Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
A throat clears, causing him to drop his hand, and I do as well, taking a step back from him. My eyes move to glance behind Rushton to find the man in the picture. He has the same dark hair and blue eyes as Rushton.
“You must be Crosby,” he says, walking around Rushton and offering me his hand.
“Yes. Nice to meet you….” I let my words hang in the air.
“Declan Kincaid.”
“Ah, one of the many brothers,” I tease.
“So you’ve heard of us?” Declan asks, a hint of a smile pulling at his lips.
“No, well, I mean, I guess so. Rushton explained there are nine of you.”
“Oh, he did, did he? And how do you know my little brother?” Declan slings an arm around Rushton’s shoulders, only for him to shrug him off and take a step closer to me. He’s standing so close I can feel his body heat.
“We, uh, don’t really know one another. Not really.”
“We do,” Rushton counters.
“We met briefly on Saturday. Rushton helped me in a jam with my flat tire.”
“So you’re the damsel in distress.” Declan’s smile widens.
I turn to look at Rushton. “Is that how you see me?”
“No.” He’s shaking his head even while saying the words. “Saturday was a big day for my brother Sterling. Remember I told you he had a surprise for his girlfriend?”
I nod.
“Well, that girlfriend is Alyssa.” As if his saying her name summoned her, she walks back into the front office from somewhere in the back, and we all turn to look at her.
“Why do I get the feeling y’all were just talking about me?”
“We were,” Rushton tells her. “I was just explaining to Crosby how Saturday was a big day for Sterling, and he was irritated that I was late. When I told him I helped someone with a flat, and he found out it was a woman, he referred to Crosby as a damsel in distress.”
“Right.” I laugh. “He’s not wrong. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was bound and determined to figure it out.” I hold up my phone. “I was depending on the ole interweb to show me how to change my tire.”
“I’m going to teach you how,” Rushton announces. “Just in case you are ever in a place where you need to know again. Wait, on second thought, just call me.” He grabs my phone and swipes at the screen, and I curse the fact that I don’t have a passcode on it. I watch as his fingers fly across the screen, adding his number, and then I hear a beep coming from his back pocket. “You find yourself in that situation again. You call me.”
“And what if you’re not around?” I take my phone from him. I don’t plan on calling him in the future if I find myself in need of a tire change. I’m a grown woman and can take care of myself. I don’t need to rely on a man to do it for me.
“I have eight brothers, and our dad lives close. One of us will come to help you.” He’s giving me a look that says his word is gospel. But what he doesn’t realize is while the sentiment is nice, it’s unnecessary. I might not know how to change a tire, but I know how to call a tow truck to get me somewhere that does, and I have the internet. I know how to take care of myself. I’m the only one who ever has. I don’t need a man.
“That’s very sweet of you, but I can take care of myself.” I smile kindly, letting him know his demanding looks don’t have an effect on me. Well, not the desired effect. They somehow make him even hotter.
“Crosby.” Rushton’s voice is low and growly.
Tingles race down my spine, not out of fear but of desire. I choose to ignore that feeling and square my shoulders and turn my attention toward Declan. “Thank you so much for working me into your schedule this afternoon. I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime. I’ll give you my card in case you have any trouble in the future,” Declan says, reaching over to the desk and pulling a business card out of the small display, and handing it to me.
“She has my number,” Rushton replies grumpily.
“She is new in town,” Alyssa speaks up. “The more people she has in her arsenal, the better.”
“She has me.” Rushton glares at her.
Declan and Alyssa share a look, and both crack up laughing. “It was nice to meet you, Crosby. Your car is ready.” He nods to where one of his employees is pulling my car into a spot in front of the building.
“Thank you again. How much do I owe you?”
“I’ve got it,” Rushton says.
“Thank you, but that’s not necessary,” I tell him.
“Consider it a welcome to Willow River gift,” he insists.