Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 71015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“Colby,” I said shortly.
It was no secret that I disliked him.
He knew it. I knew it. Iliana and my mother knew it. Fuck, but even my father knew it.
They thought I was overreacting, but I wasn’t. There was just something about the man that I didn’t like. There was no rhyme or reason for it…only that he gave me the creeps. The way he looked at me made me want to gouge my eyes out with a fork.
“Whatcha doin’?” He asked, crowding me with his large body.
“Getting a new door knob,” I murmured, stepping out and away from the front of the display so I didn’t have anything for him to crowd me against.
He leered at me. “I’ll do that for you. For a price.”
I shrugged. “I’m…”
My reply was cut short when another beefy arm wrapped around my shoulders.
This one didn’t set off any internal alarms, though.
In fact, this one made my belly settle and relief pour through my body.
It was the smell that clued me in on who it was.
A spicy scent, paired with a hint of what reminded me of burned oil.
“Thanks, man,” Grayson said territorially. “But I’m the only one that’ll be touching her knobs.”
I snorted at that comment, relieved beyond belief that he’d shown up when he did.
Colby’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s this chump?”
“Torren. Torren Trammel,” Grayson supplied helpfully. “I’m with BFD. We’ve met.”
Colby was a douche, and probably thought the fire department was below him, just as he thought my dad’s job was a cake job and didn’t deserve to be paid what he got.
Which he’d told me on multiple occasions.
Colby’s eyes glowed red hot as he noted that I didn’t pull away from Grayson but, instead, leaned into him.
I might have forgotten to mention that Colby had asked me out on multiple occasions where I promptly told him that I was too busy for a boyfriend.
He’d never stopped asking me and continued to ask me out each and every time he saw me.
“Thought you were too busy for a man,” Colby spat.
I tensed, not wanting to start a fight in the middle of Lowe’s.
Grayson saved me, though. In a way that only a badass could.
“She was too busy. I changed her mind, though. There’s not a woman alive that can resist a fireman,” he jeered.
“Oh, yeah? You must’ve not been together too long. I haven’t seen you around her house,” Colby observed.
My stomach dropped as Colby started to turn into his usual lecherous self.
Why did he know Grayson wasn’t around?
See, that’s exactly what I was talking about. Why the fuck was he so goddamn creepy?
“Yeah, we’re new. As of this weekend when she baked me a casserole,” Grayson stated.
Colby’s mouth clenched when he didn’t get a response out of Grayson.
“Well, I’ll see you later tonight. I wouldn’t mind some of your taco casserole for dinner. That’s my favorite,” he said before giving me a creepy wink, and walking away.
“So,” I said. “What’re you doing later?”
He laughed. “That guy’s a fucking creep. Always making shit harder than it needs to be. Last week he refused to let us get to a patient because he was being ‘questioned.’ Who, might I add, had a bleeding gunshot wound in his damn leg.”
I grimaced. “That sounds like him. He’s the brother of my roommate’s boyfriend. I might like my roommate’s boyfriend better if Colby wasn’t such an asshole. “
He nodded in understanding. “Good thing I came when I did,” he winked.
He didn’t even know how much I appreciated it.
He just earned himself another fucking casserole.
“So … what are you up to today?” I asked as I looked at the paint chips in his hand.
I followed his hand upwards, taking in his sleeveless shirt that looked like the sleeves had been hacked off with a pocket knife. The jeans he was wearing resembled something that most people would throw away once they got that worn in, but Grayson worked them perfectly.
He held the paint chips up for me to see. “I’m painting my living room. Something manly. What about you?”
I gestured to the locks. “I need a new door knob. Mine isn’t latching anymore.”
His eyes turned in the direction of the locks I’d been perusing and he shook his head. “Those wouldn’t be very good. Any mid-level hacker could hack into that and have the door open in moments. Not to mention that if the Wi-Fi goes out, you can’t get into your place.”
I blinked, never having even thought of that. “Shit. I’m glad you told me that.”
He shrugged. “Yeah. I’ve seen it happen quite a few times now that they’ve come out. You wouldn’t believe how many people call the fire department because they’re locked out of their house.”
I couldn’t control a snort. “Some people are so stupid.”
He winked. “You wouldn’t believe it.”
Before I could answer, Grayson’s name was called by the woman at the paint counter. Instead of just leaving, though, he grabbed my hand and took me with him. Giving me the same butterflies I had two days ago when he’d done it at the fire station.
Handing over the paint chip to the lady and telling her which one he wanted, he turned to me and studied me. “Where’re you off to after this?”
“I need to go look at new cars. I’m thinking about a Ford Explorer. Do you think that’s too big for one person?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No. Although it’s not going to be cheap on gas, like a small car would. Like your old one was.”
I bit my lip, thinking about the advantages of more room compared to gas prices. “Guess I’ll just have to wait until I look at it before I decide if it’s worth it.”
“I’ll put that on for you and go to the Ford dealership with you, if you help me paint my living room,” Grayson said suddenly.
I widened my eyes at him. What I’d meant to say was, ‘God, yes!’ What came out was, “What happened to the paint that was already on the walls? It looked good.”