Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 39424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
I thought Elias was the one.
After only one night in his arms, he captured my heart.
Promises were made.
But none were kept.
Because my broody, military hero disappeared.
Five years later, I’ve moved on.
At least that’s what I tell myself when Elias shows up again.
He’s not the same man.
He’s scarred, withdrawn and stalks me from afar.
I want to hate him,
But his effect on me is the same.
I shouldn’t want him.
I definitely shouldn’t give him a second chance.
But these two pink lines prove I never stood a chance at resisting him.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
PROLOGUE
Elias
I’m surrounded by the men I work with, and they are talking all around me, but I’m completely focused on the beautiful blonde. It’s amazing what you can find out from people in a small town.
Her name is Chloe, she’s twenty-two years old, and she lives in the home she inherited from her grandmother, who passed away six months ago. She’s a trainer at the gym in town called Work It Out, and she’s not seeing anyone.
I’ve seen her around a few times, mostly because I’ve made a point to see her. I’ve bought her a coffee and pastry at the Sugar Glaze Bakery, I’ve watched her through the big bay windows of her gym on Main Street, and I’ve seen her here at the Whiskey Whistler before, but I’ve made sure to keep my distance. I’m leaving Whiskey Run soon, but when I get back into town, I’m going to make a point to get to know her better.
Until then, I’ll be counting down the hours, and I’m going to stalk her from afar.
She’s sitting with her friend, drinking her Long Island Iced Tea, and I’m captivated by the way she laughs. Her happiness is contagious, and as I’m smiling, I’m getting roasted by my friends for not just going to talk to her already.
Everything is fine. We’re all having a good time when two cowboys walk up to Chloe and her friend. They’re both flirting with Chloe, trying to edge the other one out, and everything happens so fast that I’m across the room as Chloe’s friend lands on the ground and Chloe is standing over her.
The friend is holding her head. “I’m okay.”
Chloe gasps. “You’re okay? Cassie, you just tried to break up a bar fight. I think you’re far from okay.”
I’m staring at Chloe, ready to throw her over my shoulder and get her out of here.
“What even happened?” the woman that Chloe called Cassie asks.
“The one asshole pushed the other asshole, and he grabbed on to you and took you down with him.” I answer her, even though I can’t take my eyes off Chloe.
“I’ll get you some ice,” I tell Cassie, while giving a look to the guys to keep an eye on Chloe. They know exactly what I’m asking, and after I get a nod from them, I go up to the bar to get ice.
By the time I get back, Cassie is sitting on a chair, some guys are holding the two men that were fighting, and Chloe is hovering over her friend.
I hand the ice to Chloe, and she gives it to Cassie.
Chloe looks over my shoulder. “Uh, the police are here.”
I turn and see my friend Baker coming through the door. He’s watching the woman seated, and I position myself closer to Chloe.
They talk about pressing charges, and after a lot of back and forth, Baker convinces the woman to let him take her home. I turn to them. “And don’t worry about Chloe. I can make sure she gets home.”
She nods in agreement, but as soon as Baker is out the door with her friend, she turns to me. “You don’t have to babysit me. I can find my own way home.”
“I would rather hang with you, but if you want to be by yourself, that’s fine too. Just know when you leave, I’ll be making sure you get home safe.”
She tilts her head to the side and looks up at me. “So you do want to spend time with me?”
I bite my lip before I say something over the top and tell her all the things I want to do with her and scare her off. “Yeah.”
She shrugs. “Well, that surprises the heck out of me because I’ve seen you around… you’ve bought me coffee and food, even followed me around town a little… but you never talk to me.”
I could make up something, sound a little more mysterious, but I come clean. “I’m leaving on a mission tomorrow. I thought I’d wait until I came back before I made my move.”
She smiles cheekily up at me. “That doesn’t sound very smart on your part.”
“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”
“What if you leave tomorrow and then I meet my knight in shining armor next week? We would never know what could have been between us.”