Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Bella looks at me, her face flaming before turning back to Walker and his wife. “Yeah, uh, so how is the project coming? You need anything else from me, just let me know.”
I want to ask who the hell Bo Bo is, but I force myself to keep my cool. “What project?”
Walker lifts his chin. “You know all the property next to my compound?”
I nod. His compound is on the stretch of road from Whiskey Run to Jasper. “Yeah.”
“Well, I’m putting in a facility for wounded warriors. A place for them to rehabilitate. I already broke ground, and it should be up and running in a year from now.” He nods his head to Bella. “She helped us make a wish list of everything we would need.”
I look at my wife in amazement. “You did, did you?”
She shrugs humbly. “It was nothing.”
Walker laughs. “No, it wasn’t nothing. I had the rehab specialist from Washington look at it, and he couldn’t find one service, one machine, heck even any supplies that were lacking. You covered it all.”
I clap Walker on the shoulder. “You need any investors, let me know. My brother Hudson is coming back soon too. I know he’d be willing to offer any expertise he can.”
Walker nods. “That’s awesome. I’ll be in touch this week.”
I nod and hold Bella’s hand. “Great. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I’m going to go dance with my wife.”
We say our goodbyes, and I take her to the middle of the dance floor. It’s only after she’s secure in my arms that I ask her, “So let me get this straight... you were all worried about fitting in, and you’re close personal friends with the most influential people in town?”
I can feel her lips curl up against my neck. “Uh... Walker and Brooklyn are good people.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, they are.”
I take in a deep breath and know I need to let it go, but I still blurt it out. “So who’s Bo Bo?”
She leans back enough to look up at me. “He’s a friend... one of Walker’s mercenaries...he’s kind of a flirt.”
I hold my breath. “Did you go out with him?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“Good.” I press her flush against my chest. I leave it at that even though what I really want to say is I want to talk to this Bo Bo and let him know she’s off limits and she’s mine. Probably if the opportunity ever arises, I’ll do just that.
For now, I get lost in the music and the feel of Bella in my arms. I see men on the side that are wanting to talk to me, waving for me to come over when I’m done dancing, but I’m not in any rush. For the first time in my life, I begin to wonder if love that lasts could be a thing. Do women really ever stay? Would Bella stay? I’ve told myself since I was a little kid that I would never let myself fall in love, but I’m wondering if it’s too late. Is this what love feels like? I want to spend all my time with her. Every minute of every day, I’m thinking about Bella. She surprises me at every turn. She’s beautiful with a good heart. Panic starts to rise in my chest, but it’s not because of fear or anything like that. No, it’s because now I’m wondering if when this is all over... will she leave me?
“What’s wrong?”
It’s only when Bella asks that I realize I’ve stopped dancing and I’m standing in the middle of the dance floor like a statue.
Bella’s hand slides up my chest and rests on my chin. “Lucas, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, but I think I’m ready to head home. You okay with that?”
She pulls from my arms. “Yeah, let me run to the bathroom, and I’ll meet you back here. Is that okay?”
“I can just go with you.”
She laughs. “To the ladies’ room? Really, it’s fine. And I saw the governor waving for your attention earlier. Go talk to him and I’ll be right back.”
I put my hands at her waist and hold on to her. I don’t want to let her go, but I know I’m being ridiculous. “I did promise you that I would stay by your side.”
She tilts her head to look at me. I’m not sure what she’s thinking, but she goes to her tiptoes and presses a kiss to my lips. “It’s okay. I won’t make you go to the bathroom with me. I’ll be right back.” She kisses me again, and this time, I reluctantly let her go.
I watch her until she disappears out the doors to the hallway. I know that Bella and I need to talk, and it’s probably best if we do that tonight. I want to know where she stands on all this, and I probably need to tell her how I’m feeling.