Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Looks? Do you think the only criterion we have for a man to date our beloved Azelie is to be hot?” China demanded.
Doug nodded. “Absolutely. The three of you ogle every man who enters this place and then you discuss whether or not they are good enough for our Azelie. And you do it loud enough that the entire coffee shop can hear every word, including Azelie and the potential male.”
Carlton added his agreement. “The words hot and gorgeous and OMG are in your conversations quite often.”
Azelie nearly spit her latte all over the table. The way the merry widows exchanged outraged looks was hilarious. Carlton and Doug were not wrong. In fact, they spoke the strict truth.
“You’ve scared off many good men,” Doug continued. “And now you’ve got this Russian. He’s Russian.”
Azelie stiffened, the laughter fading. “Okay, I’m going to have to object to the way that sounds prejudiced. You absolutely can’t dismiss my man because he’s from Russia.”
“I don’t care that he’s Russian, honey,” Doug said. “Only that he’s from another country and looks as dangerous as hell. Not just looks it—he is. Any man worth his salt can see that.”
“Oh my goodness,” Penny exclaimed in an overloud whisper. “Do you think he’s a spy? He looks like he could be a James Bond kind of man.”
The Christian sisters nodded in agreement. “Super cool,” China said in a breathy tone.
“If only,” Blanc added. “Azelie, maybe he’s a government agent. Wouldn’t that be awesome?”
“Just the idea is sexy,” China pointed out.
Azelie was back to stifling a full-blown laugh. The merry widows were ecstatic at the idea, already weaving a fantasy around Andrii. Doug and Carlton looked as if their heads might explode.
“I hate to burst your bubble,” Azelie said. She had to press her lips together several times to keep from laughing. “Andrii is a United States citizen.”
“What?” Blanc looked deflated. “That’s too bad.”
“Maybe not,” China denied. “It’s possible he’s an agent for the United States. The boys are right; he does look sexy and dangerous.”
Carlton choked until his face turned bright red. “I never said the man was sexy. That was the three of you crazy women. Good God, we’re going to have to work to keep you in line. We were gone too long this time and left you alone with your conspiracy theories and your inclination to find men and pick over their bones.”
Penny straightened her back and squared her shoulders. “We don’t ever indulge in conspiracy theories. What are you going on about?”
Again, Azelie nearly spit out her iced latte at the outright lie. Practically everything the merry widows talked animatedly about was conspiracy theories or drop-dead, seriously hot men. Even when Azelie didn’t see any of the contenders that way—with the exception of Andrii.
“Woman, the three of you watch too many crime dramas, and you always think someone is a spy or a murderer,” Carlton said.
“Unless they’re hot, and then they become some kind of fantasy hero,” Doug qualified.
“I’m going to have you banned from our coffee shop,” Penny declared.
“You’ve tried to have us banned at least once a month for three years,” Doug said. “Shaila and David aren’t going to kick us out because the three of you are wacky as hell.”
“We’re wacky?” China sputtered indignantly. “We were sitting here calmly waiting for Azelie to give us a report on her new man, and you shot her down, so now she isn’t about to share.”
Doug instantly looked contrite. “I didn’t mean to do that, honey. It’s just that men can look at other men and see them for who they are, whereas women don’t always have that ability. Forgive me, but you’re very young. Andrii is a good ten years older than you, and he didn’t get those scars from playing in a play yard. I’m just worried.”
Azelie could see the conflict on his face and hear it in his voice. So could the widows. Their indignation vanished, and the three women immediately sat straighter, appearing somber and interested in what Doug and Carlton had to say.
“What do you see in him that we aren’t seeing?” China asked.
“A couple of things,” Carlton said. He glanced uneasily at Azelie. “I don’t want you hurt, honey. None of us do. You aren’t exactly experienced when it comes to men. Andrii is the kind of man women fall all over. He looks like he plays hard and then walks away. He’s probably got a hundred broken hearts in his past.”
Doug nodded, concurring. “Anything dangerous he’s done in his past aside—and it’s clear he’s done dangerous things—just having women falling all over you and then dumping them breeds enemies. Excuse me, ladies, but you know very well women can hold a mean grudge.”
He rolled his eyes toward the merry widows to indicate they all held a mean grudge. It was all Azelie could do not to laugh again. The women had to have seen his little gesture toward them, but it was clear he was trying to make Azelie laugh with his silent antics, and they didn’t take offense.