Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 582(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
His warm laughter made me smile. “You did that for my mother, not me. I never asked you to play politics for the Wellbridge family. In fact, if you recall, I specifically asked my mother to keep you out of it.”
I shrugged. “It’s not that bad. Especially since glad-handing some of her friends is what led me to my investor.”
“Thatcher Pennington,” JT grumbled. “Don’t get me started.”
I rolled my eyes knowingly. “You liked him just fine until he offered Reagan an internship in New York. I know you don’t want to lose touch with your brother again. But I keep telling you, that won’t happen.”
“I don’t dislike him… but there’s something about the guy,” he said darkly. “Mark my words, Thatcher’s got secrets.”
“Don’t we all? Jeez, I was in love with an annoying Frog for years and kept it so secret even I didn’t know.” JT snorted, and I reminded him, “Thatcher’s been an amazing friend and investor for Honeybridge Mead.”
“Pfft. I guess. But he’s only in it for the money.”
“Which is why he’s an investor, Frog. Would you rather him be in it for other reasons? Like maybe he wants to bend me over the worktable in the—mpfh!”
JT’s lips on mine were never unwanted, even when they took me by surprise, but he let me go again quickly and darted a frustrated look around the yard, like he wished we were anywhere but there. “Thirty minutes, Firecracker.”
I brushed my fingertips over my tingling lips. “Really? You’re getting all hot and bothered because I happened to mention Thatcher? I didn’t even bring up that sexy salt-and-pepper thing going on at his temples, or his alluring ankles, or those seductive tattoos.”
I had never noticed Thatcher’s ankles in my life, and since his idea of a casual wardrobe was a button-down shirt and slacks, I’d seen more visible skin on monks. JT knew this.
He also knew I found it really fucking hot when he got all possessive and proprietary, and that since this rarely happened anymore, now that Dan and JT were BFFs and Dan had sworn off dating, I was deliberately playing with fire.
The banked flames in JT’s eyes said I was going to get burned in the most delightful way.
“I’m not hot and bothered because of Thatcher or his magnificent ankles,” JT informed me. “I’m hot and bothered because you were doing it again.”
I frowned. “Doing what?”
“Giving me the look while I was trying to pretend I cared about Libby Coglin’s dressage awards.” He raised an eyebrow and glanced pointedly at my drink. “Twenty minutes now, Firecracker. Actually, make it ten.”
“Oh, yeah? And exactly what happens in ten minutes?” I demanded breathlessly, as though my heart rate and breathing hadn’t picked up the second those pretty Wellbridge blue eyes had fixed on me. As though I wouldn’t let him do any damn thing he wanted to me, anytime at all.
“In ten minutes, we’re gonna go park at the Retreat and paddle out to the island for a little while before you head to the Tavern. You’re closing tonight, right?”
I swallowed hard. JT and I had spent a very memorable afternoon out at Milk Bottle Island over Labor Day weekend, when the town had been so packed with tourists and family members that we hadn’t been able to find privacy anywhere else. It had been the sort of afternoon that had caused me to leave a five-star review for JT’s portable hammock and think very kind thoughts about Mrs. McLeroy, the den mother who’d taught our Scout troop’s rope-tying class.
“I could ask Dan to cover tonight,” I offered casually, taking a large gulp of my drink. JT was right—the beverage was delicious. I made a mental note to investigate bourbon-barrel aging. “He’s been looking for extra shifts now that it’s getting too cold to be out on the water. I think he needs a new hobby.”
“What the man needs is to find a decent guy,” JT countered, shaking his head. “And then to actually give them a chance for once.”
JT was not wrong. Dan had only gotten grumpier as the summer turned into fall, and as his friend, I worried about him. But I was definitely not in the mood to talk about Dan’s love life.
I was far too busy enjoying my own.
“Who knows? Maybe this will be the day a handsome man walks into the Tavern and changes his whole life.” I gave JT an arch look and ran my fingers up his chest. “Happened to me.”
He grinned. “Did it now?”
“Mmm. And now I might let that handsome man take me out to Milk Bottle Island… as long as he promises not to tip us into the water this time. It’s getting damn cold for swimming.”
JT rolled his eyes. “You make it sound like I tipped us on purpose the first time. That was sabotage.”