Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Probably because he held Pop-Pop over her head.
She had to leave as soon as possible. Because there was no way she was marrying Lee.
Not. Happening.
“Arabella? Kiss your fiancé,” Hank ordered.
What?
No, no, no.
Lee smiled at her and it wasn’t a pretty smile. Her stomach turned. Moving forward, he grasped the back of her head and pressed his lips to hers.
As far as kisses went it was pretty tame, she guessed.
Didn’t make it any less revolting.
She shuddered, trying to draw back but he tightened his hold on her neck. “Taming you is going to be so much fun.”
Four months later . . .
Austin, Texas
Arabella opened the door, peering out at the two officers standing there.
Why would police officers be here at five in the morning? At least she was dressed—she’d planned on going for a run.
She’d barely slept last night because she had a date tonight with Lee. Things with him were not going well.
Their dates were becoming more frequent and her father told her that they were getting ready to announce their engagement.
She couldn’t do it.
But she had a plan in place. She was going to leave soon. Pop-Pop knew the plan and was all for it. He wanted to stay at the nursing home. She’d been paying ahead with her father’s money, just a small bit at a time to build a credit. And then what happened once that ran out . . . well, she’d worry about that then.
“Hello?”
“Hello, are you Arabella Bridges?” the older officer asked, looking sympathetic.
“Yes, that’s me. Is something wrong?”
“Can we come in? We have some bad news.”
“Sure. Come in.” Once they were all seated in the living room she leaned forward. “What is it? What’s happened?”
“It’s about your father,” the same officer said. “We regret to inform you that your father has passed away in the early hours of this morning.”
She tried to pay attention to their explanation. Something about him jumping from a bridge . . . witnesses . . . dead . . . dead . . . had he been acting different . . . dead . . . dead . . . was he on medication?
She thought she answered as well as she could.
But there was really just one thought in her mind.
Free.
She was finally free.
1
Present day
Haven, Texas
Freedom tasted like ambrosia.
It almost made her dizzy with joy.
For the first time in her life there was no one telling her what to do. What to wear. Who to be friends with. What to eat and drink.
Who to marry.
She sucked in a deep breath at that thought. She no longer had to live in terror about what scheme her father was going to come up with next.
Maybe she should feel bad that she wasn’t more upset about his death. But it was like she’d been locked away without light or sound and now she was suddenly free.
Part of her still couldn’t believe that he’d jumped. That he’d killed himself. But there were two witnesses. Plus, the cops had later found a suicide note that he’d left in his office.
She guessed she hadn’t been paying close enough attention to notice that he was spiralling.
Arabella tightened her hands around the steering wheel as she drove toward Haven. She’d gotten caught up with saying goodbye to Pop-Pop and hadn’t left Austin until close to three. It was only a three hour drive so she could still make it before dark.
But she’d had to let the rental agent who was meeting her at her new house know that she’d be late.
She hadn’t sounded too impressed.
Let it go.
You can’t please everyone. You offered to get a hotel room and meet her in the morning.
The other woman hadn’t wanted to do that, either.
Arabella wished Pop-Pop was coming with her, but he’d wanted to stay in Austin.
With his two girlfriends.
So she was headed to Haven alone. Thankfully, after selling her father’s cars and jewelry plus the credit she’d built up, she had enough money to pay for Pop-Pop’s nursing home for the next two years.
Pop-Pop had given her plenty of advice before she’d left.
Be brave. Be fierce. And make sure you find a sexy cowboy to ride.
Don’t settle for the first man that comes along. Play the field.
Sometimes she worried about her grandfather. Ride a cowboy? Really?
What if Cole didn’t want her there, though?
She tightened her hands around the steering wheel again, feeling her anxiety rise.
You can’t control someone else’s feelings.
A few hours later, she pulled over as she saw the sign for Haven.
She’d just take a photo for Pop-Pop.
As she got out of her car, she had to take a second look at the sign.
Welcome to Haven, Texas.
Population: We’ve given up counting.
A snort escaped her and she put her hand over her mouth, glancing around as though she expected her father to pop up out of nowhere and berate her for sounding like a pig.