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)
“I do, you know?”
“Do what?”
“Care about you regardless, Breaker. I don’t care if you get your memories back or you don’t.”
“Honey—”
“It’s not important to me if you’re a badass biker, or a cuddly teddy bear who watches Frozen with my daughter and sings off-key with Elsa.”
“It’s not that off-key,” he grumbles.
I giggle. “Whatever you say, big fella’,” I joke. “The point is, I’ll be by your side regardless.”
“I’m going to hold you to that, Doc.”
“Do it. I dare you,” I whisper back, and then I get even braver. I kiss him, pouring all the emotions that I’m feeling, but not ready to name just yet.
But maybe soon …
Chapter 17
Breaker
“Bwaker?”
“Yeah, Kiddo?”
“I missed puzzle time with you today.”
Looking down at Tinny’s little, innocent face, my heart squeezes in my chest. It’s a reaction that I have often. It’s just that this little girl owns me. I’d do anything to keep that smile on her face. Then again, I’m the same way with her mother. These Shelton women know how to bring me to my knees and the trick is, they don’t even try.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I had to help Mommy, though. You still had fun with Uncle Cooper and Aunt Iva, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. They’re fun. It’s just not the same.”
“You mean they don’t work puzzles as awesome as I do?” I ask, wiggling my eyebrows.
She giggles, her little face lit up with happiness. “Uncle Cooper works them faster than you do.”
“You lie!” I huff, feigning outrage.
“Nu-uh,” she laughs.
“I’m going to get you for that,” I warn playfully, right before I start tickling her.
“Ah! Stop!” she cries, curling up against my playful attack, all the time laughing louder and louder.
“I’m the King of puzzles! Admit it,” I announce.
“Uncle Cooper is!” she says back, all but cackling now.
“Nu-uh,” I disagree, mocking her and sounding just as childish.
“And just what is going on here?” Indy asks, making Tinny and I freeze in unison. The two of us look at each other and start laughing. Indy walks over to us. “Are you two forgetting it’s way past bedtime?”
“It’s Bwaker’s fault, Mommy! He tickled me!”
I gasp. “You weren’t supposed to tell on me.”
“I can’t lie to Mommy, Bwaker. I’ll get in trouble,” she says with big, innocent eyes. The little stinker.
“Yeah, Bwaker, you wouldn’t want her to lie to me, would you?” Indy taunts.
I smirk at her, letting her know without words that she’s going to be punished later. “No, I wouldn’t do that. That would make me bad, and I wouldn’t want to get a spanking for being bad. Would you, Doc?”
Her eyes go round, her sweet mouth making an O shape, showing her surprise. She looks stunned.
“He’s right, Mommy. You don’t want a spanking. Those hurt!”
That snaps Indy out of her thoughts. She walks over to her daughter and kisses her forehead before pulling the cover up around her. “And what would you know about spankings, young lady? I’ve never spanked you. You’ve only been put into time out.”
“I know, but Bobby Watson’s parents spanked him once, and he said it hurt really bad. His daddy did it and his daddy has really big muscles! They’re almost as big as Bwaker’s.”
“That is big,” Indy agrees, grinning at me. “What did Bobby do that was so bad?” she asks.
“He shaved his baby brother's hair.”
“He did?” I ask, trying to imagine that.
“Yep. His brother was only three. That’s a baby. He’s not old like me, Bwaker.”
“I know. You’re a big girl.”
“I am!” she agrees happily.
“How did he shave his brother’s hair?” Indy asks.
“He found his dad’s razor in the bathroom and used it.”
“Yikes,” I respond, making a mental reminder not to leave anything that can be used as a weapon lying out—especially if that item can cut or shave hair.
“Okay, time to quit talking. It’s bedtime, young lady,” Indy says with a wink.
“Can Bwaker read my story tonight, Mommy?”
“I … Well, I guess if that’s what you want?”
“I do!”
“Then I think I’ll go to bed myself. Mommy loves you, baby girl.”
“I love you, too, Mommy.” Indy gives her one last hug, then a kiss on her forehead and steps back.
As she walks by me, her hand snakes around me, giving me a quick hug. Her touch warming me all over. “Goodnight to you, too, Mr. Bwaker,” she whispers playfully, stretching up to kiss my cheek. She walks out, leaving me staring at her, unable to say a word in return.
“I don’t need a story tonight, Bwaker.”
“You don’t?”
“No. I just told Mommy that so I could ask you a question,” she says and all the sudden she looks extremely serious for a little girl.
“What is it?”
“I’m ‘fraid to ask. I’m scared.”
“Kiddo, you know you could ask me anything,” I tell her, gently running my fingers through her blonde hair.
“I’m scared you’ll say no, and it’s really important.”
“You’ll never know unless you ask me, Tinny. I will make you a promise, though. If I can do anything to make you or your mother happy, then I’m going to do it.”