Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“Even Skylar?” I laugh, knowing how Breaker and Thea struggle with their younger sister.
“Even her,” she admits. “Skylar isn’t that bad,” she tries to defend, making me laugh.
“It’s okay. I’ve heard enough stories from Breaker.”
“Yeah. She’s young. Hopefully, it will get better. She’s just a little…”
“High strung?”
“Spoiled,” Thea laughs. “Dad doted on her.”
“He did you, too, but you’re not like that,” I point out.
“Mattie,” she murmurs, her face going soft. “When I became too much of a pain, he would let me know it. Lord knows he tried that with Skylar, too. We both have, but she refuses to listen.”
“Well, I think you’re perfect the way you are.”
“Yeah, right,” she laughs.
“I mean it, Thea. You’re one of the most grounded people I’ve ever known. You always have been.”
“Not always. I used to be a dreamer,” she answers with a sad sounding sigh.
“You?”
She shrugs her shoulders and looks up at the hill that we walked down. “You really want to build a house here?”
“Yeah. I mean, I’m not sure it will be a permanent home. But a weekend getaway? I could see that. I always imagined I’d build a house close to the compound so I could make sure my woman was safe. Club life isn’t exactly picket fence material,” I joke.
“And your kids,” she adds.
“Huh?”
“You said you wanted kids, too. You’d want them safe.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“Our parents never lived close to the compound. I think you could build a nice place here. If not here, then buy property close to Holly Bay or something. There you could still have the lake.”
“What kind of house did you dream of growing up?” I ask her out of curiosity.
“Barbie’s Dreamhouse,” she giggles.
“Smartass.”
Her giggles turn into right out laughter, and it takes her a bit to contain it. The sound is so joyful that I find myself joining in. When she finally gets control, she looks up at me with a huge grin. “If I tell you, then you can’t tell Mattie. I don’t want him to revoke my membership in the Savage family.”
“Your secrets are safe with me, baby.”
I see her stiffen with the endearment I use. I actually didn’t mean to. It just slipped out. If I’m going to continue working on my friendship with Thea, I’m definitely going to have to get laid. Right now, that’s impossible because all I do is dream of her.
“You’re such a spaz,” she mumbles.
“Huh?”
She shakes her head and I know she’s not going to tell me what she means. I don’t push it because I’m just glad she’s not raking me over the coals for calling her baby.
“I want a farm,” she answers.
“Oh my God.”
“I know, I know. It’s shocking. I always wanted an old farmhouse with chickens and a big fluffy barn dog.”
“Is that all? No horses or cows?”
“Oh, gosh no. I mean, I think horses are beautiful, but I prefer riding a bike. I don’t want to spend most of my day taking care of a bunch of animals. I just want a small taste of it. Chickens, a small garden, and a big front porch swing is fine with me.”
“A garden?”
“I love growing things. I had herbs, tomatoes, and carrots on my balcony in New York. I also had one of the patio orange trees.”
“Maybe I didn’t know you all that well,” I muse.
“Told you,” she chuckles.
“I like what I’m finding out, though. I like it a lot.”
She gives me a smile and I bite my tongue to keep from telling her I like it too much. We spend the rest of the evening talking before we load up and I take her back to Breakers. When we get there, Raze is standing on the front step waiting for her.
It takes all I have to leave. I really need to get laid and pray that cures me of this attraction I keep having with Thea.
If it doesn’t, I’m not sure what I’m going to do.
Chapter 14
Thea
Three weeks.
That’s how long I’ve been playing with fire. By that, I mean that I’ve been spending more and more time with Dom. We average getting together at least one day on our own and he’s begun coming over to Mattie’s for poker night. I thought I had killed any attraction I felt for him long ago, but I feel it between us. I should start pushing him away, but I haven’t been strong enough. There are times I even convince myself it’s all in my head. After all, Dom hasn’t chastised me for flirting with him. Raze hasn’t batted an eye either. He would for sure if it appeared Dom and I were getting too close, right? I mean, we are kind of dating. Well, maybe. We haven’t been spending a lot of time together lately and Raze hasn’t been sleeping over but here and there. Then again, I’ve not invited him either. We still kiss and have the occasional make out session, but something feels different. I don’t think it’s entirely on my side either.