Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82112 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82112 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Stopping under a shade, I lifted the bottom of my shirt to wipe the sweat droplets from my face. I should have gotten some water before I started the six-mile walk to our trailer. My mouth felt like cotton. The hot Florida summer sun was relentless. Where was the random rain shower that seemed to come out of nowhere this time of year? I would gladly walk in that over this hellish heat. At least then, I could keep from dehydrating.
A truck slowed and pulled over behind me. Great, just what I needed. Some man trying to give me a ride. As if I was going to get in a truck with a stranger. Did I look stupid? Hello, sex trafficker.
I started walking away, taking a few steps, when a smooth, deep voice called out my name. I paused and turned back to the truck.
Saxon Houston.
He knew my name. I stared at him as he walked toward me. He was a year older than me, but every girl in town knew who he was. Him and Trev Hughes. They’d gone to the private high school for the elite while I’d gone to the one on the other side of town. Although, even at the public school, those two had been well known.
When he’d shown up that first day to pick up Aspen from the hospital, I’d never been more envious of another female in my life.
“You need a ride?” he asked me as he got closer. “It’s fucking hot out here today.”
Did I need a ride? In his truck? Oh my God. My clothes were sticking to me. I didn’t even want to consider what my hair looked like. I was sure that I stunk.
“I, uh …” I wanted to get in his truck more than I had wanted anything. Well, maybe not anything, but it was in the top five.
“I’m Saxon, a friend of Aspen’s. I’ve seen you at the hospital the couple of times I’ve picked her up.”
I smiled, trying not to laugh. Did he think there was a girl my age in this town that didn’t know who he was? Surely, he was aware of his popularity.
“I know who you are,” I replied.
He chuckled and looked kind of shy for a moment. “I wasn’t sure. We definitely didn’t go to school together. I’d know you if we had.”
Was he flirting? No. He was just stating the obvious. Right? I was a mess. He was Saxon Houston. We were not remotely in the same league. He was also waiting on me to say something.
“I’m gross,” I finally admitted. “I’m all sweaty and …” I shrugged and smiled, hoping he didn’t think I was being rude.
The crooked grin that appeared on his face flashed dimples, and I felt my insides get all funny. Could he be any more beautiful?
“I broke in a horse all day. I can assure you, I smell worse.”
The cowboy hat that sat on his head was tilted back, and his brown curls were peeking out from under it. I took in his white T-shirt, and it was dirty, as were his jeans. His face had distracted me so much that I hadn’t noticed how the rest of him looked.
I doubted anything could make him smell bad. He was too pretty to stink. I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing at myself. No one was too pretty to stink. My head was all over the place with this guy.
“Um, well, if you don’t mind. It’s five more miles, and the first mile was hard enough,” I admitted.
He frowned. “You were going to walk six fucking miles in this heat?” he asked, looking almost angry.
I shrugged. “My brother was supposed to get me. He didn’t show.”
Saxon nodded his head back to his truck. “Come on. I have cold bottled water and AC.”
“Thanks,” I said as I began walking toward the truck.
Saxon walked over to the passenger side and opened the door for me. No guy had ever opened a car door for me. This was one of those moments I would tuck away in my memory to never ever forget.
As the cool air started drying my sweat, I watched him jog around the front of the truck and climb inside the driver’s side. He opened a middle compartment between our seats and pulled out a bottle of water, then handed it to me. I sighed in relief as I took it from him.
“It’s nice and cold. I keep several here in the fridge in the summer,” he told me.
I glanced down at the fridge, realizing it was built into the truck. Jeez … they put refrigerators in vehicles?
“Thanks,” I told him, opening the water and taking a long drink. My parched throat was instantly relieved.
After I drank almost half the bottle, I stopped gulping it down and turned to look at Saxon. He was staring at me with an odd look. His dimpled grin reappeared.