Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
“Barbeque,” Bear corrected him with a laser look. “Besides, we didn’t do it for you.” He looked over at Molly who had joined all the other Littles as they learned a new line dance from Talon. He’d insist she get a plate soon, but for now, she needed some fun after days of being in the hospital.
“Thank you for taking care of her,” Faust said, instantly understanding the message.
“The Shadowridge Guardians take care of our own,” Bear said easily.
“We do,” Faust answered and headed for the chair he’d claimed for his own. He grabbed a beer on the way over. Popping the top, he swallowed gratefully. He’d refused painkillers after that first day, not liking how foggy they made his brain.
He looked at Steele. “What does Elizabeth say about that jerk?”
“She’s working on a legal loophole to keep him in jail for the max sentence this time without the chance of parole. His ex-wife and kids are safe and won’t be returning to town. She’ll have a few more years to know he’s locked up and her kids can grow up safely.”
“And the brother who showed up here?” Faust asked. He wasn’t going to forget that asshole’s role.
“In the county jail for aiding and abetting,” Steele assured him.
“Can I get some help moving Molly out of her apartment next week?” Faust forced himself to ask. He didn’t want to rip the stitches out of the healing wound and delay his full recovery.
“You got it. We need you in the shop,” Kade stated.
“I’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Good,” Kade answered.
“Get help when you move the engines,” Kade ordered. When Faust scoffed, Kade added, “Or I’ll give you a permanent assistant. I’m sure there’s a prospect who’s never worked on an engine before that would jump at a chance to learn everything you know.”
“Fuck off. You’re not going to do that,” Faust said, feeling the corners of his lips turn up. “I’ll get help for a while.”
“You’re smiling, Daddy. Home is a good place, isn’t it?” Molly asked and plucked a rib from his plate before scrambling up on Faust’s lap on the good side.
“Hungry now?” he asked.
“How about we finish your plate and then you can get more?” she suggested.
“And a big gooey brownie for you?” Faust suggested.
“Gabriel made brownies? I’ll just start with dessert,” Molly said, wiggling forward.
“Food first. Then dessert, Little girl,” Faust decreed, holding her in place. While she pouted, he scooped up a bite of potato salad. “Try this.”
“Ooo! That’s better than Miss Marcie’s potato salad she brings to church socials.”
“You should eat more. I wonder if the coleslaw is good?” Faust asked.
“I’ll try it,” Molly offered eagerly, relaxing back against him.
As he fed her, Faust looked around at everyone gathered and wondered who would find their Little next.
“There’s a big birthday party coming up, Daddy. We have to go shopping for the best present for Carlee,” Molly told him. “What do you think she’d like? I was thinking about getting her some clothes for Hammie.”
“I think that would be a good idea. I bet we could order some online,” Faust suggested, crossing his fingers.
“Oh, no, Daddy. We have to go to the store to feel the material and make sure it’s soft. Stuffies don’t like scratchy things,” Molly told him.
“Of course not. We’ll go. That would be a good trip on the motorcycle,” he suggested, thinking it wasn’t too far to the mall and not horrible traffic.
“Are your trunk things big enough?” Molly asked.
“Saddlebags, Pixie. How many sets of clothes are you going to get?”
“Just one. But there are shoes and hats and…”
“We’ll have plenty of room. We can even get you a leather jacket to ride on the bike.”
“Can I have a patch?” she asked eagerly.
“We’ll talk about it.”
“Yay!” she cheered.
“Try some chicken, Pixie,” Faust suggested, handing her a chicken wing.
“Yum. Daddy, I had a dream last night. Storm was in it.”
“I don’t think I like you dreaming about other men, Little girl.”
“No, it wasn’t that kind of dream. Storm was there and he was watching someone.”
“Someone bad?” Faust probed.
“I don’t think so. He looked… interested.”
“That was an intriguing dream.”
“Not as good as the dream I had about you later,” Molly whispered, feeling her cheeks heat with embarrassment at even mentioning it.
“And I now know what I want to use my favor on,” Faust declared.
“Daddy!”
A few minutes later, she admitted in an oh-so-quiet whisper, “I made banana pudding just in case you wanted to reenact my dream. It’s only on day one, but it will be good.”
When he stared at her hard, obviously connecting the dots between her spicy dream and banana pudding, Molly tried to look innocent as she wiped a finger down his chest before leaning in to lick that sensitive spot at the base of his neck.
Faust boosted Molly to her feet and set his plate in the chair after rising. “Life is short. We should have dessert first.”