Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“Good morning, Mrs. Betty. Thanks for being so prompt for your appointment.”
“They say the early bird gets the worm, but it looks like I’m the one that got the treat.” Her head swivels between the two of us, but I ignore her eyebrow wiggles.
“I’ll see you at lunch,” I tell Quinn as I move to the door. She’s biting her bottom lip to hide her smile, but Mrs. Betty is already starting.
“Pour the hot coffee, Quinn, I want the dirt.” Snuffles meows loudly in agreement.
“It’s tea,” Quinn corrects her and then giggles.
I shake my head as I make my way across the street to my own store. Maybe it’s my imagination, but it feels like I’m walking on clouds.
Chapter Seven
QUINN
I’m flooded with appointments today, and not only that, I’ve filled up my schedule for the next month. People kept popping in instead of calling, so it didn't take long for me to deduce that everyone was interested in learning more about the new girl in town. The girl they suspect is in a relationship with Rhodes.
Wait, it's not a relationship. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but that kiss was intense. I lick my lips thinking of it, wanting to taste him again.
When he came by with lunch, I didn’t miss the way people would walk by the shop extra slow to get a peek at us. Rhodes is well loved around here, and it was actually pretty funny. Everyone has been nice about it, and they don’t seem to care that I’m an outsider.
“I’m sorry, everyone is nosy as hell around here,” Rhodes says while changing the lock on my back door.
“You don’t say,” I laugh. “But it’s kind of sweet.”
Rhodes nods. “I guess the advantage is that it makes the town a bit safer. Everyone knows everyone, and if a new person pops up, we’ll all know pretty damn quickly.”
“Has anyone mentioned someone popping up?” I ask, sensing he’s already dug into this.
“Nope, and the closest hotel is a town over. I know the owner, Nick, and he let me know no one has stood out. He’s only had a couple of families pass through and extended family from locals staying there while they visited.”
“He can just tell you that?”
“They don’t have a hardware store, and I’ve helped Nick a few times on repairs and ordering things he needed.” Rhodes shrugs. “He knows I won’t go telling everyone what he said.”
“Yeah, I didn’t take you as a gossip,” I tease. “Does that make you the black sheep in town?”
I earn a chuckle from Rhodes, and his deep laugh is sexy as hell. Sitting here watching him work is no hardship, and I’m certain I could do it all day. Boss is perched on my lap watching him too, and he seems just as content.
“That should do it,” Rhodes says and puts his tools away. “What about cameras?”
“What do you mean?”
“I could put some in the shop and at the doors on the front and back. The outside ones would be motion activated, and we’d get an alert if they’re triggered.”
“Then we could watch it back if something does happen?”
“It’s an extra layer of protection,” he says, and I think about it.
“You know it would be cool if I could put the camera feed for the front area of the shop online somewhere. That way customers can check in on their cats. It could give them comfort.”
“Comfort?”
“Yeah, people can be jerks, and they don’t know me. This way they know their fur babies are being taken care of. It’s not like the cat can tell them if I’m mean.” Rhodes’s expression lets me know he’s not a fan of this idea. “What, you think it’s stupid?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then what?”
“I’m not real crazy about the idea of whoever it is that you’re scared of getting access to it. I think it’s a great idea and you should do it, but could we maybe add it down the road?”
“Right, I hadn’t thought about that.”
“Hey,” Rhodes says, and then his hand cups my cheek. His thumb strokes back and forth, and the touch puts me at ease in a way only he can. "One thing at a time. Let's get the cameras up and then go from there." I nod in agreement, and a smile spreads across his handsome face. "Good. Because I might have already ordered them, so I'm glad we're in agreement."
A laugh bubbles out of me, and I shake my head. I'm not going to be mad at Rhodes for doing something to protect me.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me," he says and leans in close while his thumb is still stroking my cheek. "You're my girl, right? That means I take care of you."
"I'm your girl?"
"That's how I see it, but if you're not there yet, that's okay."
"No, I like it." Okay, I love it, but I keep that to myself.