Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138844 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 694(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 463(@300wpm)
Not wanting to miss anything, I hurried to join them, and I got there just in time to see Master and Ash meet halfway around the pool for a handshake and a hug.
So far, the lemon tree next to the grill hadn’t burned down, but maybe I should move it. I’d bought it in a pot for that reason. Everything around the grill was in the fire zone.
Master and Daddy swore they could work a grill.
We’d see.
“Snacks are ready!” I set the tray on the table at the corner of the pool. I’d requested a round table so we could squeeze in more seats for when we had guests.
“Wonderful, little pet. You know what that means,” Master replied.
I nodded once and pretended to zip my mouth shut.
Silence!
I made quick work of positioning the plates, and then I went over to Master’s chair where my Squish waited on the floor. It was the most perfect stuffie in the world because it protected my knees, and also, it was the cutest and had my name.
As soon as my knees hit the pillowy cutie, Ash spotted it and grinned lazily.
“Your Squishmallow house ain’t like mine,” he chuckled.
I smashed my lips together to refrain from asking—
“You know about Squishies, Sir?” Noa asked my question as he sat down next to Daddy.
“You kiddin’? I have four kids. I know the latest toys long before I know current events.” Ash sat down too, a smile on his face, and I remembered that about him. He was always in a good mood. “Our youngest picked out two for Nate and me too.”
It didn’t take more than that for Noa to light up like a Christmas tree.
“Then you gotta join our new group online! Corey started it the other week—it’s called House McSquish,” he rambled. “He made a header for us and everything, and we’re listing all our Squishies. I have fourteen on my wish list. Just so you know, Daddy.”
Daddy grinned to himself and opened a beer. “Good to know.”
Ash let out a laugh. “I reckon I draw the line there. I can humor my daughter when she shoves a pink cat in my face and says it looks just like me, but I think I’ll stick to Greer’s fan club group and the primal play.”
I almost let out a giggle, and we couldn’t have that!
Master was amused too, but he was focused on filling his plate with snacks.
Sadly, the fun talk ended there. Master wanted to catch up with Ash, and that meant asking about work and boring stuff. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, very interesting. Oh, construction stuff? Scaffolding stuff? How fascinating! Work was good? Great! Moving on, please.
“Eat, love.” Master held a garlic knot for me, and I opened my mouth.
Yum. Archie had the best recipes sometimes.
“Fuck me, these are next level.” Ash was a fan of the bread too. “Speaking of, I heard you leveled up to retirement, Lucian.”
“Oh, I’d rather not use that word,” Master said. “I don’t need to feel older.”
“That’s right,” Noa agreed. “Forty-four is already incredibly, extremely ancient.”
Christ. Always the brat.
“I guess you don’t want anything on your wish list,” Daddy noted.
“I don’t know, I can think of a few things,” Ash chuckled. “Your Daddy told me you love restraints, boy.”
Master laughed. “He loves them. Isn’t that right, chipmunk?”
Noa glared.
Snicker, snicker.
Also, I knew someone who actually loved restraints. Ash’s ex-husband!
I tapped Master’s leg, a silent request to speak.
He peered down at me as he chewed on a cracker with cheese. “It depends what it’s about,” he said. “Does it have anything to do with Nathan?”
Crap.
I smiled sheepishly and nodded.
Of course, we had Ash’s attention now.
Master shook his head. “Then no. It’s not our business, pet. And you can tell Tate, Macklin, and Archie that too.”
Uh-oh.
“Am I missing somethin’?” Ash asked.
I felt a traitorous blush creeping forward, and I dropped my gaze to the floor. Dammit, Master knew me too well—well, actually… Having him home all day meant he could freaking eavesdrop on my conversations!
In my defense, we were only curious and wanted what was best for them. Macklin was 100% certain that Ash and Nathan belonged together. Same with Tate.
“Not at all,” Master assured. “You know Macklin and Tate. Cam isn’t all that different when there’s a relationship they want to fix.”
How was that a bad thing?
God, I wanted to huff in his face or something.
“You’ll meet Greer’s new partners on the cruise,” Daddy said. “Archie’s a chip off the old subbie gossip block.”
I snuck a glimpse up at Ash and found him smirking faintly at me.
“Is that right,” he murmured. “That’s sweet. They’re not the only ones who wanna fix my marriage. But that’s a plan I sure as hell won’t share with someone who’s remotely like Macklin.”
I wanted to huff in his face too. Macklin was awesome.