Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
“I thought it was well done,” Slade said from where he walked behind Indie. Spencer was on her other side, frowning as someone weaved toward them, clearly drunk.
Indie sighed. “I can see this wasn’t a good idea. We should go home.”
The disappointment in her voice didn’t sit well in his guts. He hated denying her anything, which could become a problem down the track.
But, for now, he didn’t see it as one.
Maybe he should have stopped her coming here, though, because he couldn’t stand the idea of anyone getting near her.
Only now she sounded so upset and he hated that she couldn’t do what she wanted, what brought her joy, because of that bastard, Billy.
“We’ll stay a while longer,” Slade told her.
Rock glanced up at him, his face was tense, and he saw Slade had been just as affected by the sadness in her tone.
Christ.
Didn’t she know they would give her the world if they could?
“You have to have your hot chocolate,” Spencer said cheerfully, grabbing hold of her hand and swinging it back and forth. “Come on, I see a market stall selling them with lots of whipped cream. Why don’t you guys find a seat where you can look at all the pretty lights and I’ll grab them.”
Rock nodded at him and Slade stood on her other side. Together, they headed to a quieter area.
A strange feeling ran up his spine as they moved and he gazed around, trying to see if there was a threat.
But nothing jumped out at him.
“Everything okay?” Slade asked him.
Rock grunted in reply and Slade looked around tensely.
“What’s going on? Did someone see Billy?” Indie asked fearfully.
He wished he had seen that motherfucker. There was nothing he wanted to do more than fuck that bastard up.
However, he hadn’t spotted him.
“No,” he told her as they found seats.
Indie sat with a quiet sigh and he saw her grimace. He glanced to Slade, who nodded.
“Are you sore, Boo?” he asked, leaning into her.
“Just a bit. I’ll be fine, though.” She attempted to sit up straighter.
Rock growled. He didn’t like her lying to them. Especially not over something like this.
If she was in pain, then she needed to tell them so they could do what was necessary to help her.
“You just lied to us, Little one,” Slade growled.
Wonder filled her face as he called her Little one. And she swallowed heavily.
Rock didn’t have a cute nickname for her like Boo or Princess. Or any nickname. He barely spoke so it was difficult to use a nickname.
But he hoped she didn’t think that he wanted her any less than the other two.
“I think I’ll actually feel better if I sit here.” She got up and, to his surprise, sat right on his lap.
He sat there, frozen for a moment until she let out a little giggle.
Brat.
But he approved. He wrapped his large hands around her hips and held her secure in his arms.
Where she belonged.
Indie sat in Rock’s lap with his arms around her and let out a quiet sigh.
This felt so good.
Exactly where she belonged.
Then she smiled as she spotted Spencer balancing four mugs of hot chocolate as he made his way toward them. Somehow, she couldn’t see Rock and Slade drinking hot chocolate.
But as he headed their way, a woman appeared out of nowhere, rushing toward them with a scowl on her face.
Indie stiffened as Rock stood and gently placed her on her feet before stepping in front of her.
“Indie! Slade! Fancy seeing you here.”
Right. Did she really expect them to believe that it was a coincidence that she was here?
But why was she here?
“Sylvia,” Slade said cautiously, moving next to Rock. So there were two lines of defense between her and her mother.
Not that it was really necessary.
Her mum wouldn’t hurt her. She peered around Rock’s body to study Sylvia. She looked like she’d aged considerably since she’d last seen her. Then again, that was probably a year ago.
Her clothes were expensive, but it was obvious she had missed a few of her weekly trips to the hairdresser.
Spencer set the hot chocolates down and approached to stand close to her.
“Why so formal?” Sylvia cried. “Call me mum.”
“Hard pass,” Slade said.
Sylvia looked angry for a moment, but then she rallied, smiling again. “I understand. You were already all grown when I came along, weren’t you?” She sent Slade a coy look which made Indie’s stomach roll.
Maybe her mum wasn’t as put-together as usual, but she was still gorgeous.
Slade isn’t interested in your mum.
He knows what she’s like. And she’s way too old for him.
Her mum moved closer to Slade, reaching out to touch him. But Slade pushed her hand away.
Her mum let out an outraged gasp. But really what did she expect?
God, she made Indie feel ill.
Why couldn’t she have been a normal mum?
Why couldn’t she have cared about Indie even just a bit?