Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
It wasn’t until they’d started to pinken up that I reached for my tablet and began typing.
What’s going on? You’re scaring me.
I’d expected my words to evoke some kind of reaction, but I wasn’t prepared for him to put some distance between us on the couch.
Like he couldn’t bear to touch me.
Nolan, please, I told you what happened to Gentry wasn’t your fault.
Nolan closed his eyes after reading the message. “I’m so sorry, Dallas. Everything I touch turns to shit.”
Fury like nothing I’d ever known before went through me and I grabbed his arm and forced him to face me. I jabbed my fingers onto the tablet, cursing the fact that I couldn’t just yell at him the way I wanted.
Don’t fucking say that. Don’t ever fucking say that!
“It’s true,” he whispered. “If I hadn’t come here-”
I couldn’t even take the time to tell him how his coming here had changed everything for me. There was no hesitation on my part when I slammed my mouth down on his. Nolan let out a startled gasp, but I didn’t care.
I couldn’t tell him what he meant to me, but I could damn well show him.
I kissed him hard and I didn’t give him time to even consider not returning my kiss. I wrapped my arms around his waist and dragged him forward until he was straddling my lap. I stole into his mouth over and over again, softening the kiss until I was lazily exploring every facet of his mouth. At some point, he’d slung his arms around my neck.
When we were forced to come up for air, he let out a soft sob and buried his face in my neck. I let him hide for a minute, but then I was forcing his chin up. As soon as his eyes met mine, he shook his head. “They’re going to try to take this place away from you, Dallas.”
It was the last thing I’d expected to hear, but before I could even think to ask him what he meant, he barreled on.
“Jimmy’s mom, Edith, came to the house this morning before I left for work. She…she was yelling at my mom about how our lies got Jimmy fired from his job. She told her she was going to sue you for defamation or something, and that the sheriff was looking into having your license pulled. I’m sorry, if I’d just stayed away from you-”
I kissed him again to silence him, then scrambled around for the tablet which had gotten knocked to the floor. Nolan tried to move off my lap, but I refused to let him, so he sat back enough so he could watch me type. He used his sleeves to wipe at his wet eyes, and every now and then, a small sob would catch in his throat.
First of all, Sheriff Tulley is welcome to try to have my license pulled. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Nolan’s eyes widened a bit at that and I nodded.
He might be a big fish in Pelican Bay, Nolan, but he’s not even a blip on the map when it comes to the state. They know a personal vendetta when they see one.
“He’s tried to shut you down before?” Nolan asked.
I nodded, then typed, And Jimmy coming after me isn’t new, either.
“But…but he was your friend.”
Was being the operative word. And friend is generous. He was a jealous son of a bitch who was waiting for me to fall. After the accident, he told anyone who would listen that I’d made it a habit of driving after I’d been drinking. I’ve never driven drunk. Back then, I didn’t even drink.
“But the accident…”
I wasn’t driving, Nolan.
He stilled and stared at the tablet. “What?” he whispered.
I pointed to the note again and then typed, My mother was driving the car that night, not me. She was the one who’d been drinking, not me.
“But then why does everyone believe you were?”
I sighed because the conversation had taken a turn I hadn’t been planning, but I knew it was something he deserved to know the truth about. Especially if I wanted him to understand how far back my problems with the sheriff and his vengeful family went.
Because that’s what my father told them.
Chapter Thirteen
Nolan
I read Dallas’s text three times before it really sunk in. “No,” I whispered. “Why? Why would he do that?”
Dallas took in a breath and began typing again. I moved off his lap so I could see better and this time he let me go.
How much do you know about my parents? Dallas asked.
“Um, a little. Your dad, he was one of those preachers who do their sermons on TV. And your mom was an actress. They came to Pelican Bay after people began accusing them of…” I let my voice drop off because I couldn’t bring myself to say it.