Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
The woman didn’t take the hint. “You know, I’d love to sit down and have coffee with you, talk about your movies.”
I glowered at Walker.
He had the decency to look apologetic. Then he turned to her. “I’m sure you would, but as his bodyguard, that’s a hard no from me.”
“No need to be jealous,” she purred.
“Aye, okay, this is done,” Walker muttered and then handed Sloane a few notes. “Put aside a box for me, whatever this gets me. I’ll come back for it.”
Sloane took it, not meeting his eyes. “Sure.”
“Right, you, let’s go.”
“But I wanted to see the rest of the fair,” she grumbled as Walker led her away.
Roe grimaced. “Was she for real?”
I shrugged. “Happens.”
“That was rude to you and to Walker.”
Sloane snorted, but it wasn’t a cheerful sound. “Walker wasn’t exactly Mr. Manners either. He didn’t even introduce her to us. Is that how he treats women?”
Looking at Callie, I hedged my words, not knowing how to say this in front of a nine-year-old. “She, uh … is a casual acquaintance he made last night, and I think she invited herself along today.”
“Then he should use better judgment.” Sloane stuffed the money into her apron and angrily placed cakes into a box for Walker.
More people crowded around her stall, and she was clearly in a bad mood, so Monroe told her we’d circle back and we strolled away. As Roe bit into her Santa cheesecake, I said, “So, Sloane has a thing for Walker.”
Roe squeezed my arm and swallowed a bite. “She told me it was just a crush.”
“Seems like it’s more than that.”
She shrugged. “I couldn’t tell you.”
“You wouldn’t even if you could.”
Roe grinned up at me, a dollop of cream cheese on her lip. “Girl code.”
I smiled fondly down at her and wiped the cream cheese off her lip with my thumb before sucking it into my mouth. Her eyes widened, and then she swallowed. Hard.
Very, very good.
“She’s lucky to have you as a friend. Anyone would be,” I told her.
Roe shoved me playfully. “Should I expect to be flattered all day, Brodan Adair?”
“That was my plan.”
“I have a better one.” Her expression lit up upon seeing a burger van. “It’s almost lunchtime, and that cheesecake wasn’t enough. I’m starving.”
“Well, we can’t have that.” I tugged on her arm, pulling her into the queue for the burgers. “What do you want?”
She studied the menu board, and I could practically see her salivating. “What are you having?”
“Preferably you, but I’ll take a cheeseburger in the meantime.”
She let out an exasperated laugh. “You are indefatigable.”
“Ooh, good word, Ms. Sinclair.” I wrapped my arms around her waist, drawing her back to my chest as I murmured in her ear, “And you have no idea just how indefatigable I can be.”
Tilting her head back, Roe snorted. “Oh my God, stop it.”
I shook with laughter against her. “I can’t help myself.”
“Holy shit, you’re Brodan Adair.” The male voice cut through my moment with Roe, and she pulled out of my arms.
Facing the intruder, it took everything within me not to snarl at the young man. He stood with a young woman, and they blinked at me like two deer in headlights. Swallowing my irritation, I nodded hello.
The guy raised his hands to his head and then spread his fingers as he made an exploding noise. “How cool! I mean, we knew we might see someone famous while we were here, but Brodan Adair!” He pulled the woman at his side tight to him. “You’re on both of our lists.”
I didn’t ask because I already knew what they meant. This wasn’t the first time someone had said it to me.
Still, he acted like I asked. “Our sex lists,” he explained.
Shit.
I shot a look at Roe. She stared in astonishment at the couple.
“You know, like, if we met you, we give each other permission to fuck you.”
“Excuse me?” Monroe stepped forward, anger staining her cheeks red.
The young guy looked surprised by her reaction. “Oh, oh, like, it’s a compliment.”
“Is it?” Roe said sarcastically, crossing her arms over her chest. “It’s a compliment to tell a complete stranger that you have permission to fuck them? Because in my world, that’s called sexual harassment.”
“Roe,” I murmured, tugging her gently back. “It’s fine.”
The couple stared at Roe like she was insane. She was right. But some people thought because they’d seen me in a bunch of movies that they knew me. Boundaries they normally wouldn’t cross no longer existed for them. Not wanting the situation to become an ugly anecdote online, I said to the couple, “Would you like an autograph?”
They grinned broadly. “Can we get a selfie with you?” They shoved a phone at Roe before I could comply.
Roe stared at it in her hands like it was a bag of dog shit.
I rubbed her back. “It’s fine,” I repeated.