Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Noah laughs, and Brooks narrows his eyes.
Finally, he shakes Noah’s hand, although I can see that it’s reluctantly.
“I’m her husband,” Brooks eventually says.
“Noted. For what it’s worth, I have my eye on another pretty blonde from Bitterroot Valley,” he says with a smile. “And I’m not an asshole.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Okay, now that we’ve got all of the testosterone out of the way, what can I do for you, husband?”
“I came to grab lunch. Christy said you were back here.”
“Yeah, we were just wrapping up.”
“I’ll head out,” Noah says. “Let me do some research and some thinking, and I’ll get back to you in the next day or so. Does that work for you, Jules?”
“That’s Mrs. Blackwell to you,” Brooks growls, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Yes, that’s fine with me. Thanks for considering it. I promise my husband won’t be a bully every time you see him.”
“Yes, he will,” Brooks replies.
“It’s all good.” Noah shakes my hand, and then he leaves, and I turn to frown at my man.
“Brooks.”
“What?”
“You can’t be rude to people.”
“Says who?”
“Says me.”
His hands drift from my waist to my ass, and he pulls me against him. “Wildfire, I’m secure enough in my sexuality to objectively say that that man is attractive, and he was standing way too close to you.”
“Noah’s attractive?” I blink innocently, and Brooks growls again. “I didn’t notice. Anyway, he seems nice. He was recommended to me by Cassie, your sister’s personal chef. And I really need the help, babe. I’m tired. I don’t want to work every single day anymore even though I love it here, and I’m proud of it. But I want to see more of you and spend time with you.”
“Okay, that I can live with.” He lowers his head and nibbles my lips. “If he ever gets handsy, you tell me, and I’ll remove them from his body.”
“Have you been reading some of my Mafia books?”
He smirks and kisses me once more. “I have to grab the sandwiches I ordered on my way back here and get to work. I’ll probably be at the garage a little late today.”
“Well, I’m going to head home soon, since my crew seems to have it handled here. I'd like to do a little cleaning and then read. Book club is tomorrow night, and I have a couple of hours left in the book.”
“You should go home and relax, baby.”
He nuzzles my nose, then pulls away. I wish he could go home with me, and we could cuddle up for the afternoon. I’d love it if he would read to me, the way he used to when we were young.
But my man has a busy garage to run.
Christy has his bag ready for him, and he kisses my cheek before he heads back to work.
“I’m out of here,” I tell Christy. “Call me if you need me.”
“We won’t. The craziness has died down a bit, and we have a handle on things. But don’t worry, I’ll call if anything weird happens.”
I nod, take off my apron, and toss it in the hamper. Then I grab my handbag and sling it across my body and set off for the house.
Brooks dropped me off this morning, so I get to walk home. I admit, although I try to take a walk at least once a day, I haven’t been as diligent about it since I married Brooks.
I don’t feel like I need an escape from anything.
It’s cold enough outside that I zip up my hoodie and take in a breath of crisp air. It’s been raining, and I hear we’re supposed to get a thunderstorm this afternoon, which actually sounds so nice.
I love storms.
I always have.
I know that some people are terrified of them, and I can respect that. But I want to get home in time to open all the windows, light my favorite candle—which also smells like rain—and get cozy with a book before it starts to storm.
That sounds like heaven right now.
The walk home is quick, and the first thing that I do is put a load of laundry into the machine in the mudroom. It’s so nice to live with a washer and dryer again. Then I quickly clean the primary bathroom and change the sheets on the bed before walking into the kitchen. I set my candle in the middle of the island and light it, then open all the windows in the living room and kitchen.
Yeah, it’s chilly outside, but I’ll throw a blanket around me. Problem solved.
I’ve just sat in my new favorite spot, the corner of the couch by the windows, with a paperback copy of Play Along, a hot mug of tea, and a cozy blanket, when the thunder booms off in the distance, making me sigh happily.
It’s a little late in the season for thunderstorms in Montana. Typically, it would just rain. Or snow. Thunderstorms mostly happen in the spring and summer, but I’m not complaining a bit.