Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
“They’re homemade. This little Italian market has an olive bar with all different kinds of stuffed olives.”
Trevor raised a brow. “You went to Rizullo’s?”
“Yeah.”
“They moved last year, didn’t they?”
“Yep.”
“They’re like forty miles down south now, in Noahsville. What were you doing down that way?”
I wasn’t about to tell my brother I’d driven there just to get the olives. I cleared my throat. “Gave an estimate.”
“To who?”
“A potential customer.”
“What was their name?”
“You writing a damn book or something?”
My brother tapped a finger to his lip and grinned. He knew.
I attempted to thwart whatever was about to come out of his mouth next. “Who’s dealing?”
“I am,” Elvin said. “You want in, February?”
“Umm… Like I said, I’m not very good.”
Maddox smiled. “Those are our favorite people to play with.”
From that point on, either February or I won every single hand of cards. We cleaned out all of my brothers. I leaned back in my chair when we took a break. “I thought you didn’t know how to play?”
“I didn’t say that. I said I wasn’t very good. And I’m not, compared to my uncle who taught me. He’s a professional poker player in Vegas.”
I smiled. “So you suckered us.”
“Not us. Them. You I let win twice, but only because you got all the stuff to make those amazing martinis.”
Normally we took a stretch break and then played for another hour or two. But Elvin grabbed his jacket and crutches. “I have an early job tomorrow morning, so I’m going to call it a night.”
Maddox nodded. “Me too.”
Trevor sipped his beer. “I can stay.”
Elvin shook his head. “Let’s go, jackass.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s time for you to go find some other woman to prey on. Pretty sure this one’s taken.”
I rolled my eyes. But I couldn’t say I was upset my brothers were clearing out. The last thing I needed was alone time with February, yet that’s exactly what I wanted. The two of us walked the guys to the door. Of course, when Trevor took February’s hand to shake it, he lifted it to his mouth and kissed the top with a smirk. I’d make him pay for that.
“Walk me out, bro?” Trevor said.
My eyes narrowed, but I told February I’d be right back and followed the dumbass to his truck.
“What’s up?”
“February seems really great.”
“Okay…”
“And she’s smoking hot.”
My jaw clenched.
Trevor chuckled and pointed to my face. “You’re turning purple.”
“Is that what you made me come out here for? To bust my balls?”
“Well, yeah. But that’s not the only reason.”
“What do you want?”
Trevor put a hand on my shoulder. “I just wanted to remind you that ladies who wear sexy boots like that and carry designer handbags don’t stick around this small town for long.”
I frowned. It wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but he was just trying to look out for me after what had gone down with the last city woman I’d dated. So I nodded. “It’s fine. We’re just friends.”
“Oh really? So you wouldn’t mind if I went back inside and asked her out?”
I scowled.
Trevor laughed and opened the door to his truck. “That’s what I thought. But you enjoy the rest of your evening anyway.”
Back inside the bar, I found February cleaning up the poker table. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind.” She stacked the poker chips inside their case. “Your brothers are great.”
“They’re pains in the asses.”
“It’s nice that you get together every month.”
“Elvin’s wife also hosts dinner every other Thursday.”
February smiled. “My only sister lives in California. It must be nice to have family around.”
“Sometimes. But don’t let them know I said that.” We finished cleaning up the table. “You want another prissy drink?”
She nibbled on her lip. “I should probably get going, too.”
She was right, yet somehow I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that. “Stay for one more.”
Our eyes met, and she was quiet for a long beat before nodding. “Okay. One more.”
I whipped up her fancy drink, poured a beer for myself, and we went and sat in a booth. I kept my eyes on her while she tasted the martini.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“You weren’t just thinking about nothing. I saw the wheels in your head spinning. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“I was just wondering who you hang out with like this at home in New York.”
“No one.” She shook her head. “I work late, often until midnight, and then go home to an overpriced empty apartment.” She smiled. “You want to know a secret?”
“What?”
“I don’t even have dishes in my kitchen cabinets.”
My brows pulled tight. “Where are they?”
“Nowhere. I don’t have any.”
“Why not?”
She shrugged. “My ex took them when he moved out, and I never bothered to replace them.”
“Your ex? How long ago was that?”
“The divorce was finalized three years ago.”
I had no idea she’d ever been married, but I didn’t find that information half as disturbing as not having dishes for three years. “How do you eat?”