Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
He puts his hand on my arm again, and I can’t stop myself from tensing up.
He sighs in frustration but forces a smile onto his face. “How did you end up in Whiskey Run?”
“You don’t want to know.”
He gives me a look, and I know he definitely wants to know.
“I saw the job opening online and thought I’d be a good fit. Plus, I researched the town a little. I liked that it was on the East Coast and it was a small town, so I came here.”
“You moved here before you even got the job?”
“I know it sounds crazy, but yes, I did. I had to leave Texas—don’t ask me why—and I thought even if I didn’t get it, I could find something else. It was probably the most impulsive thing I’ve ever done, but it’s worked out for me.”
He nods. “And your family?”
I walk past him with my house keys clenched in my hands. I don’t want to see the look of pity on his face. “I don’t have a family.”
He trails behind me, close but not too close. He’s quiet as I put the key in the lock and open the door. He looks down at me with a blank face. “No family at all?”
I shake my head.
“So you moved all the way across the US to a job you weren’t sure you’d get, in a car that has duct tape holding your fender on. And you did all this on your own without help from any family.”
I shrug my shoulders.
“Look at me, Ellie.”
I lean my head back to look up at him. He lifts his hand but drops it quickly. “So not only are you beautiful, but you’re brave and courageous too.”
I stutter the words out. “I’m not beautiful—”
He interrupts me. “You’re breathtaking, honey.”
My cheeks blaze. “I’m not brave or courageous. If anything, I’m the opposite.”
“You can try and spin it any way you want, but the fact remains. You’re a brave woman, Ellie. And it makes me mad to think about what you’re running from.”
Panic sets in. “I’m not running.”
He laughs, and the sound does something to me. He lifts his hand but doesn’t touch me. He puts it on the door behind me beside my head. “Oh, you’re running, Ellie. You’re definitely running.”
I don’t deny it again. The heated look he’s giving me almost makes me forget what we’re even talking about. He leans in and inhales. “Now, are you going to tell me what you’re running from? Are you going to let me help you?”
I suck in a breath. “I don’t need help.”
He just smiles at me. “I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
My eyes widen. “No, I can walk.”
He shakes his head. “You live five miles from the office.”
I shrug. “It’s not bad. The first week I got into town, my car was in the shop. I walked to work every day.”
“And my brothers let you?”
I rear back. “Let me? I’m a grown woman.” I raise my hand up. “And before you say something to them about it, they didn’t know.”
He leans back and crosses his arms over his chest. “I’ll be here in the morning. What time do you normally leave for work?”
“You’re not picking me up for work.”
He laughs as if it’s a challenge. “Fine. I’ll be here at five and be sitting in your driveway whenever you’re ready.”
“Hudson!”
He shakes his head. “Huddy. My friends call me Huddy.”
“Huddy, you can’t… you’re the boss… well, one of them. It won’t look right.”
He grimaces. “I don’t give a fuck what it looks like. I’ll be here at five.”
He starts walking down the path, and I call out to him, “Seven-forty. I leave at seven-forty.”
He stops and measures me with a look. “Fine. I’ll be here. But Ellie, don’t try leaving without me.”
I try to push the fear down, but I can’t. Not completely. “Or what? If I am gone, what will you do?”
He watches me closely, and I know he sees more than I want him to. He tilts his head to the side. “If I get here and you’ve left without me, you’ll have ruined my morning. I know that from the moment I pull out of here, I’ll be looking forward to seeing you. I hope that you’ll do as I ask.”
How can I say no after that? I nod, and my voice is filled with emotion. “Okay, Huddy, I’ll wait for you.”
He smiles as if I’ve truly made him happy. Heck, he’s smiling more now than he did when he got his new truck this morning. He takes a step toward me and then stops himself and crosses his arms over his chest. I’m watching him, and he’s patiently standing in front of me, just smiling.
“So, uh….”
My voice trails off, and he gestures to the door behind me. “Go on in, honey. I’m not leaving until you're inside, safe and sound.”