Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Where are you even staying?” There is no way he is staying at the one and only motel in this town. He’d probably rather sleep in that fancy car of his than step foot in there.
Paisley might have stayed there when she came to Cottonwood, but I can’t see pretty boy here doing the same. If not for the way Paisley dresses, you’d never guess she was New York royalty. Their family name isn't rich; it's freaking wealthy.
“Are you worried about me?” He makes his way up the stairs to the porch. I want to step back, but I don’t. It's a bad idea for him to be too close. My body feels all sorts of things when he gets in my space. Things that I don’t want it to.
“No.” My breath hitches when Luka raises his hand toward me. I should smack it, but I don’t move an inch. He removes a piece of hay from my hair. Heat rushes to my cheeks. I don’t know why. I shouldn’t care if I look like hell. I’ve spent all morning tending to the horses.
“June bug, go wash up. You’re burning daylight.” Mom pushes open the screen door. “Oh, you’re here.” She gives Luka a bright smile. “I’m Abigail Graysen. Jackson’s mom.”
“Luka Woods.” Luka holds his hand out to her. Mom ignores it, going in for a hug. Luka goes stiff and kind of pats my mom on the back.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Mom steps back.
I’m sure she didn’t miss him tensing up when she hugged him. Based on what Paisley has shared with me about her family, I believe she didn't receive too many hugs. In fact, the first time I told Paisley I loved her, she almost cried. It made me grateful that my own family was always quick to tell each other that we loved one another. I didn’t go a day without hearing it from someone.
“June here has told us so much about you.”
“Mom!” I shout. “I did not.”
“That so?” Luka smirks. His face is actually showing some kind of emotion other than a stern glare.
“I’m going to change,” I say before I escape inside and up to my bedroom. When I catch sight of myself in the mirror, I inwardly groan. I really am a hot mess. My jeans are covered in dirt. There is even a smudge of something on my cheek.
Again, why the hell do I care? There can be only one explanation. Luka Woods.
2
LUKA
My eyes flick over to the stairs once more. When is she going to come back down? My little kitten took off on me. One second she’s fierce and feisty, the next she is avoiding me and making as much space between the two of us as she can.
I’ve been in Cottonwood for a few days now, and I’ve yet to run into her again. Trust me, I’ve tried. I can’t stay away from her, and if I’m honest, I don’t want to. It’s part of why I’m sticking around this small, Podunk town. I could fly in and right back out for my sister’s wedding if I wanted. I don't understand what my sister sees in this place, but I've never witnessed her this happy before. If she wants to stay, I'm not going to stop that. She’s had enough of people trying to run her life.
At this point, I'm not sure I could even if I wanted to. She has an ex-Seal for a fiancé. He has deep ties with the government too. We just both do different things for them. The way they met wasn’t very conventional. Actually, he was the same man tasked with tracking Paisley down after she took off on my parents. That blew up in their faces. They’re still panicking that Jackson Graysen might show the world the kind of people my parents truly are. I’ve been doing my best to ignore their pleadings. They made this bed for themselves.
Their namesake means more to them than money, I think. Not that we’ll ever find out. Money isn’t something they’ll ever run out of. They have generational wealth. We could all bleed it, and it would still never run dry. Not that I touch it. Once I grew up, I realized how dirty old money can be. Decided that I would make my own way. I didn’t want them controlling my life.
“I thought you might want something stronger.” June’s father, Wyatt, hands me a tumbler with brown liquid in it.
“Thanks.” I shoot it back, not bothering to savor the expensive scotch.
I’m not one to drink. I prefer to keep my mind clear, but I could use this right now. God knows, since June Graysen came into my life, my thoughts are no longer my own. She dominates them all. No matter how hard I try to fight it, she’s always there, making herself known. I’m intrigued by the pull I have to her. Never in my life have I experienced anything like this.