Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Turning, I walk back to the back room that’s set up as a nursery and make his bottle one-handed, something I’ve mastered with the older nieces and nephews. I grab a receiving blanket, deciding to forgo the bib. Those damn things always look so uncomfortable. Settling into the rocking chair, I kick my feet up on the ottoman, careful to let my boots hang off so Jordyn doesn’t yell at me, and offer Finn the bottle. He latches on immediately, his eyes locked on mine.
“Slow down, kiddo.” He’s sucking on his bottle as if it might be his last meal. My phone vibrates in my pocket. “Hold on a second.” I take the bottle from Finn’s mouth, and he stares up at me, and his little brow furrows. I know he’s seconds away from letting me and everyone in the building know how pissed he is that I interrupted his meal. I grab my phone, swipe at the screen, put it on speaker, and quickly pop the bottle back into Finn’s mouth.
“Shouldn’t you be working?” I ask my brother.
“Why aren’t you working?” Ryder asks.
Finn stops drinking and smiles, and I shake my head. “I took the day off. I’ve been working a shit ton of hours and just needed a day. I had breakfast at Mom and Dad’s. Dad mentioned he fixed the legs on Jordyn’s table, so I offered to drop it off on my way home.”
“Ah, that explains why you’re with my wife and son.”
“Speaking of your son, he was going to town on his bottle until he heard your voice. Now he’s grinning as his eyes search the room for you. I’ve got you on speaker,” I explain.
“Finn, hey, buddy. Daddy loves you,” Ryder says immediately. Finn coos and squeals. “You being a good boy for Mommy? Keep her away from Uncle Merrick.” I can hear the teasing tone in his voice. Finn screeches and we both laugh. “Damn, do I love being a dad,” Ryder says wistfully.
“So, what’s up?”
“I’m on lunch. Just thought I’d call and see why you were with my wife and kid and not at work.”
“You’re too much, Ry.” I laugh.
“You’ll get there. One day, you’re going to get knocked on your ass and you’ll understand.”
“Jordyn loves you, Ryder. After everything the two of you went through to be together, you know you have nothing to worry about.”
“I know. I trust her, but... this need to protect her and our son is overwhelming at times. I can’t explain it.”
I think about Maverick and the intensity of the feelings I’ve felt through him. “I have an idea after watching Maverick.” We don’t talk much about the crazy twin thing we have going on. Hell, we don’t even know what to call it, so we’ve all just continued to call it the crazy twin thing.
“The twin thing.” I can hear the understanding in Ryder’s voice. “Who knows, maybe you’ll find the one soon. This summer, in fact. Maybe even at a wedding.” I can hear the amusement in his tone. I don’t have to see his face to know he’s fighting back his laughter.
Shit.
“Really? It’s not even been an hour yet.”
Ryder’s laughter lingers in the air, and Finn stops eating again to listen to his father’s boisterous laugh surround us. “My wife couldn’t resist. I called her first,” he confesses.
“I’m just helping her out of a jam. She seriously looked stressed as hell. I’m not seeing anyone. It’ll be fine. We’ll hang out a few times, go to the wedding, dance, drink some champagne, and call it good.”
“My wife has a good feeling about this.”
I roll my eyes, even though I know he can’t see me. “Of course she does. All the sisters-in-law are convinced they need to find me someone to settle down with.”
“She said you volunteered.”
“I did.”
“Courtney’s pretty.”
She’s a fucking knockout, but I keep that to myself. “I’ll tell Jordyn you think so.”
“Fucker.” He laughs.
“Hey, there are tiny ears listening.”
“He’s a baby.”
“He’s smart. Right, Finny? Tell Daddy you’re smart.”
“Of course he’s smart. He’s mine.”
“And your daddy is a little full of himself,” I tell my nephew. He grins, but then goes right back to his bottle. His belly must be getting full because he’s slowed down on how fast he’s eating.
“Just keep an open mind.”
“Ryder, you act like I’m against love and marriage. I’m not. When I find the right one, I’ll be sure to grab on to her with both hands and never let go.”
“But that ‘her’ you’re referring to could be Courtney.”
“I barely know her.”
“So get to know her.”
“Are we done here?” It’s going to be a long three months.
“Kiss my son for me. Finny, Daddy loves you.”
“He’s smiling,” I tell Ryder.
“Talk soon.” The line goes dead, and I place my phone on the small table next to the rocking chair.
“When you get older, just know that our big-ass family will stick their noses into everything that you do. Your aunts, uncles, cousins. The family motto is work hard and love harder, and let me tell you, every single person with the last name Kincaid takes that motto to the nth degree. Of course, I do, too, but when it’s all directed at you, it can be overwhelming.”