Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“Fine,” I respond tightly as I look over and see Bobby on the side, whispering with someone.
“What is going on?” I ask, looking around and seeing someone else look away from me.
“Word is getting around that Lilah is living with you,” he states. “There is talk about you two.”
“What the fuck?” My hands shake. “Who the fuck told them anything?”
“No idea.” He shrugs. “But it’s a small town, and you know how these things go.”
The last fucking thing I wanted was to become the gossip of the fucking bar. The last thing I wanted was for them to look at her differently.
“Sammy!” I shout his name and he comes running over. “She’s been on the horse for thirty minutes.” I motion with my head. “Tell her she’s overdoing it.”
“Um,” Sammy hesitates, his eyes going big.
“I’ll go tell her,” Charlie says. “You go and do your thing, Sammy.”
“I’ll tell her,” I huff and storm out of the barn.
“Idiot,” Charlie mumbles as I walk out toward the fenced arena. As soon as I get there, I see she’s off the horse and walking to the barn with it.
“Morning,” she says with a smile, “I was just putting her to work.”
“Yeah”—I put my hands on my hips—“write it down on the chart.” I motion with my head. “And just an FYI, people are gossiping about you living with me.”
“I know,” she says and she looks away. “Walked in on Sammy and Bobby discussing it.” She avoids looking at me. “It’s fine, it’ll be something else by this afternoon.”
“It’ll die down,” I mumble. “Besides, I’m doing it to keep you safe.”
She nods. “I have to get to my desk.”
“Give me the horse, I’ll take her in,” I snap, and she hands me the reins. “See you later.” I turn and walk toward the barn, seeing Charlie watching the whole thing.
“You good?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“No, I’m not fucking good,” I hiss, “and you better make sure no one says anything to my face about her. Or to her.”
“On it,” he replies as he turns and walks over to the guys. “How about you work in the field today, just to be safe?”
“Fuck that,” I snarl at him, “I’m not going to pretend I’m doing anything wrong. I’m taking care of her.”
“So I’ve heard.” Charlie smirks, turning and leaving me alone with the horse. My head screams that I’m going to take care of her because she’s mine at the same time the poison slowly seeps out of the box and into me, laughing like the devil.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
LILAH
I pick up my phone and bring up her text thread.
Me: Hey, sorry, I’m going to have to bail on book club night. I have to get my thesis done and work has been insane.
I leave out the part about me living with Emmett because I can’t get into it right now, and I know she’ll have a million questions. To be honest, I don’t want to give her or anyone the answers. Also, I don’t even have them to give her anyway. I’m in uncharted territory, as usual, with Emmett.
She texts me back right away.
Sierra: Sounds good, let me know if you need any help.
I put the phone down on my desk and turn to look at the computer screen when the front door opens and Lucy comes running in. “Lilah,” she chirps, “I’m going to go ride Rosy now.” Her eyes are big. “Do you want to come with me?”
I look at the corner of my computer screen and see I’m technically supposed to be at my desk for another ten minutes. “I don’t know.” I look over and see Emmett saunter in, looking all sexy and shit. Even in dusty fucking jeans and a dirty-ass T-shirt, he’s still all that. It doesn’t help that now I know he’s got everything in that package to make him a fifteen out of ten. “My boss doesn’t like when I’m not at my desk.”
“Charlie!” Emmett yells from in front of my desk toward the hallway that has Charlie’s office and also an office for Emmett he never uses. He actually took the desk into the barn and now the only thing in there is a chair.
I hear boots coming toward us and glance at Lucy as we both share a look. “You rang?” Charlie says, walking into the room and then looks at Lucy. “Hey, Lucy.” He smiles at her. “How was school?”
“Good,” she answers softly, not sure what is going on.
“What are you hooting and hollering about?” Charlie looks back at Emmett.
“Lilah is going to go riding with Lucy,” he tells him, and Charlie’s eyebrows pinch together. “She said her boss doesn’t like it when she’s not at her desk.” Charlie’s head whips to me. “So can she go?”
“Okay, first of all, you are the one who yells at her all the time.” He points at Emmett.