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)
Then I let all my love pour out. “You already did.”
Cash
Never could I have imagined my life turning out this way.
I’d been the recluse living in my cabin in the woods. As far away from humanity as possible because I didn’t believe any of that remained in me.
Now, I sat on the front porch of this place that once had been hollow but had come to ring with life.
A slew of children out playing in the clearing.
Addy, Colin, and Eva. Nolan, Maci, and little Finn in the mix. Duke and Nolan’s dog Rocky right at the center of it, barking as they were chased. Little screeches of delight carried on the peace.
My brothers were gathered around, sipping from beers as we chatted the afternoon away.
Today, Daisy and I were hosting our family’s Sunday afternoon gathering.
“Anyone need anything?” Daisy asked as she stood from her chair, finishing off a mocktail that Raven had made her.
I snatched her from around the waist and pulled her onto my lap. Inhaling that sweet floral scent. Her cinnamon hair in my face and her spirit written on my soul.
“You,” I whispered in her ear.
My wife giggled as she curled up tighter on my lap. “Again?”
“Always.” It was a rumble of need, and I let my hand wander. Running down her side to her hip before I slipped my hand up to her protruding belly.
Fuck.
It was the best thing in the world, watching her body grow with our child.
“You get any handsier than that, and this party is going to go from family friendly to obscene. Don’t burn my poor Little Luna’s eyes.” Otto dramatically covered Luna’s eyes where she sat on his lap.
“No, Dada.” She fought his hand off, and once she was freed, she beamed her adorable smile of tiny gapped teeth up in his direction.
“What, you don’t want to play peek-a-boo?” he cooed.
She covered her own eyes, holding them there for a beat before she threw them wide and giggled, “Boo.”
Otto smacked his hand over his chest, playing it up as he cried, “Oh, you scared Daddy.”
A tumble of gleeful giggles rolled out of the little girl. The child so sweet.
I couldn’t wait. Couldn’t wait to hold my and Daisy’s son in my arms, though that’s what all her children had become.
Mine.
My heart.
My breath.
My joy.
I loved each of them with every fiber of my being.
Daisy peeked up at me, her smile wistful, no question thinking the same thing.
I caressed up and down her side. So damned thankful that I’d been given this.
That after so much loneliness, I was whole.
Completed in this little family I’d discovered camping by my river.
“Now there he goes again.” Otto arched a razzing brow.
Theo laughed as he took a swig of his beer. “You’re worried about Cash and Daisy when you and Raven walk around loving each other up so much it’s a wonder you ever get dressed?”
“Why do you think Raven wears all those dresses? Easy access for when I don’t have time to peel her out of it.”
River groaned, though he tightened his hold on Charleigh, who was curled on his lap, the woman laughing under her breath. “Down boy,” she murmured.
He only grunted in return, shooting daggers at Otto that held no heat.
Kane chuckled and his attention snagged on Emery who walked out the front door, followed by Piper and Raven.
“I, for one, am all about the loving.” He raised his glass like he was offering a toast. “Continue on, dear Cash.”
Emery waltzed over, grinning down at her husband as she asked, “What are we celebrating?”
“We’re celebrating this thing called love. And just how hot our women are doing it,” he tacked on with a wink, the tease underscored in emphasis.
The truth that we all were lucky fucking bastards.
Every single one of my crew had suffered so much. In different ways. Each of us alone and afraid. It was wild that the streets of LA would bring us together. That it would forge a bond unlike any other as we fought for survival.
And that bond had reached fruition as each of these women came into our lives. Shaking up everything we thought we knew and showing us what was truly important.
I’d been terrified of it.
Believed I wasn’t worthy of it.
Had thought every single one of my days would be spent alone. A penance for the sins I’d committed.
But Daisy had shown me there was forgiveness.
There was healing.
There was joy on the other side of grief.
“Hey, Daddy-O! Catch!” Nolan shouted from where he’d run up to the base of the porch steps right before he threw the ball at his dad. River reached out and caught it with one hand.
“Come on, you gotta come play with us! I get to be on your team!” Nolan shouted.
Colin came beelining up to his side. “Dad, Dad, come on, we gotta be on a team because you’re so big and we gotta beat ’em.”