Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Liar.
“What do you say, Brock? Are you up for it?” Lee’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I looked up with a frown.
“Up for what?”
Lee smiled as if he knew something I didn’t. “Nix said there was a spark earlier between you and Sela.”
“Happy fucking couples,” I groaned. “It’s called a conversation.” But I was secretly pleased that Nix had witnessed the chemistry too.
“Come on. We’re headed to the pub.”
Ol’ St. Nick’s looked like any downtown bar in any city in America, except that it also looked like Thanksgiving had thrown up all over the place. Turkeys were everywhere, made out of construction paper and balloons, and even a turkey piñata. There was a large cornucopia on the bar with beer cans and bar snacks spilling from it. Pilgrim hat and buckle centerpieces topped each table. “Interesting.”
Lee laughed and clapped me on the back. “There’s an empty booth in the back,” he said, pointing to Ryan, who stalked toward the back where Nix and Torey huddled together.
The place was packed, which surprised me. It was a small town on a Sunday evening, and this place felt like a Friday. It took three full minutes to get to the booth. Then I was stuck with two happy couples who couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.
“Hey, guys. What can I get you to drink?” Sela appeared at the table looking like a wet fucking dream in her red cropped sweater that showed off a strip of midriff and hung off one shoulder. Her jeans molded to every curve, highlighting strong legs and a flat stomach. Her red stilettos matched her lips, and I couldn’t look away.
Her gaze met mine and widened for a fraction of a second before she put her fake-as-fuck smile back in place. “I’ll have a whiskey neat, please. Unless there’s something you recommend?”
“Spicy apple cider margarita is really good.” She spared me a quick glance and then made a big show of looking away.
Interesting. “I’ll have that, then.” I kept my eyes on her as the rest of the table placed their orders, and when she walked away, my eyes went with her.
Sela was a woman with secrets. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes that stuck with me. She smiled and joked with customers, sidestepped handsy patrons with an admonishing grin, and flirted outrageously with a table of silver-haired men. None of her smiles were real, though, not like the ones I’d gotten this morning.
Careful, Brock. Remember the last time you let a pretty face derail your plans. Yeah, my ex-wife Christina was a real piece of work. I was sure she loved me at some point, but she always loved my money and the fact that my business kept me away from home, leaving her to do whatever she wanted, including every single man who smiled her way. After that betrayal and a contentious divorce, I kept my interactions with women simple. I didn’t do complicated, and I didn’t do long-term.
And I didn’t look into a pair of sad blue eyes and wonder who or what put the sadness there.
“Man, you’ve got it bad,” Nix whispered in my ear.
I opened my mouth to deny it, but the denial wouldn’t form. I was definitely intrigued by her, and not just her looks. It was a recipe for disaster, but I couldn’t stop myself.
Not yet.
After two drinks, I was ready to crash, to wash the day off and fall into the semi-comfortable bed at the B&B and sleep for the next ten hours. “I think I’m going to head out.” I finished my drink and stood. “Drinks on me.”
A round of thanks went around the table, which was already so unlike my last city, where it was always expected that someone else would pick up the tab. So far, Holiday Grove was an unexpected delight.
I made my way to the bar to pay the tab, scanning the area for one last look at Sela. She was deep in conversation with a man, and it didn’t look like a happy conversation. She was shrinking in on herself and searching for rescue, but the bar was packed, and the other waitress was halfway across the room.
Don’t do it.
He grabbed her arm, and she cried out in pain. “Just hear me out!”
“Let me go,” she shouted, her eyes welling with tears.
My feet moved before I could second-guess myself. “Sela, you all right?” It was a dumb question, but it distracted them both just long enough for her to put some distance between her and the man.
“I’m fine,” she said in a strained voice. “Adam was just leaving.”
“Not without a conversation. You owe me that much.”
She let out a bitter laugh. “I don’t owe you anything. You left, Adam. Remember? I’ve moved on.”
The jerk stepped forward, and I slid easily between them. “Pretty sure she said you were leaving.”