Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Fucking hell. He was trying to date this woman and it was impossible to even convince her that was what he was trying to do.
“Aria, babe, I’m trying to go on a date with you, not make an appointment. Tonight, you and me, the diner. How about that? It’s a date. A date where at the end of the night, I’m going to take you home and then I’m going to kiss you.”
“Oh,” Aria said.
“Yeah, oh. Now, I’m going to let you finish your toast, your coffee, I’ll drive you home, and if you need it, I’ll drive you to work.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she said.
“Trust me, Aria. I want to do that.” He didn’t know how he was going to convince her of what he wanted to do. She was a stubborn woman.
“Okay,” she said.
She ate her toast and he finished his. Wanda was more than ready to go. Stepping out into the cold, Grant remembered the poo and quickly scooped it up, threw it into the trash, then helped Aria into his truck. Wanda was more than happy to climb into the back. She had found a blanket and pulled it over her, which was so freaking cute. He was falling in love with that dog and her crazy ways.
He dropped Aria back at home and she told him she’d drive to work. Grant was tempted to argue with her, but he was already pushing his luck by demanding she go on a date with him.
Before heading to the kennels, he checked in at the diner and brought Beatrice and Carl up to speed on his date. Once that was done, he headed to the kennels, checking all the locks, and then dealing with the dogs, before glancing over the security footage. After he was satisfied, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Maddie. He needed advice, and fast.
“Grant, I’m pleased you called. I’ve been worried about you.”
“What do you do on a date?”
There was silence on the other end. Grant frowned. “Maddie, you there?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m here. Dating?”
“Yes, what do you do on a date and I don’t mean fucking either. I mean taking someone out on a date?”
“You’re going on a date?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh.”
“What’s wrong?” Grant asked.
“It’s … I don’t know, just you and the whole idea of you dating.”
“I can date.”
“I’m not disputing that. Of course you can date, and I imagine you’d be very, very good at it.”
Grant waited, patting his thigh as he listened to Maddie make a few confused noises over the phone.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to imagine you dating. Who is the lucky woman?” Maddie asked.
He was tempted to keep that part a secret but he didn’t see a reason why he should. “Aria Taylor.”
“What? You’re dating Aria Taylor?”
“Yeah. I’ve arranged a date with her.”
“Are you sure you’re not dating her sister? I mean, no, you wouldn’t do that. She just got married recently.”
“Why is this so hard for you to comprehend?” he asked.
“Because … well, you used to, I mean, you’re not…”
“Damn it, Maddie, just spit it out.”
“You hate bigger women, Grant. You bullied me for years because of my weight and I know Aria is similar to my size. You’re not, ugh … you’re not going to bully her, are you?”
Grant’s teeth clenched.
“You fucking pussy. You’re not going to fuck a fatty, not on my watch. They’re ugly, repulsive, and fucking lazy.”
He cut off the memory.
“Look, I like Aria, okay? She’s a good woman. I want to go on a date with her and I want to make it good.” This was a bad fucking idea. “You know what, forget I said anything.”
Before Maddie had a chance to tell him no, he hung up his cell phone and immediately dialed Bull. He hated calling his brother for anything.
“What have you done?” Bull asked.
“I’ve asked Aria Taylor out on a date, and I wondered what you’d recommend I do on a date. Seeing as you’ve managed to keep Maddie, you know, with my help, not that it means a lot.”
“Are you joking right now?” Bull asked. “When I first got Maddie to come and work for us, I had to kick your ass out of the office because you called her ‘Chunk’ and some other fucking shit.”
“Aria is not fat.”
“She’s not thin either.”
“Are you going to fucking help me?”
“That depends. Are you going to hurt one of the women who helps us out at the fucking veterinary practice?”
“Is that what you’re worried about? Me hurting Aria?”
“You hurting the fucking reputation of the club. If you’re doing this for one of your bullshit pranks, Grant, then don’t bother. Leave the young woman alone.”
“It’s not a prank,” Grant said, but instead of listening to any advice his brother might have, he hung up the phone.
He was done. Finished. Over.
Throwing his cell phone onto the main reception desk, he dropped down onto his seat, and Wanda, clearly sensing his upset, moved toward him, resting her chin on his knee.