Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“You’re not too old—you’re ageless.” I drop a kiss on Cookie’s cheek and he gets red and waves me off.
“Go on, now. Better check those rolls in the oven—I can smell them so they must be almost done.”
I skip off to the oven, my heart light as a feather. My big brother can stay! He has a job and a reason to stick around. We can really get to know each other now, not just by letters but in person!
You mean the way you got to know him this morning? Showing him your breasts and hugging him while you were topless? whispers a guilty little voice in my head.
I push it to the side. I don’t give a damn what I have to do to keep Kane here—I just know that I have my big brother back at last and I’m not going to lose him.
13
CONNOR
Things are slow at first so I have a minute to go to the men’s room and make a call.
“Where might you be, Sir?” Branson inquires when he picks up. “Are you on your way? Should I schedule a meeting of the Board?”
“Not quite yet, Branson. I need to stay here for a little while longer.”
“Stay where, Sir, if I may be so bold as to inquire?” he asks.
“Er…let’s just say it’s a small town in the Appalachian Mountains,” I tell him.
“And for how long will you be staying?” is his next question.
“I’m not quite sure,” I confess.
“May I ask what you’re doing there and if there is any way I can help, Sir?” he asks next.
I frown and bite the inside of my cheek. I can hardly tell him that instead of going home to run my multinational corporation, I just accepted a job washing dishes and bussing tables. All so I could be with a girl who I’ve fooled into thinking I’m her big brother. Branson is a great guy, but he’s also kind of uptight. He wouldn’t understand.
“It’s just…unfinished business,” I say at last. “It has to do with the guy who was my cellmate.”
“Ah, I see,” he says in a tone that indicates he doesn’t see at all. “Nothing too dangerous, I hope?” he adds anxiously.
“Not dangerous at all,” I assure him. “I’m perfectly safe, this business is just taking a little longer than I thought to wrap up. I know you’ve been watching over things for three long years, but can you keep it up just a little while longer?”
Branson doesn’t hesitate.
“Of course, Sir. You can rely on me.”
“Good man. I know I can. You know I’m grateful, Branson.”
“Just doing my job, Sir.” But his voice is warm. “Please be safe and keep me informed so I can have things ready when you finally come home.”
“I will,” I promise. “I have to go now but I’ll try to touch base every other day or so.”
“Very well, Sir. Farewell for now, then.”
Branson hangs up and so do I. It’s time to get into my new job—one I never thought I’d be doing and probably would have turned my nose up at in my past life. But prison taught me something—I’m not too good for manual labor and even the lowest job is worth doing well.
It humbled me, but in a good way. I was kind of an entitled shit before—born with a silver spoon in my mouth and all that. It’s amazing how being forced to live in a bare-bones cell and eat slop three meals a day will bring you down to Earth and let you know you’re not any better than anyone else.
The first half of the day goes smoothly. The breakfast crowd comes in and The Pie Shop is hopping. Singing Rock might be small, but it turns out people come from miles around to eat here.
Cookie makes excellent diner food—I can attest to that—but most of the people come in for Sunny’s pies. I’m surprised at how many of them order a slice for breakfast and they’re eager to know what the special of the day is. Which is her “Do Me Dirty Pie”—a kind of chocolate Kahlua praline pie that’s fucking delicious.
The regulars all know Sunny as “the pie lady” and they give her compliments that make her blush and smile. I can’t help watching her as I buss the empty tables. Her happiness is so pure it’s infectious. Often a customer will walk in with a frown on their face but the minute they start interacting with Sunny, they start to smile. It’s like her good mood is catching in the best way.
I know I certainly catch it—I find myself smiling even as I spray off the dirty dishes and run them through the washer. I’m thinking of going shopping with her later on that day and then spending time with her alone. Not that I expect anything to happen—it absolutely won’t, I tell myself sternly. But I love the idea of just being with her and hearing her bubbly laugh and looking into her gorgeous amber eyes.