Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“Yeah, honey?” he responds, his hand coming up to wrap around my wrist to keep me from tugging at his shirt. I look up at him to find him smiling down at me. I take a moment to memorize the look on his face.
“What would you say if I told you I’m getting worried that I won’t be able to let you go back to Kentucky?”
“Doc—”
“I know that sounds horrible, but Tinny and I, well, you … I mean, the two of us love having you here. I don’t want … Crap, I’m messing this all up.”
“Doc, stop. I don’t want to leave you either.”
“You don’t?”
“Honey, I didn’t want to leave you a week ago when I found out who I was. Do you really think that has changed—especially when I get to wake up with you in my arms every morning?”
“Really?” I ask, almost afraid to breathe.
His finger curls gently under my chin. He tilts my head back slightly and then leans down to kiss me softly. “Really,” he repeats, but the way he says that one word sounds like a vow.
“What are we going to do? You have a family waiting for you in Kentucky. You really do need to let them know you’re alive. We need to face that.”
He grins down at me, his eyes practically sparkling. “I like that.”
I frown. “Like what?”
“You said we need to face it.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep,” I whisper, mortified by the slip of the tongue. He’s going to think I’m insane. I mean, sure, we’ve been sharing a bed, but other than a few kisses and maybe a couple of make out sessions that were more PG13 than rated R, nothing has happened. I shouldn’t have just assumed his battles were part mine.
“Hey, stop that, Indy.”
“Huh?” I ask, still lost in my panic.
“Don’t you remember what I told you when I got back from visiting Devil with Cooper?”
“Have I mentioned how much I’m glad your road name is Breaker and not Devil, Satan, or any variation thereof?”
He chuckles at me. “Focus, Doc. Do you remember what I told you when I came back that day?”
“That you wanted me to call you Mattie?”
“Keep it up, Doc, and I’ll be turning your ass red tonight,” he fake-growls. Despite knowing it’s a fake threat, I feel heat zap through my insides, and I jerk as I feel my panties grow wet at the thought of Breaker spanking me combined with the growling noise he just made. I bite down on my lip to keep from letting a moan escape. My body feels foreign to me, craving things I’ve never even thought of from a man before. Considering my ex, having a man spank me should be the last thing I’d desire, but … “You like the idea of me spanking your ass, don’t you, Doc?”
“Um …”
He grins. “You and I are going to continue this conversation tonight after we get our girl to bed.”
For a second, my heart stops. Our girl. He can’t know what his words mean to me. I don’t even think he realizes he referred to Tinny as his. It was natural and I like that even more than him saying it. He loves my daughter. I think I knew it all along, but as a single parent, you can’t help but worry. Everything you do, every step you make affects your child. You have to always keep them in mind. Bringing new people into their lives is—in some ways—like navigating a minefield. Tinny is the reason I haven’t allowed myself to have sex with Breaker. I know it’s coming. I get closer and closer to that step as the hours pass. I want him. I can’t keep fighting it. I don’t even want to.
“Okay,” I whisper, unable to stop the smile that lights up my face. He loves my daughter. Is there a chance that he could love me one day?
“Save whatever wicked thought you have in your mind right now, honey. Do you think you’d be willing to go to Kentucky with me?”
I nod yes. I don’t even have to think about it. I want to be with him. I want his family to see that he cares about me, and I care about him. I want them to know that whatever his past was, me and Tinny are his future. “When are you wanting to go? I can start clearing off my calendar at the clinic. Cooper and Iva will be here to check in on the place.”
“How about next week? I’d like to get it over with. I don’t like knowing I’m hurting people. Plus, I know I need to face this head on. I would have done it when I first found out, but honestly, I want you by my side. It’s probably not something I should admit. I’d rather you think of me as a man who will fight the world for you and not blink—and trust me, Indy, I will. I just need you in my corner when I face them. I need to know you’re there and you’ll support me and care regardless of what happens.”