Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Before I have a chance to compose myself, my phone rings again, this time with a video call. I answer as I stand from the couch. “Hey, hold on,” I tell him.
“Wait.”
I stop walking and look at the screen for the first time. “What?”
“There she is.” He grins. “I said I wanted to see both of my girls.” His eyes are soft as he studies my features.
What do I say to that? That I’d do anything to be his? “Here I am.” I smile lamely.
“I see you, angel,” he replies, his voice low and gravelly. It’s sexy and has my belly quivering.
I ignore him, because what else can I do? Beg him to be mine? I can’t do that. “Ada!” I say excitedly. “Do you want to talk to Maverick?” I move to where she’s playing and lower to the floor next to her. “Look.” I turn the phone so that she can see Maverick.
She giggles and shimmies with excitement as she reaches for the phone. I pull it back out of her reach. “Ma, Ma,” she says. She claps her hands and tries again to grab the phone.
“That’s right, Bug. It’s Mav. How’s my girl?” he asks her.
She takes the phone from my hand and kisses the screen. “Ma,” she says again.
I laugh. “Are you giving Mav kisses?” I ask her.
“Ma.” She pokes her finger at the screen.
“I love your kisses, Bug.” Maverick laughs.
I take my phone back, ready for a fight, but she doesn’t protest as she stands and leans close to the screen. “I can see your nose hairs, kid,” he teases. Not that she understands that. “When I get home, we need to go out for some ice cream,” he tells her.
Ada nods. He’s taken us out enough for the cold, sweet treat. She knows exactly what ice cream means.
“You’re spoiling her, Mav.”
“That’s my job. To spoil my girls. Right, Bug?”
I hate when he does this. No, that’s not entirely true. I don’t hate it; I love it just as much as I love him. Yeah, I’ve gone and fallen in love with my best friend. We met in the most unconventional of ways, but since the very first moment we met, he’s been in my corner no matter what the situation. He dotes on my daughter and treats her like she’s his own flesh and blood. He made it impossible for me not to fall in love with him. I’ve known for a while now that this man owns my heart. I tried to fight it, but he made it impossible.
“We should let you go.” I pull the phone away, and Ada cries. I lift her into my arms. “Sweetie, Maverick needs to go.”
“Ma,” she cries.
“Hey, Bug. I promise I’ll come and see you as soon as I get home, okay?”
“Ma.” Her bottom lip trembles, and her eyes well with tears.
“Aw, you’re breaking my heart, Bug. I love you, kiddo. I promise as soon as I get home, I’ll come and see you.”
“Ma.” She continues to cry for him.
“I should let you go so I can calm her down.” I’m slightly bouncing her on my hip while holding the phone away so that he can see us.
“Let me know how she is.” His voice is sad, and his face shows the same.
“She’ll be fine, Mav. Go enjoy your weekend with your family.”
He opens his mouth to argue, but I stop him. “Say bye-bye, Ada.”
“Bye bye, Ma.” She waves, but there are still tears in her eyes. She blows him a kiss. I watch as this incredible man catches it and blows her one right back.
“Bye bye.” Maverick waves, and I end the call, cutting them off there. If not, this would go on all day and night.
“Ma, Ma, Ma,” Ada cries.
“Hey, it’s okay. Maverick will be back tomorrow.” They only did a short two-day trip this time because they didn’t want to take Blakely out of school for too long. They were considering longer, but Declan and Kennedy decided against taking her out of school for two days. “Do you want to go to the park? We can see the sunflowers,” I say with the most enthusiasm I can muster. You’d think I was just told I won a million dollars, but I need her to cheer up.
She whimpers, and I’m at a loss. I eye her ladybug on the floor. Bending down carefully, I grab it and hand it to her. She immediately holds it to her chest and snuggles as she sniffles.
“Want Mommy to rock you?” I ask, already making my way toward the recliner that also rocks. Best and most comfortable rocking chair invention ever.
“Mom, Mom, Ma.”
“I know, baby. Maverick misses you so much. He’ll be home tomorrow, and he’s going to come and see you.” Her body shudders as she catches her breath from her tears. Her breaths are shaky, and her chest rises rapidly as she comes down from her tears. My heart is cracked wide open seeing her like this. I’m not the only one who has fallen in love with Maverick Kincaid. I rock her for about fifteen minutes before she’s sound asleep. I carry her to our room and place her in her bed just as my phone beeps from the living room. I pick up the baby monitor before pulling the door almost fully closed.