Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“We should do this again.” I nod to the bed.
She smirks. “Maybe.”
“You’ve got my number,” I tell her. I’m not going to beg her. I’m not a man who needs to beg for sex. I might not indulge as much as I could, but that doesn’t mean that the option isn’t there.
“And you’ve got mine.”
I nod and watch as she gathers the rest of her things, slipping out of my shirt and back into hers. I should probably turn around or leave the room, but I don’t know if this is the last time I’ll get the chance to see her like this, and I’m a smart man. She’s not shying away from me watching her, and I can’t seem to turn away.
She steps toward me, and I offer her my hand when she gets close. I don’t know why I do it. We’re not together, and this wasn’t a date. Maybe it was the conversation in the kitchen, and even though her eyes are clear of sadness now, I still remember it being there. “I’ll walk you out,” I finally say as she places her hand in mine.
Together we head down the hall, to the front door, and down the steps to where her car is parked in the driveway next to my truck. “I guess I didn’t think about leaving my car here for everyone to drive by and see.”
“You embarrassed of me, Firecracker?” I ask her.
“No. I just thought this is your town, and everyone knows you. I thought you might be embarrassed by me.”
“Never.” There is solid conviction in my tone. “I wanted you to stay. My life. My house. My business.” I stare at her until she nods, letting me know she understands. I could never be embarrassed that a beautiful woman like Scarlett wanted to spend her time with me.
She rises on her tiptoes and presses a kiss to my cheek. “I’ll see you around, Archer Kincaid.” She turns on her heel and pulls open her car door. I stand here shirtless, in nothing but a pair of basketball shorts, and watch her leave. She waves as she pulls out of the driveway, and I return the gesture.
I stand here in the chilly April morning air and stare after her long past when her car is no longer in sight. Shaking out of my trance, I jog back to the house, already wondering how soon is too soon to call her and have her come back over. I know it’s too soon, at least for a casual fling, and that’s what this is. Even though my house now feels empty without her in it.
A few hours later, I’m sitting on the couch, watching an old boxing match, when the front door opens. Tilting my head back, I watch as Ryder comes into the living room and plops down next to me.
“What’s up?”
“Tired of sitting at home staring at the walls.”
“So, what? You decided you’d rather stare at mine?”
“Yep.”
“You good?”
He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees as he buries his face in his hands. “I don’t know. Yes. No. Maybe.”
“Have you heard from her?”
“Not for a couple of weeks.”
“What can I do?” I don’t tell him he’s better off forgetting about her. Nor do I tell him that Jordyn, his girlfriend who traveled overseas for an internship, will change her mind and come back.
I don’t know what’s going to happen with them. I know that when any of my brothers have fallen in love, they fall hard. They love hard, and I know that this is eating my little brother up inside. He loves her. He misses her.
“Nothing anyone can do.”
There is a long beat of silence that hangs between us as I let him gather his thoughts, composure, or whatever it is he’s doing.
“You hungry?” I finally ask.
“Yeah, I could eat.”
“Pizza Town?”
“I’ll drive.” Ryder stands from the couch, and I follow suit. I turn off the lights, grab my phone and keys, and follow him out the door.
“What’s everyone else getting into tonight?” I ask once we’re seated at a booth.
“Mav and Mer went to Sage.”
Sage Night Club is a pretty popular hangout. There’s not much to do in our sleepy little town of Willow River, but just a short twenty-minute drive to Harris, and the possibilities open up.
“That’s the usual,” I comment.
“Yeah, and the others are with their families.”
“Working on making them bigger, I’m sure.” I chuckle to help lighten the mood.
“My money is on Brooks.” Ryder laughs.
“Agreed. I was there early yesterday to hang with Remi to give them some time together. I took her for a walk.”
“No wonder he was all chill last night.”
We share a laugh because it’s true.
“Fancy seeing you here,” a feminine voice, one I immediately recognize, says.
I turn and smile when I see Scarlett standing next to our booth. “Scarlett.” I bob my head in greeting.