Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
He drops his head, his shoulders shaking.
“Stop laughing.”
He looks over his shoulder and holds out an arm for me.
“Ugh! Fine.” I go to his side and point to each of the women. “Ronnie, Bea, Janice, this is Major Powers. Major, these are the neighbors I mentioned.”
He dips his chin in greeting. “Nice to meet you.”
“Glad to know you’re not a putz,” Ronnie states, unashamed.
“I totally knew it,” Janice gloats.
“Don’t start,” I groan.
“I did. That morning he was here, it was obvious.”
“You can leave now.”
“Let’s do breakfast!” Bea announces excitedly.
“No!”
“I made blueberry muffins this morning. They will be perfect. Ronnie, you fix the coffee.” Janice disregards my protest.
“On it.” Ronnie goes to the kitchen.
“Ladies, Major worked until after two this morning. He’s tired and I need to get ready for work. We will plan breakfast another time.”
“Oh, phooey, everyone needs to eat, and breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Major can rest later on a full stomach.” Janice narrows her eyes and sizes him up. “He looks like more of a healthy lad. I’ll bring over some fruit, too.”
“Please do not tell me she referred to you as a healthy lad? She is Puerto Rican, not British.”
He laughs, kissing the top of my head. “Go get ready for work, beautiful. I’ll hang with them. After breakfast, you take your call, and I’ll clean up and load your things in the truck.”
“You’re giving in to them? Huge mistake. It’s like an invitation for future interruptions.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“Fine, but you have to put on a shirt.”
“I rather enjoy the view,” Bea sings out.
“I am confiscating all of your keys! Leave them on the counter.”
“You can’t confiscate mine. The owners have me listed as an emergency contact if you’re unavailable,” Ronnie snipes.
“Major carries a gun,” I shout.
The next second, I’m off my feet and in Major’s arms. “We will be right back,” he calls over his shoulder. “And for future knowledge, I carry a gun, but if my truck or my bike is in the parking lot, you don’t need to worry about checking in on Jewls.”
He sets me on my feet, kicking the door shut.
I immediately log into my phone and press Mom’s contact. She answers on the second ring with a self-satisfied and astute, “Julianna.”
“Don’t Julianna me. I can’t believe you sent the sleuth squad over because I didn’t answer your text right away.”
“When you are a mom, you’ll learn the tricks to make a point. Now that I have your attention, how about Sunday dinner? We will drive out to the interstate and meet you.”
“UGH! No, Mama. This weekend is all about Major’s family. You will meet him in a few weeks at Harley’s shower.”
“You haven’t dated anyone since that Billy boy in college. I’m offering a compromise, even though it’s completely incomprehensible to me to eat at a restaurant when I can cook.”
“Billy and I didn’t date—”
Before I can stop it, the phone is out of my hand and at Major’s ear. “Mrs. Keller, you have Major.”
I suck in a deep breath at the fact he’s not only snatched my phone, but also he’s outing us. Granted, in less than an hour, the terrible trio in the kitchen will report his being here and lack of clothes when he met them in the living room. But it’s a whole new thing for him to actually speak to her.
His eyebrows arch as he stares at me, listening to whatever she’s saying.
“We can do a late lunch, but I’m afraid it’ll have to be quick. I may work Sunday night.”
He listens again and jerks his chin. “Jewls will call you later. Looking forward to it.” He disconnects and tosses my phone to my bed.
“You’re going back to night shifts?”
“Most likely. Find out today.”
My heart sinks, even thought I knew this was coming.
“Shower and get ready. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” He lifts my chin and kisses me sweetly before going to his bag and yanking a shirt on.
“Major, I’m sorry about all this…” I pause, not sure what else to say.
“Babe, tonight, swear to God, I’m thinking about getting a hotel just so no one can interrupt us. But that being said, it’s cool as fuck you have people that care about you like they do. Even if they are an irritant.”
He winks, flashing me his heart-melting smile before leaving me alone.
I stand there staring at the closed door and wondering how the hell my morning took such a twisty turn. A loud cackle from the kitchen jolts me into gear. The sooner I get out there to save him, the better.
10
Major
The hair on the back of my neck prickles as the noise around the squad room becomes deadly silent. I glance up and bite back my groan at the woman stalking our way. She ignores the hushed whispers, her gaze flaming back and forth between Ace and me.