Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
From what I could tell—although I didn’t take any real time to look around—the house wasn’t going to have a smoking gun or a blood-covered rock or some other kind of murder weapon lying around.
I have to assume Chance’s dislike is for Mark alone. Whatever the reason, I’m thankful he’s given me the opportunity to stay.
I follow Chance, and I assume Miles follows me. I don’t dare look over my shoulder.
“You know Austin,” Chance says, “and this is his girlfriend, Carly Vance. Carly, Sadie Hopkins.”
“Hi, Sadie.” Carly smiles.
I’ve seen her before, and then it clicks. “Vance. You’re the mayor’s daughter.”
She nods. “I am, but I work here as a vet tech.” She lifts her gaze to Austin. “And this big guy is mine.”
Ah, the girlfriend. They look sweet together, and in love. That was fast. Austin has only been in town as long as Miles.
“Won’t you sit down?” She pats the chair next to her.
Perfect. An ally. Maybe. Someone who understands falling for a Bridger man happens fast.
Everyone else sits around the table, including Miles after he washed his hands at the sink. He settles into the empty seat next to me.
“And this is our housekeeper, Louisa,” Chance says. “She’s an amazing cook and keeps us from withering away.”
I glance up at the older woman who’s carrying in a large serving dish, her hands covered in oven mitts. “Nice to meet you, Louisa.”
She offers me a smile as she places the dish on a trivet. “You too, Sadie. I hope you like lasagna.”
“I love it.” I inhale. “It smells terrific.”
“What can I get you to drink?” Louisa asks.
I gaze around the table. Austin and Chance are drinking beer, and Carly is drinking water. I need to keep my wits about me if I’m going to get Miles back on my side. And back into my bed.
“Just water, please.”
“Absolutely.”
A moment later, Louisa slides a glass of water in front of me, and Carly passes me the salad bowl. I help myself to a modest portion and then hand the bowl to Miles beside me. He takes it.
Is that a good sign?
I guess we’ll see.
Miles downs the brown liquid in the glass he’s been holding since I arrived and then takes a drink from his glass of water.
“So what brings you here on a Saturday, Sadie?” Chance asks.
I hastily finish chewing my bite of salad and swallow. “I came to see Miles.”
“How’d he get so lucky?” Austin asks.
My cheeks burn, then, and the table gets quiet.
Do they know?
Miles rises and sets his napkin on the table. “Excuse me for a minute.”
Then all eyes are on me. Austin’s dark ones. Chance’s baby blues. Carly’s, which are a gorgeous green. Even Louisa’s.
None of us can miss an exterior door slamming shut.
“I…”
“It’s okay.” Carly pats my forearm. “You don’t have to say anything.”
“Miles is a good guy,” Austin says. “This just all gets to us from time to time. The whole will thing. While I have Carly here, it’s hard to be forced to stay at this place for a year. My mom’s sick and in Seattle.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Now the dead body surfacing after we cleaned up that dam. It’s a lot to process.”
I nod. “Of course. I understand.”
“Something’s bothering him,” Carly says. “Do you know what it might be?”
“I have an idea,” I say.
“What can we do to help?”
“I don’t think there’s anything you can do.” I rise. “I’ll take care of it. Where did he go?”
“Probably to the garage to work on that bike of his,” Chance says and rises. “Sit down, Sadie. I’ll get him.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. This is all my fault.”
“How is it your fault?” Austin asks.
Carly pokes him. “Mind your business.”
Austin widens his eyes, obviously just catching on. “Oh.”
Okay, so they don’t know. Correction—they didn’t know. They do now. Clearly Miles didn’t mention “us” to his family. Can’t say I blame him, after I couldn’t bring myself to tell Mark the truth at first.
If he’s not interested in more, telling his brothers about one amazing night with me wasn’t necessary. Or maybe he doesn’t kiss and tell, which is good, but his abrupt departure from the table means he’s still pissed. Either way, I’m in big trouble.
I plunk back down into my seat, feeling defeated. “Tell me how to fix this.”
“We don’t know our brother that well yet, Sadie,” Chance says. “But you are a detective on a case that involves our land. Us.”
“Yeah. But I don’t for a minute think any of you were involved. He knows that.”
“Your partner seems to think otherwise.” Chance clenches his jaw.
I frown. “He’s trying to be a hard-ass, but he’ll see reason. He’s a good cop…for the most part.”
“For the most part?” Austin raises his eyebrows.
“He goes a little…vigilante sometimes. I mean, it’s pretty slow around this cow town most of the time, so he’s gunning to make an arrest and solve this dead body case. It’s not too often we have one, so it’s a big deal. But he’ll see reason, and the evidence. And if he doesn’t, I’ll go over his head if I have to.”