Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
He shrugs. “It’s home.”
And it is. The town of Thistlebrook is made up of lots of log homes, but after Matt and Sadie bought their home, it burned down a month later due to some faulty wiring. Because it was so traumatic, Sadie demanded her home be rebuilt in brick. While it still has the wood frame, it’s mostly constructed of brick and is absolutely stunning. They went out to her great-uncle’s ranch to get a bunch of original brick that had been used on one of the old houses from the 1800s. I was so jealous I didn’t get to help, but man, I love the look of their home. The story. The timeless feel. The house is a ranch, with three bedrooms and two baths. Their family is too big for the house, but Sadie won’t leave it.
Like Matt said, it’s home.
“I know,” I say softly, sending them a thankful smile. “I appreciate the offer. I may just have to deal with Nyle.”
“You could stay with me.”
Dean’s words smack the air right out of me. I turn quickly, almost knocking my laptop off the table. “Wha-wha-what?”
I gawk at him, and Dean shrugs like he didn’t just offer for me to come stay with him. Dean’s brows furrow more as he leans on the doorjamb of the back door. “What? I have a guest room you can have. No one is using it.”
I blink. I can’t stay with Dean.
I’d jump his ass for sure.
Unaware of my internal struggles, Sadie points to her brother with a nod. “He’s right, and he’s hardly there since the weeks he doesn’t have Skyye, he’s at the firehouse. And when he does work, Skyye can stay with you instead of being subjected to the kids.”
Matt makes a face. “Hey, she loves our kids.”
Dean nods. “She does, but Sae’s right.”
I blink again. Could I stay with him? Before I can even fully think it through, my phone rings. I look down, thinking it may be my boys, but I find it’s my lawyer. “One second.” I bring the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Hey, Kenleigh. This is Ryan Ritchmount. I wanted to reach out and confirm the delay in your divorce. It came across my desk just now, and I thought it was weird since you were pretty adamant about getting the papers drawn up.”
I swear I choke on my tongue, and then I screech. “What!”
Dean steps closer but doesn’t touch me. I don’t think he can hear my conversation, not that I think that’s the reason he moved next to me. One thing is for sure; his presence is soothing. I take a deep breath as Ryan says, “Yeah, I knew this was fishy. So, you didn’t sign a stay of divorce proceedings?”
Through gritted teeth, I reply, “I am in Tennessee, been here for almost three weeks. I have signed nothing.”
Ryan lets out a little whistle. “I will get this fixed and proceed with the divorce. I’ll call you if I run into anything else.”
The line goes dead, and I just stare at my phone. “That motherfucker.”
“Kenni—” Sadie tries, but I hold up my hand as I unblock my fuckface of an ex and hit his number.
“Kenleigh, I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks.”
Stratford’s voice has me on edge. “And I blocked you because we have nothing else to say to each other, but you made sure that wasn’t the case, huh? Forging my name to delay our divorce? What is your problem?”
Matt’s eyes widen as Sadie’s face turns bright red, vowing to kill him dead. Dean only steps closer. Stratford lets out an exasperated breath like I’m the fucking problem. “Kenleigh, please, it’s one year. We don’t even have to speak. I’ll give you 65%.”
“No,” I say simply. “I don’t want or need your money.”
“So you’ll take this money from my children?”
I pause. Is he fucking serious right now? I know he’s not speaking of my boys because the money is going to them. “The children you wouldn’t even have if you were a faithful husband? Yeah, I think I will, and I’ll give it to the children who had to have you as a cheating fucking father.”
Sadie’s eyes widen, and Matt lets out a sound of contempt. Meanwhile, Dean stands beside me, his body radiating anger, but also comfort.
“Don’t do this.”
“I can’t even with you right now. I just got off the phone with my lawyer. He’s going to push it through. There is nothing else we need to say to each other.”
“You are making a mistake!” Stratford’s voice booms over the line.
“No, the mistake was made when I fell for the bullshit you were selling,” I bite out, my eyes burning with tears that I refuse to let fall.
“I will make you pay for this.”
I pause, my brows shooting up. “Are you threatening me?”