Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“What the fuck? Come on, you two, we haven’t even been gone long. Is that all you two know how to do?”
“Fuck off, Lucas.”
“I can see your ass as you pound into your wife.”
“Stop looking!” Adora tries to hide her laugh in my neck, but I thrust in deeper, making her moan again for me.
Maybe that’ll shut him the fuck up.
“I mean, I would, but you’re right there, your ass in the air, her legs wrapped around you. Come on, man, what are you doing? Finish already.”
“Fucking hell.” I tear off my shirt and throw it over Adora to cover her lower half as I pull out of her. Turning around, I find Lucas standing there, grinning. “How the fuck did you get inside?”
“What? Thought your wife might want to know her shop is on fire.” Adora stands quickly, her skirt falling back into place, and she hurries up to Lucas. “Tell me you’re joking.”
“Not,” he states casually in a complete contrast to her panic.
“I have to go.” She rushes past me, and as I pass Lucas on my way after her, I smack him in the face, making him stumble backward.
“That’s for ruining my day.”
He laughs as Adora runs out the door.
“Yeah, yeah. You’re welcome.”
I swear he is a sadistic, narcissistic pig.
I pick up my shirt and walk out the front door, just catching a glimpse of Adora as she climbs into Lucas’ car. She waits for me to I slide in, and as soon as the door’s shut, we’re driving.
“Who would want to burn down the bookstore?” she questions, breathing rapidly, her leg starting to bounce. “That place is my life. I put everything into it. I love it. It’s been my refuge for so long.”
“Let’s wait until we get there. It might not be as bad as you think.”
“Yeah, yeah, okay.” I rub her leg, and she turns away from me, staring out the window the whole drive. “Well, fuck,” she mumbles as it comes into view.
There are fire engines sitting out front. Even though there are multiple firefighters with firefighting apparatus trying their best, it’s completely gone.
There’s nothing but a smoking pile of rubble left behind.
TWENTY-EIGHT
ADORA
I don’t know what to do.
What do you do when the one thing you really, really love is gone?
That bookstore was my life.
I never took a day off unless I absolutely had to.
Is this payback for being away from it?
For letting someone else run it?
No, that can’t be true.
Taking a week off work never killed anyone.
But it sure as shit destroyed every dream I ever had. This is my worst nightmare, and I am not sure I will recover from such a devastating blow.
Joey’s hand reaches for mine, and I pull it away, not wanting his touch right now, not wanting anyone’s touch right now. The officer interviews me and asks me questions, the whole time I feel numb.
My store.
Gone.
I have money, I didn’t rely on this as my main income. But it was something I adored, and it was my sanctuary, my shelter from all the harm my life has thrown at me. My safe house. It’s always been there for me when I’ve had bad days and when I have had good ones. Now what?
“Nothing is salvageable. I’m sorry,” the officer tells me before he walks off. Most of the emergency services people are gone, and the bystanders who nosey into other people’s misery. It’s late becoming darker as we stand in front of what’s left, the smell of smoke still evident in the air.
“You can open another one,” Joey says, trying to comfort me. “And this time you won’t need Lucas.” It was Lucas’ building, and his only condition was that he own a percentage of my store. I had no issue with that because Lucas had power. It was a smart move at the time to stay hidden in plain sight. However, that didn’t work out as I had planned either.
Joey’s hands wrap around my waist, and his mouth comes to my neck, kissing me softly.
My phone starts ringing, and I reluctantly pull it out and answer it. I hear Sailor’s voice and pull back, but Joey keeps a tight hold on me.
“I won’t take no for an answer,” she says. I give Joey a skeptical look, but he just leans forward and kisses my forehead.
“Sorry?” I say, confused.
“I said you aren’t allowed to say no. I heard what happened, and it seems you need a night as bad as I do.”
“A night?” I say confused.”
“Yes. I’ll pick you up in an hour. Get ready. Keir doesn’t know yet, but he’s watching the kids. We are going out.” Then she hangs up.
I pull back and look at the phone disbelieving the words I just heard.
Joey laughs, and it pulls me out of the what-the-fuck moment I just went into.