Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Dad, this is Ellery.”
“Nice to finally meet the girl we’ve heard so much about,” he said as he took Ellery’s hand.
“My girl,” I grunted, snatching her hand back and tucking her under my arm. It was ridiculous, but I couldn't seem to control my caveman instincts around Ellery.
She rolled her eyes and peered up at me. “He’s your father, for Pete’s sake.”
I just shrugged and led her through the house, ignoring the laughter following me. When we reached the kitchen, I set Corinne’s diaper bag on the counter. Then I leaned against it and pulled Ellery to me so she stood between my legs, her back to my front. “Anything I can help with?” I asked as I rested my chin on Ellery’s head.
“You can set the table,” my mom instructed distractedly as she cooed at Corinne. A timer went off, and she sighed, making me chuckle. “I’d better get dinner out of the oven.”
Reluctantly, I let Ellery go when she reached for Corinne. As usual, as soon as my baby girl was in Ellery’s arms, she snuggled in close and relaxed. Warmth spread through my chest as I watched my girls until my mom snapped a dish towel on my arm. “Son of a bitch!” I muttered.
“Watch your language, young man,” my mom admonished with a glare. “Now, get the table set.”
Ellery giggled, and I couldn’t help smiling at the sound, but I pretended to grumble as I walked to the cupboard to grab plates.
“I’m going to change Corinne and make a bottle,” she told me softly.
“Thanks, baby.” I planted a kiss on her lips as I walked by.
She gasped before her eyes darted around, then landed back on me. “You can’t kiss me in front of your parents,” she hissed.
“The hell I can’t,” I growled before slipping an arm around her waist and hauling her body into mine. My mouth covered hers, and I gave her a hard, intense kiss. When I pulled back, she looked dazed, and I couldn’t help smirking. “You’re mine. I’ll kiss you whenever I damn well please.” I patted her sexy ass, then let her go and moseyed out to the dining room.
“Just like his father,” my mom muttered.
My dad laughed, and I glanced up as he walked into the room. He had the silverware, and for a few moments, we completed our task in silence. When we’d added everything else to the table, we re-entered the kitchen, and he grabbed us both a beer from the fridge.
“When is the wedding?” he asked with a sly grin.
“When do I get more grandbabies?” my mom piped up.
I took a drink from my bottle, then grinned. “Soon.”
Ellery returned before I could say anything else, and my mom announced that everything was ready. She asked to feed Corinne, so Ellery gently passed her over before taking her seat next to me.
During the meal, my parents got to know my girl and entertained her with ridiculous stories from my childhood. It didn’t escape my notice that none of them included Laura, and I was grateful for that. Ellery and I had talked about my sister, so it wasn’t like she would be blindsided by the mention, but it was still a raw subject for me and my parents.
Corinne had fallen asleep after her bottle, so we put her in her baby carrier and set her in my old bedroom. My parents had bought a baby monitor after the first time I brought her to see them.
It was an unseasonably warm night in January, even for southern Tennessee, so we took the monitor with us outside and built a fire in the pit on my parents’ porch. We continued to talk and laugh, and my parents even broke out the fixings for s'mores. Ellery fit perfectly with my family, as if we’d carved out a spot for her and had been waiting for her to fill it.
Waiting to get my ring on her drove me crazy, but Sheila—the old lady who usually handled the property vests—and her old man had been on vacation and wouldn’t be back for another week. I wanted to wait to propose until she was wearing my property patch.
Not that those things had stopped from trying to knock her up already.
When the fire died down, it was getting late, and I had an early client. Not to mention that we would be up with Corinne a couple more times in the night. So we packed up the car, got our little one, and said our goodbyes.
“I expect my son to bring you back very soon,” my mom told Ellery as she held her face in her hands. “Heck, you don’t need to wait for him. Come see me anytime, beautiful.” Then she kissed my girl’s cheeks before letting her go.
While Ellery spoke with my dad, my mom came over to hug me. “I couldn’t have chosen anyone more perfect for you, Zane. She’s special. Don’t let her go, or I’ll disown you and adopt her.”