Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“Oh…”
“If you’re missing anything, I’m actually done with him, so he’s all yours.” I try to push Tate out of my apartment. Instead, he removes me from the doorway and slams the door in poor Mrs. Carlson’s face. “That was so rude.”
“Knock it the fuck off, Mindy.”
“You knock it off.”
His jaw tightens. He reaches for the bottle again, but I’m more prepared and tuck it against my chest. Then I take off down the hall. I only get a foot, maybe two, before I’m pulled back into his chest, his lips against my earlobe. “You’re acting like a fuckin’ child right now. I get you’re scared, you have a right to be, but knock this shit off.”
I clench my eyes shut, fighting back tears. I hate that I am. That someone has made me feel unsafe. I hate this loss of control in my life. And I hate that he’s right. I want to fight him. Tell him to go to hell. Leave because I don’t need him here. But I do. I am scared. And I feel like I’m spiraling. “Let me go,” I say with less bite.
“I’ve got you. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
I chew on my bottom lip, refusing to allow my emotions to get the best of me. “Let me go. I have to get ready for work.”
“You serious?”
“Let. Me. Go.”
He releases me, and I turn to him, unshed tears glistening in my eyes. “Stalker or not, I have bills to pay. A job to keep. I can’t hide. I don’t have that luxury. So, yes, I’m going to work. You can tag along if you’d like. But that’s how it’s going to be.” I turn before they fall and lock myself in my room to get ready.
Chapter six
Mindy
If silence is going to be a thing between us, he should really let me play music while he drives. My tequila buzz is long gone, and this silent treatment is lame. We pull up to Bev’s, and I get out. Not bothering to wait for him, I head inside and start my prep, regretting I told Clay Tate’s allowed in.
I miss when Fay worked here. It made the nights go by faster. And I had a drinking buddy. Meredith doesn’t drink, and Buzz doesn’t appreciate shots like I do. It’s karaoke night, so the bar fills up fast. Happy Hour is slammed. I barely have a chance to glance up from the tap until after seven and find myself peering around the bar for Tate, hating myself for doing it. I spot him in the corner, leaning against the wall by the pool table, his eyes on me. I quickly look away and wave at no one in particular so he thinks I’m looking for someone else. I fill another round of pitchers for a group of college kids, slide them across the bar, and shove the cash into the register.
“Hey, I know you.”
I look up to the dude in front of me. It takes me a beat, but I recognize him. “Holy shit. Vince?”
“Yeah. You remember my name. I didn’t know you worked here.”
“Yeah. I own the place.”
His eyebrows raise. “You do?”
“Not at all. How are you? I… um, never really got a chance to say thank you.”
He slips into the open seat and waves me off. “Honestly, I’m just glad I came out when I did.”
He has no idea.
I stare back at him. My savior. I wonder if he’d think it was strange if I jumped over the bar and hugged him. “You have no idea how lucky I am that you did.”
I wonder how old he is. If I had to guess, I would put him in his mid to late twenties. And I have to admit, he’s not bad-looking. He has a kind smile and gentle eyes. He’s no Hercules by any means, but he’s cute. Well-dressed. “What can I get ya? It’s on the house. Actually, any time you come in, it’s on me.”
I earn another smile, and he looks at the shelf on the back wall. “Got any tequila?”
My smile widens. “Are you my dream man?”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. Great choice. I sure do. Sit tight.” I grab our top-shelf tequila. Let’s face it, though, our top shelf is barely above bottom. But I give him a nice pour and slide it across the bar. “Here you go.”
“Thanks. You sure I don’t owe you for this?”
“Absolutely not. So, tell me, Vince, what does my hero do when he’s not saving damsels in distress?”
He laughs, and I kind of like that too. “I sell real estate. It’s why I’m here having a drink. My job is god awful.”
I cringe with him. “Sounds it. Remind me to give you a bigger pour next time.”
“Tell me about it.” He loosens his tie and rolls up his sleeves, exposing his toned arms. Check the box for good body.