shoulder, loving the way he went red. He was such a cutie-pie. “Actually, can I have a drink before bed?”
He frowned slightly. “You don’t have to ask, Tutu.”
She bit at her lip, moving from foot to foot. “I know . . . I just . . .”
“Oh, you want a bottle? I can make you a bottle.”
“Thank you.” She dropped her gaze to her feet.
“Hey, Tutu. Look at me.”
She glanced up at him and he cupped her face between his hands. “You can always ask me for anything you need, okay? I know I’m not your Daddy, but I will do everything I can to give you whatever you need.”
“I don’t deserve you, Brody-bear.”
“None of that,” he said, leaning down to kiss her. “You deserve the world.”
Taking hold of her hand, he led her to the kitchen and helped her onto a stool.
“I can gets it, Brody-bear,” she said before sticking her thumb into her mouth.
“You just stay there, sweetie. I’ll get your bottle. You want it warmed?”
She nodded, pulling her thumb out. “Do you think we can decorate soon? Halloween is already passed. I’m pretty sure that after Halloween is when you’re supposed to put up the Christmas tree and stuff.”
“I think you’re right,” he said.
“What do you think Daddy will want to do about Thanksgiving?”
Brody swallowed heavily. “I don’t know. He seemed way more interested in going to Thanksgiving at my momma’s than I would have thought.”
“What do you think they’ll make of him?” she asked.
“I think there might be bloodshed. And it might not be his. My sisters are . . .”
“Feisty?” she suggested.
“I was gonna say bloodthirsty Amazon savages, but okay, we’ll go with feisty.”
“Brody!” she said, but she grinned. He wasn’t really wrong. She’d interacted with them a few times over the phone and they were definitely, um, forceful.
She was more than a little intimidated by them if she was honest. Meeting them at Thanksgiving would be a bit scary. But she knew that deep down, Brody adored them. And it wasn’t fair that he couldn’t be with them whenever he wanted, especially on holidays.
However, that meant introducing them to the Fox. Because the Fox wouldn’t be happy with Brody going on his own, and that definitely posed some problems.
“And then there’s the invite from Markovich,” Brody said.
They’d all been invited to Markovich’s place for Thanksgiving. The Fox was far less interested in taking up that invitation. But in her opinion, that was the one he should consider.
Markovich was his half-brother. He was family.
But he wasn’t even considering going there.
Brody shook her bottle, then tested the temperature by putting some on the inside of his wrist.
“Ouch! Ow. Ouchie!”
“Brody-bear!” She jumped off the stool and tried to race toward him, but hit her toe on the island instead.
“Ow! Ouch! Ouchie!” she cried out, grabbing her foot and hopping around.
“Tutu!” Brody called out. “Let me help you!”
“Let me help you!”
They each reached for one another.
“Put your arm under the water,” she told him.
“I’ll get some ice for your foot,” he said.
As they moved in opposite directions, both of them managed to stumble, crying out again.
“What the hell is going on in here?”