Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“I’m not trying to do anything.” Alice walked toward her and cupped her cheeks. “You’ve been a hardworking mom for a long time, and your father and I want to do everything we can to help.”
Her parents had long retired. She also had a sister, Ashley, but she had gone to the big city to become some big-shot lawyer, and she was doing amazingly well. Ashley had come home to help with the divorce, as well as the potential criminal proceedings. Her sister had wanted to make sure George ended up behind bars. That hadn’t happened. She talked to Ashley every single day.
Joey had a sneaking feeling her parents were up to something, but the truth was, right now, she was way too tired. She smiled at her mother, and rather than judge her and criticize what was being offered, she accepted it and thanked her.
Alice moved in close and hugged her tightly. “You know, I don’t know if I have ever said this to you before, but I am so proud of you. So, so, so proud.”
It was a few hours later, after walking Princess and putting Adeline to bed, that she told her sister, over a video call, what their mother had said.
“She’s hoping for you to find someone,” Ashley said.
“Find someone?”
“Yeah, you know, like a guy, or a girl, whichever choice you want to make.”
“But that is like, insane.”
“No, it’s not.”
Joey laughed. “How am I supposed to find someone in a weekend?”
“Think about it, sis. Mom and Dad are taking Adeline for the whole weekend, including Friday.” Her sister did a little wolf whistle. “That can only mean one thing. Our darling parents expect you to find a man on Friday and fall in love on Sunday.”
“That is insane. I’m a mom.”
“And moms still have feelings, and you better not tell me you’re in love with George, because I think I would fly down there and slap some sense into you.” Ashley immediately winced. “Shit, was that too much?”
She smiled at her sister. “No, it’s not too much.”
Ashley let out a sigh. “Thank God, because I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“You haven’t, don’t worry.”
She smiled at her sister.
“You don’t have to meet a guy, Joey. You could just go out, have some fun. Why not dance, and you know, do your thing, enjoy a weekend of not being a mom but being yourself? Does that make sense?”
It did make sense.
“And if it leads to sex, what is the harm?”
She rolled her eyes but burst out laughing. She should count on her sister to be blunt.
Chapter Two
Axel didn’t know why he was back in the fucking bar. Something had told him to come back to the bar Friday night and have a drink. It had been a long week, as he’d been working on a project just outside of town on a very large property. An old ranch had been purchased, and he’d been given the contract to redesign and update the property.
It was a long and arduous task, but it was one he actually enjoyed. There was no time limit.
The rich millionaire was still deciding if he wanted to stay at the ranch or flip it once it was redone.
Axel didn’t judge. Small-town life was not for everyone, but it was what he had grown up with. For a few years, he’d taken his bike to the open road, but it hadn’t been for him. He liked his creature comforts, and he also liked a lot of available pussy. On the road, that had been few and far between, but now it was even more so, as he couldn’t get a certain blonde out of his head.
All week he had given himself the luxury to enjoy a nice coffee from her place. He had even started to change his order and tried a mocha latte, which was nice. She made amazing cinnamon rolls. They were just so incredibly tasty.
He also had gotten Joey to serve him every single time. He couldn’t get enough of her sweet smile. There was nothing fake about it. She was all real.
Her smile, the soft laughter, and as for her body, he couldn’t stop imagining running his hands all over her. He was addicted.
Never had he felt this way about a woman before in his life. He certainly didn’t have to do any chasing, so this was a whole new experience for him.
Taking a beer, he took a sip and nodded to his Uncle Rick, who owned the bar. He wasn’t actually his uncle, but he was his father’s best friend when he was alive, and he had taken on the role of uncle.
“So, do I need to call an ambulance or something?” Uncle Rick asked.
“Why?”
“I’ve watched you push away three women tonight, and usually, you would consider that a party.”