Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“Shut the fuck up.” I listen to him laugh as I grab the drinks from the counter and head to the table, where the guy is now laughing at something Bre said.
The moment I arrive, Bre’s wide eyes come to me and she swallows. “Here, baby.” I hand her the drink then look at the guy. I don’t know him, but I have no doubt he’s the Mike she was supposed to be going out with next week. “What’s up, man?” I stick my hand out toward him. “Denver. And you are?”
“Mike.” He gives my hand a shake while his eyes bounce between Bre and me.
I want to squeeze his hand until his fingers snap, but I don’t. I let it drop then wrap my arm around Bre’s shoulders. We still have a lot of shit to work out, but I wasn’t lying when I told my mom that I’m not going to let her be taken from me again. She’s mine. She might want to deny that fact, but I won’t stop fighting for her until I finally get what I want.
“How do you two know each other?” I question after taking a pull from my beer.
“He comes in for fuel sometimes,” Bre answers, trying to lean away from me. I don’t let her get far, and after a moment, she stops trying to pull away, but her body stays tight.
“You live around here, Mike?”
“No, I live in Yakutat in the summer, Vegas in the winter,” he mumbles, looking confused as he watches me toy with a piece of Bre’s hair, wrapping it and unwrapping it around my finger.
“You like Vegas?”
“It’s nice.” He shifts uncomfortably while glancing at the door. “I’m gonna head out. Nice meeting you.” His eyes move to meet Bre’s and soften. “Call me.”
“Not fucking happening,” I say under my breath after he gone, and Bre’s head flies around so fast her hair hits my face.
“Seriously?” she hisses, glaring at me.
“Seriously what?”
“What was that?” she snaps.
“He’s the guy you were going to go out with?” Her eyes narrow and she leans even farther away. This time, I let her get out from under my arm, but I don’t let her get far. I wrap my hand around her nape and pull her back until we are almost nose-to-nose. “I think we need to have that talk.”
“No, we don’t, and you can’t tell me who I will or won’t go out with.”
“Baby, you are so fucking wrong about that. And the point is moot, since you don’t even want to go out with him.” I lean back and take a pull from my beer.
“What are you talking about? I did want to go out with him. That’s why I agreed to a date when he asked me out.”
“Don’t lie to yourself, beautiful. You agreed to go out with him, because he isn’t a threat to the giant fucking walls you’ve built up around yourself.”
“You think you know everything, don’t you?” she asks angrily.
“No, but I do know you. I know you’re not interested in him, not even a little bit.”
“Whatever.” She looks away knowing I’m right and picks up her drink, taking a sip.
I fight back a smile when she takes another. “Is it good?”
“It’s not bad,” she grumbles, and I chuckle. “Whatever.”
“Look at me, Bre,” I say softly, and I can tell she doesn’t want to, but her eyes come to me. “Let’s just try to have some fun. Shel is right; you need a night out.”
“If you don’t bring up wanting to talk again, I’ll try to have fun,” she haggles.
I keep my eyes on hers and nod. “I can do that.”
“Okay.” She picks up her drink and takes another sip while she eyes the pool tables in the back of the room with curiosity.
“Do you know how to play pool?”
“I used to. I haven’t played in forever.”
“It’s like riding a bike. You’ll remember when you start playing again.” I stand and pull her up with me then pick up my beer and hand over her drink. I drag her to the back where there are two pool tables, and I set up a game for us at the one that’s not being used. When she breaks and pockets two balls, I’m not sure which is hotter—her ass when she’s bent over the table, or the smug smile she gives me when our eyes lock.
I start around the table toward her, wanting to kiss the smile off her face, but come to a stop when my name is called from across the room. I turn and watch a friend of mine, Scott, coming toward us with a woman I don’t recognize from town under his arm. Then again, Scott isn’t a local. Like a lot of people in town right now, he’s just here for the season. I met him a few years ago when he worked on my boat. He’s one of the best mechanics around and is busy non-stop during the summer when he comes to work.