Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Ronan said she was born with one arm partially formed?”
“Yes.” Beth turned in her seat, no longer nervous. “She is the sweetest little girl, Liam. Her smile could light up a room. She’s good-natured, never complains, and has adapted so well. There is hardly anything she can’t do—and nothing she won’t try. She’s a pure delight.”
“Ronan said as much.”
“I can’t imagine walking away from my child for any reason. Especially over a missing piece of bone. Still,” she sighed. “Paige is better off without him. From what she has said, he wasn’t very nice.”
“Was it physical?” I asked, tightening my hands on the wheel.
“No. Mental abuse. He belittled her a lot. She hides it, but he did a number on her.” She drew in a deep breath. “She’s wonderful. A great mom, a fabulous friend, and she is so important to me.”
I pulled up to the gate, waiting as it opened.
“I can feel that,” I said to her.
“I don’t want to see her hurt.”
We arrived at Ronan’s place, and I turned in my seat, meeting Beth’s gaze. “I don’t plan on hurting her, Beth. But something hit me when she opened the door. If she’s willing, I want to explore it.”
“Even with a child involved?”
“That doesn’t frighten me. I love kids. It doesn’t faze me that Lucy has one arm. I don’t care about that. I care about the fact that Paige was hurt. I only hope she’d be willing to give me a chance.”
“I think she could be persuaded,” she said dryly. “Did you see the way she was eyeing you up?”
I grinned. “Checking out the tree trunk. I caught that.” I winked. “Now, enough. Take my number so you have it, and give it to Paige if she asks. I’ll take it slow if that’s what she needs.”
I waited as she typed my number into her phone.
“Come on, I’ll take you inside. He’s going to be happy to see you.”
“I hope so.”
I winked. “I know so.”
A few hours later, a different Ronan was sitting across from me at the table in the Hub. He still looked tired, but he was happy. At ease. He couldn’t take his eyes off Beth, and his hand remained wrapped around hers whenever she was close. I winked at him across the table.
“Good day, little bro?”
“The best.” He leaned closer. “Beth says you brought her.”
“Yep.”
“Thank you.”
I squeezed his shoulder. “You owe me.”
He grinned, the mischievous look in his eyes back in full force.
“Beth also says you have the hots for Paige.”
I met his eyes. “She’s right.”
“I like her a lot. And Lucy. Don’t be messing with them.”
I lowered my voice. “Have you ever known me to mess with anyone, Ronan? I felt something for Paige the second she opened the door. She felt it too. I plan on seeing her. Seeing where it goes. Whatever speed she sets is fine with me. And I look forward to meeting Lucy.” I waved my finger between us. “So, we good?”
He pursed his lips. “I’ll be watching.”
I sat back, picking up my mug. “Watch away, little bro. You may learn a thing or two.”
He chuckled. “Okay, then.”
I swallowed the last of my coffee. “Just so we’re clear.”
Tuesday afternoon, my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket and answered.
“Hey, Ronan.”
“Bro, I am about to repay your kindness from Sunday.”
“Is that a fact?” I asked dryly. “How so?”
“Tacos. At the house with Beth, Paige, and the kids, as well as Paul and Jeremy. Tonight. I’m picking up all the stuff. We’re making them a feast.”
I was down with that. I loved tacos—my whole family did. My brothers and I made awesome tacos and often whipped them up for the family.
“Are you sure?”
“Paige asked if you were coming when I called to make sure it was okay.”
That information made me smile.
“What can I bring?”
“Stop by Paso’s and get some fresh tortillas.”
“Salsa, guac, and chips too?”
“Of course.”
“How about some wine for the girls?”
“They’d like that.”
“What about the kids?”
“They love chocolate milk. I know it’s always a treat for them.”
“Done. What time?”
“Six.”
“I’ll be there.”
He chuckled. “I knew you would be.”
I arrived bearing bags of fresh tortillas, plus the extras I had suggested, the packages heavy with containers of salsa and guacamole. I put them in the neat kitchen, grinning at the piles of ingredients Ronan had brought, then joined my brothers on the floor to build Lego stuff with Evan. He was a shy kid, small for his age, but he was intelligent and smart, and after a while, he lost some of his shyness, his smile reminding me of Beth’s.
I was drawn to Paige, my gaze falling on her over and again. She met my stares with her own frank appraisals, and my body warmed to her ogling. Something passed between us every time our eyes locked, and more than once, I had the urge to find an excuse to get her alone in another room. My fingers longed to touch her, and I wanted to feel her mouth underneath mine. But what stopped me was the little girl perched on her mother’s knee.