Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 101872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
And he’d vowed that no one else would be able to hurt him that way. Love and relationships and all that bullshit weren’t worth it.
So why did he care if this fool woman broke her fucking neck climbing up onto a chair to change a fucking light?
He didn’t.
Liar.
“I’ll go get it.”
She was gone before he could protest that he’d get it. When she returned, he was frowning.
“Thanks. Stay over there. Out of the way.”
She gave him an exasperated look as she took an exaggerated step back.
And now he was acting like a dick simply because he didn’t like the way he reacted to her.
What was that shit he’d spouted before about her having to tell him when someone made her skin itch?
Yeah. He was losing his fucking mind.
Calm it the fuck down. She ain’t interested. You ain’t interested.
“You can go inside if you want,” he told her gruffly. “Don’t have to stand out here in the cold watching me.”
“It’s sixty-four out here today. It’s hardly cold.”
Yeah. But he didn’t know if he could handle having her near him. It was distracting.
And even if it wasn’t cold, it wasn’t warm either. And she didn’t have a coat on.
“Where’s your coat?”
“Inside.”
“You should put it on.”
She slid her hands onto her hips. “I’m fine.”
She just had to keep challenging him, didn’t she? Well, he’d see about that. He started stripping off his flannel shirt.
“What are you doing?”
“Stripping?”
“Why?” she asked in a high-pitched voice.
“Because it’s cold out and you won’t go get your coat. So I’m gonna give you my shirt.” He tugged it fully off. He had an undershirt on, and he didn’t mind the cold.
“Put it back on!” she cried. “The Grackle is gonna think we’re having sex out here or something.”
He snorted. “She needs to find something else to do with her time. And Grackle?”
To his surprise, red filled Opal’s cheeks. “That’s not her real name, obviously. It’s just that she . . . “
“Cackles like a grackle?” he asked.
A grin filled her face, making her look almost carefree. It occurred to him then how often she seemed laden down with worry.
She should be worry free. Having fun all the time. She was young. Not old and fucked up like he was.
Which is why you should stay away from her, you old asshole.
Maybe he should go to the club tonight. Burn some of this off.
“I’ll go get my coat,” she told him with a huff. “But will you please get dressed?”
“You said please.”
“Yeah. Do manners work on you?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Not really. But you put your coat on and I’ll get dressed.”
“You won’t always get your own way, you know!”
Yeah, he would.
He liked getting his own way so he made sure it happened a lot.
When she returned with a lightweight coat on, he grinned down at her.
“Right. Put yours back on, now,” she urged, glancing around almost frantically.
“Anyone would think you were ashamed of my body. I’m hurt.” He put a hand on his chest, giving her a sad look.
Her eyes widened. “What? No! That is not what I’m saying. Why would I say that? You’ve got an incredible body. You’re sexy as hell.”
“Thanks for noticing. Tell me more.” He drew his shirt on with a wink at her.
She glared up at him, her hands on her trim hips. “You’re gorgeous. You’re sexy. And you can also be a complete dick.”
He shrugged. “Yep. I know. But at least you’re warm now.”
There was silence as he got back to work which seemed odd for her.
“Oh, you are kidding me,” she muttered as he finished up.
Turning, he saw the sheriff’s car pull up.
Well, now, this ought to be interesting.
6
How was this her life?
After the shitshow with Stefan, not to mention the crappy years before him, all she’d wanted was to live a simple life in a quiet street in a crazy town filled with weirdos.
Was that really too much to ask for?
But it seemed that some of those weirdos were also judgmental and mean.
You get that everywhere.
She’d just been stupidly hoping for a respite from it. That she could put her past behind her and be a normal, boring person.
Living a normal, boring life.
“Don’t worry about this,” Renard said, jumping off the chair. “I’ll take care of it.”
He actually stepped between her and Jake. As though . . . as he was protecting her?
Damn it.
There went her insides again, growing all fuzzy and warm.
Shit.
She had to stop this. He wasn’t her hero. He wasn’t anything but a . . . a friend.
“Sheriff, how can we help you?” Renard said formally.
Jake sighed. “Will you just call me Jake? We’ve known each other for years.”
Renard crossed his arms over his chest. “Yep. But I’m guessing you’re not here to ask for a cup of sugar.”
“Considering I live across town, no I’m not,” Jake said dryly.