Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 37828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“Brody,” Reyes said. “Are you all right?”
“Yep, I’m good.” Brody smiled and took off his jacket. Underneath he wore a T-shirt with the image of a turkey on it. The bird held a sign saying: Save a Turkey, Eat Pizza. “Sorry to turn up unexpectedly like this.”
“It’s okay,” Dahlia said. “Here let me take that. And yours?” She stepped toward Autumn and suddenly, the Fox was between the two women.
“My Bunny is a bit shy. I’ll help her.”
Markovich frowned, worried Dahlia would be upset. That was going to cause problems.
No one upset his baby girl.
But Dahlia’s face just softened. “That’s okay. I get how hard it can be when you don’t know anyone. But we’re practically sisters.”
The Fox turned to Autumn, unzipping her jacket before pulling it off. Markovich watched him in amazement. He’d never have thought the other man capable of caring for someone like that. And he did it all so gently.
Then he handed her jacket to Dahlia, who walked out with them. When she returned, she looked flushed as though she’d been running.
Markovich frowned and crooked a finger at her. He didn’t like her being far from him. After everything that had happened this year, he had to know she was close by.
“Were you running?” he asked.
“Just a little bit,” Dahlia said guiltily.
“No running in the house. Especially since you hurt your legs. How are your shins?” He wrapped his arm around her.
She gave him an incredulous look. “They’re fine. I think we have other things to deal with right now.”
“Nothing is as important as you.”
Her entire face softened. Did her eyes get teary? He knew something was up with her, he just couldn’t work out what it was.
“You hurt yourself?” Emme asked. “What happened?”
“Nothing, it’s nothing,” Dahlia said.
It wasn’t nothing, but he didn’t push her.
“Sorry, we’re late. Brody’s family wouldn’t let me leave. They adore me. Who wouldn’t?” The Fox held out his arms. “So has all the food been eaten or are you still bringing it out?”
10
Markovich and Dahlia
Dahlia gaped at the Fox. He didn’t look the same as the last time she’d met him. Today he had mousy brown hair and he seemed shorter too. Although maybe that was an illusion.
But the way he was acting . . . yeah, that was the man she’d met.
She tried to get a glimpse of the woman standing behind Brody, but she stayed hidden. She had to wonder how she was dealing with the Fox if she was so shy and quiet.
But perhaps that’s why it worked since the Fox was so outspoken.
“I ruined Thanksgiving lunch!” Dahlia said. “The turkey was frozen, so I turned the oven up too high and burned the outside while the middle didn’t get cooked at all. All I have is a sweet potato casserole and some cranberry sauce. Because that’s all I didn’t mess up. So we’re eating lasagna and chicken casserole instead.”
She tensed, waiting for what they’d say.
“I like lasagna.”
It was Autumn who spoke. She stepped out from behind Brody, her hand held in his. “Brody-bear does too, don’t you?”
“Sure do,” Brody replied cheerfully.
Dahlia studied the food. Did they have enough?
“And we have leftovers, too,” Autumn added.
“Duh, how did I forget? Idiot!” Brody smacked his hand against his forehead. “I’ll go get them.”
The Fox reached out to take hold of Brody’s hand. “Don’t hurt yourself. Or call yourself names.”
Brody gulped, but nodded. To her surprise, the Fox leaned forward to lightly kiss Brody’s lips. “I’ll come with you to get the food.”
The Fox left the room with both Brody and Autumn to get the food.
“Well,” Emme said. “This was unexpected.”
“You can say that again,” Dahlia muttered. “Do we have enough dessert?”
“Doubtful. Hopefully, they brought some of that too,” Emme replied.
“If we don’t, we’ll sort it out,” Markovich reassured her.
To her shock, Brody entered carrying a stack of containers filled with food. It didn’t take long for her and Emme to heat everything. When the food was all laid out, well, it was a feast.
Things were still a bit tense, however. She glanced at the Fox and then over to Dimitri. What was Dimitri thinking? This is what he’d wanted, but maybe not under these circumstances.
Then again . . . it was always going to be on the Fox’s terms, wasn’t it?
She watched as the Fox filled both Autumn and Brody’s plates before his own. That was sweet.
That wasn’t something she’d ever thought she’d think of the Fox.
“I really don’t think I can eat this much,” Autumn said, looking at her food with dismay.
The Fox whispered something to her that had her nodding and blushing.
“Okay, Daddy,” she said back.
Or at least that’s what Dahlia thought she said. It was hard to hear. She seemed so sweet, though. Dahlia would love to know her better.
“So . . . Fox, what made you come today?” Dimitri asked.