Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“You doing okay?” he asks.
“Oh, yeah.” I quickly dab my eyes with the sleeve of my sweater before straightening. “You look great. How are you feeling?”
“Better.” His hand wraps around mine as I sit on the bed’s edge. “I walked today.”
“You did?” I flip my hand over so I can squeeze his fingers. “That’s great news.”
“It’s progress.” His eyes scan my face. “Now, tell me the truth. How are you really doing?”
“I’m okay.” I shrug, not wanting him to worry about me. “I’m taking my realtor test the week after next.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“Good. Ready.” I rub my lips together. “If I pass, I plan on finding a realtor I can work with for a while until I feel comfortable enough to step out on my own.”
“You could work at one of the properties with lots opening up and sell houses there to start,” he offers, and my stomach churns. I would love to do that. I’d love to keep working for my dad and build a name for myself, but since I began working in his office, I’ve learned I’m not welcome. And right now, I don’t have it in me to constantly tuck my tail between my legs and pretend the snide comments don’t hurt.
“I think it might be better if I go somewhere else for a while. I don’t want anyone mad at me for taking a job I haven’t earned.”
“You’re my daughter. Bender and Sons is a family company. I’m not offering you a job as the CEO; I’m telling you that you can still work for the company. I want you to keep working for me.” He shakes his head, his gaze going over my shoulder to the door, and a faraway look fills his eyes. “I know you working for me was never a part of your plan, just like it wasn’t a part of Aiden’s.” His gaze comes back to me. “And I know it makes me a bastard for being happy that life has forced the two of you to come and work for me, but I am happy. So, if you came here today to tell me you’re planning on quitting, I’m telling you that I do not accept your resignation. You’ll get your license, work at one of the housing developments owned by Bender to learn the ropes, and then we’ll go from there.”
“Dad—”
“I love you, Bridgett,” he cuts me off before I can tell him why I don’t think that’s a good idea. “I know I haven’t said that enough, and I know I don’t deserve anything from you, but please give me this.”
The plea in his voice does me in, and I give in with a sigh. “Okay, Dad.”
“Okay.” His fingers squeeze mine. “Now, tell me what’s going on with Conner. Has he signed the papers?” he asks, and I drag in a deep breath, then tell him everything that’s happened, leaving out anything that might cause him stress, including any talk of Mom.
My mother might have wanted me to marry rich and stay that way, regardless of the emotional damage it might cause, but my dad did not, and he made it clear more than once that he did not like Conner. He even tried to talk me out of walking down the aisle on my wedding day, but hope blinded me, and I was convinced my story would be different than his.
I was obviously a fool with blinders on, but at least he’s never said, “I told you so.”
When his nurse comes in with his dinner, I give him a kiss on the cheek and say goodbye to her before leaving and heading home. As I climb into bed, I don’t think about the fact that I agreed to work for my dad, even though I’m not sure it’s something I really want to do because I’m not sure I’ll be able to change how the people working for him feel about me.
Instead, I dwell on my meeting with Noah and overthink every single second of it.
Chapter 8
Noah
I’ve Got a Room
Sitting in my squad car with my speed gun aimed up the road, I wait for someone to inevitably drive by going over the speed limit. Some get pissed that we have routine speed checks. But having had to console a woman whose daughter was killed by someone driving recklessly and witnessed firsthand the aftermath of a wreck that could have been avoided…. Yeah, I do not mind one bit that people get pissed when they’re pulled over for breaking the law.
When a car comes around the bend, I glance down at the numbers that appear on the device, then set it aside and flip on my lights before pulling out behind them. As they start to pull over onto the shoulder of the road, the radio in my car cuts on, and Winnie who works at dispatch asks officers to respond to a fire at the townhomes where Bridgett lives.