Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Cash gave him the explanation in that deep, growly voice.
He might as well have been a bear himself.
He struck a match and held it to a piece of paper. A single flame consumed the paper and quickly spread to the kindling.
A fire igniting.
It might have been the beginning of summer, but I knew from experience it got chilly here at night.
“But would you protect us?” Colin pressed in his adorable voice.
Sighing, Cash sat back on his haunches and gave my son another single word answer.
But it was the one that meant everything.
“Yeah.”
“That’s good because I’m not even that tall, and I gotta take care of my girls, so maybe you can help.”
“I no like bears!” Eva hopped on her hands and knees like a frog across the big rug that sat between the oversized leather couch and the fireplace. Cash’s dog followed along beside her, leaning down low on his front legs as he barked and wagged his tail.
“But what about a panda bear? Or a koala bear? I think they would make good pets.” Addy was pure sass as she said it, sitting on the couch with her legs drawn to her chest, fully making herself at home.
Her damp hair was twined in a long braid, and she wore little leggings and a tank top to sleep in.
“No bears make good pets,” Cash grumbled as he stood, exasperated and so clearly in over his head.
“Jeez,” Addy said with a little roll of her eyes.
Of my children, she was the most skeptical. The one who’d worried most about coming here and what Cash might be like.
Cash must have felt me staring because he swiveled his attention in my direction.
Hazel eyes penetrated.
Hard and cynical.
Wounds clouded by rage.
But I could see the softness in them, too. A softness that he was terrified to expose.
No question, this man had armored his heart. Erected fortified barricades to keep from feeling because he’d been forced into feeling too much.
The loss so great he couldn’t suffer anything else.
I knew that kind of loss. What had hurt the most was he’d refused to share it with me.
His stare pierced me where I stood just outside his door. As consuming as the flames that had decimated the paper.
I’d always felt like I was being burned alive every time he looked at me, but right then…
I tried to breathe through the electricity that zapped through the room.
“Hey,” I murmured, timidness working its way into my voice.
“You showered.” It was gruff and short.
I glanced down and gave him an awkward curtsy. “I did. Thank you. The hot water was magic. I feel like a new woman.”
Cash’s gaze slid down like he was inspecting if it were the truth.
A shiver rushed over my flesh. That old feeling coming alive and thrumming in the space.
I wondered if he could feel it because his thick throat bobbed as he swallowed.
Shaking myself out of it, I forced myself into lightness and stepped into the living area. “Are my ruffians causing mayhem in here?”
“No way, Mom!” Colin shouted. He shifted on the rug and pushed himself into a side plank. “We are never mayhem. We follow all the rules, and we’re gonna be really good and respectful like you told us we gotta.”
“That’s my sweet boy,” I told him before I glanced at Cash. “I hope we’re not in your way or messing up your routine?”
Right. Like that was possible. I knew from the disbelieving look he shot me that we definitely were.
And I was about to drop a bomb on it.
I suddenly noticed a delicious scent wafting from the kitchen. Onions and garlic and something slightly sweet.
Fresh…baked…bread.
Speculation twisted my brow. “Did you bake bread?”
“I always bake bread,” he grunted, itching where he stood like he was a hostage in his own home.
“I wike bread.” Eva’s little voice was high-pitched as she held onto Duke’s neck as he dragged her across the floor.
“Did you smell it, Mom? I think it’s gonna be super yummy,” Colin said as he tried to toss himself into a handstand, though only one foot made it into the air.
“I’m starving, Mom. Can we eat right now?” Addy complained.
Eva started to chant, “Eat now! Eat now!”
Flustered, Cash’s attention skimmed over what was, in fact, mayhem in his living room. His jaw slack and his eyes wide. Then he scrubbed a massive palm over his face and started toward the kitchen. “Come on. Should be ready.”
“Yay!” Eva let go of Duke’s neck, jumped up, and raced up to Cash’s side so she could take hold of his hand.
Clearly enamored and not close to being dissuaded by his brusqueness.
He froze, shock on his face as he glanced down at her swaying at his side.
Colin clambered to his feet and skipped that way. “I knew you were gonna take good care of us, Mr. Cash.”