Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 42461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 212(@200wpm)___ 170(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
He’d not only hit up his boss, Charles, to invest money in Windeville, but he’d given Sinclair an opportunity as well. Royal said he’d be willing to remotely monitor this deal for the next six months, if the billionaire would give the money he requested to Windeville…free and clear.
Everyone would benefit from the deal.
Royal typed and calculated faster than he ever had in his life.
The clock was ticking.
Stone
The silence in Stone’s cabin was oppressive, a living thing eating at his soul. The only sounds were the faint buzz of his refrigerator, the creaking of the floorboards when he moved, and the crackling of the embers in his fireplace.
The storm that’d blown through last Friday had left its mark in more ways than one.
Royal was gone, and Stone was still reeling from it.
He stared at the muted television, watching the same Vikings episode for hours that he couldn’t even remember the name of. The bloody battles and betrayal of an ancient people were a mindless backdrop to the thoughts plaguing his mind. He didn’t care about the show, or what happened to the characters in it. His thoughts were on the way Royal had ohh’d and awwed at the settings, and the way he’d gripped Stone’s arm during the torture scenes.
It'd been three days and he hadn’t left his cabin. The walls were closing in on him, stifled with the pain welling up inside as evening grew nearer, knowing he’d have to get into that empty bed…that still smelled like Royal.
Stone had tried to hold it together and convince himself that maybe it wasn’t that bad. Maybe Royal needed space, and it wasn’t a final goodbye. He’d left his job so suddenly, maybe he had to go back and tie up some loose ends.
Deep down, Stone didn’t want to know.
He hadn’t been able to touch his phone since Jojo told him that Royal had left. The text and missed calls—each one was like a slap in his face of how he’d let that one slip through his fingers.
“Stone, let me be there for you. Just don’t shut me out, okay.”
If only he hadn’t been so consumed with the town and had paid more attention to Royal that morning instead of doing exactly what he’d asked him not to do. He’d shut Royal out and had shown him he’d be second in his life.
What person wanted to know that?
It’s my fault he’s gone.
Stone had turned off the phone when it wouldn’t stop ringing and pinging with notifications. So many people were calling, but he didn’t want to hear from them. He didn’t want to be laughed at for thinking he could land a virile, intelligent man like Royal. He was Ivy League-educated, gorgeous, and had style for days. Even his winter clothes from Jessie’s Duds had been sophisticated and trendy, and they’d come from the same store everyone else in town shopped at.
Stone shouldn’t have expected someone like him to stay in Windeville. Royal was larger than this small-town living.
People left.
His grandfather had left, his parents had left. Ben had left him in the worst way—taken in a single moment. Death, grief was the kind of pain that left scars that couldn’t be healed, not even by time. But he’d found peace in Royal. The man had come into his life like a bright, bold, burst of sunshine, melting the ice over his heart. It’d felt so genuine that before he knew it, Stone had let his guard down. He’d allowed himself to believe life could be good again.
I should’ve known better.
Royal’s words and affirmations played on a loop in his mind.
I only want to make you feel good, Bo.
Stone had to forget the warmth of Royal’s arms around him, the way he’d felt on top of him, his soft lips on his throat and how his gentle fingers stroked his beard.
Stone squeezed his eyes closed and let out a pained groan before he heaved himself off the couch, his movements slow and stiff.
He was overwhelmed with betrayal, confusion and hopelessness mixing into a potent cocktail that was poisoning him.
He went to the window and stared out at the frozen world, which was like a reflection of how he felt inside—cold and barren. He didn’t know how long he had stood there staring at an endless stretch of nothing before he trudged down the hall to his bedroom and got in his bed. The sheets were freezing as he inched to the edge furthest from the drafty window and pulled the comforter up to his neck.
You promised me…come back Royal…come back to me, please.
Stone
Royal sat in the private jet staring at passing clouds that resembled white cotton candy. He was anxious and uncomfortable despite being surrounded by opulence and luxury. He’d rather be in his quaint mismatched room at Mrs. Pearl’s bed and breakfast.