Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I’m going to enjoy my snuggle time before it gets interrupted. Settling back on the couch, I keep one hand on Remi’s back as I close my eyes and listen to her soft breaths. I don’t know how long we’re lying here when I hear footsteps on the hardwood floor. I crack open one eye to see Brooks taking a seat next to me on the couch.
“Want me to take her?” he asks.
“Nah, she’s fine.”
“If you’re sure, I’m going to go help Palmer set up.”
“I thought we were just ordering pizza.”
He grins. “You know my wife. Hell, all of our sisters-in-law are just like Mom. They’d rather have too much than not enough. She made brownies and some kind of strawberry dessert that will make your mouth water just by looking at it.”
“Just keep it down, will you? Me and my girl are trying to nap.” I close my eyes and listen as his soft chuckle follows him into the kitchen.
Remi stirs in my arms, which jolts me awake. I glance down at her, and she’s just starting to wake up as she rubs her eyes. I place a kiss on the top of her head, and a feminine “Aw” has me turning to look for the source of the voice. To my surprise, Scarlett is sitting in the chair, watching us, with a soft expression on her face.
“Hey,” I croak, my voice heavy with sleep. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“Looks like you two needed it.” She nods toward Remi.
“We took a walk, and it must have worn us both out.” I sit up, which has Remi lifting her head. She smiles, and my heart constricts in my chest. Damn, I love this kid. “Hey, baby girl,” I say softly. “You feel better after your nap?”
Remi babbles back, and I grin.
“You’re good with her.”
“She’s a good baby.”
Scarlett nods. “That might be, but babies are a good judge of character. She knows that she can trust you.”
“Of course she can. I’d never let anything happen to her.” Now that I’m more alert, I can see that my memory of the lovely Scarlett didn’t do her justice.
Scarlett smiles softly. “She’s lucky to have you.”
The front door opens, and I know immediately that it’s Declan and his family when I hear tiny feet racing on the hardwood floor.
“Blake!” Declan calls after his daughter. “Take your shoes off and stop running in the house.”
“Uncle Brooks and Aunt Palmer let me,” Blakely calls back, making me laugh.
I feel a hand slap at the back of my head. “Just wait until you have a sassy almost six-year-old who thinks she’s going on sixteen. I’ll remind you of this moment.”
“I’d like to think I’ve learned from all of our mistakes.” I turn my attention back to Scarlett. “Blakely was the only grandchild, the only niece up until this little beauty was born. We kind of went out of our way to spoil her rotten.”
“You’ve learned nothing,” Declan says as he leans down and takes Remi from my arms.
“Hey, baby hog.”
“Here, have another.” Kennedy, Declan’s wife, walks into the room and hands me their son, Beckham.
“There’s my little man.” I take him from his momma and snuggle him close. Beckham wiggles until he’s comfortable resting against my shoulder.
“Are you some kind of baby whisperer or something?” Scarlett asks.
“They all are,” Palmer says as she comes into the room. “All of them, even their dad, Raymond. It’s like it’s in their genes or something.” She laughs.
“There are lots of things we excel at,” I say, my eyes meeting Scarlett’s. She blushes, and I have to bite down on my cheek to hide my smile. Maybe I can pull her to the side and convince her to come home with me tonight.
“What he said,” Brooks says, pulling Palmer onto his lap.
“What time is it?” I ask, kissing the top of Beckham’s head. There’s nothing quite like the smell of a baby. Well, when they’re not shitting or puking, that is.
“Just after six.”
I’m getting ready to ask if everyone else is still on their way when the door opens, and the chaos begins. Within ten minutes, all eight of my brothers, their wives, and kids are here. It’s loud and boisterous, and I love it. I couldn’t imagine not having our big, crazy family.
“Are Mom and Dad coming?” Sterling asks. He’s standing behind his wife, Alyssa, with her back pressed to his front.
“No. Dad’s taking her to Harris to dinner and a movie.”
“Are you still going to take me to dinner and a movie after we’ve been married as long as they have?” This comes from Crosby, Rushton’s wife.
“Yes,” me and my brothers reply for him. The entire room erupts with laughter.
“Scarlett,” Palmer says, “something you should know about the Kincaid men. They love hard.”
“Once they fall, it’s like a skyscraper crashing to the ground,” Alyssa says. Sterling pinches her side, which has her laughing and wiggling, trying to escape his hold, but we all know that’s not going to happen. He’ll always hold on to her. It took them some time to get to their happily ever after, and Sterling won’t ever let another day pass where Alyssa doesn’t know what she means to him. Doesn’t matter they’re newly married. Hell, Orrin, Brooks, Declan, Rushton, Sterling, and Dad, all married Kincaid men who are willing to shout their love for their wives from the rooftops.