Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
I lean down and press my lips to hers because I’ve held back from kissing her for too long. I could let myself get lost in the feel of her pressed against my body and the way she whimpers as I explore her mouth, but I break off the kiss and run my thumb across her swollen lip. “I’ll be back.”
I let go of her and make my way outside to my truck. It’s not until I’m about to get in that I realize Camille has followed me. She gets into the passenger side of the truck and closes her door. When I sit down, it’s obvious she’s out of breath from hustling to keep up with me. “What are you doing?”
She shrugs. “I’m going with you.”
I shake my head. “No, you’re not.”
“Elliott, please. I know I can’t talk you out of going, but I can’t just sit here and wait for you to get back. I’ll be so worried about you the whole time you’re gone… and you know that’s not good for the baby.”
I sit down heavily in the driver’s seat. “You’re playing dirty, Cammy. If you go, you stay in the truck.”
She nods, and the way she agrees so easily pretty much convinces me that she doesn’t plan on staying in the truck.
Since she insists on going with me, I drive slower than I normally would. We’re both quiet, and I let knowing what Wyatt said and how he made Cammie feel fuel me. When we get to the Feed Haven, I pull into the parking lot and throw the truck into park.
“Will you please stay here?”
She turns to look at me. “Will you please not do anything crazy?”
I grit my teeth. “I’m not going to do anything crazy, but I am going to make sure he knows he’s not going to get away with treating you the way he did.”
I turn to get out of the truck, and Camille puts her hand on my shoulder. “Elliott, promise me you’ll come home. I don’t want you to go to jail.”
When she says the word home, a calm covers over me, and I know I’ll promise her anything she wants me to. “No jail. I’ll come right back to you.”
I hope that appeases her, but she insists before I get out, “In one piece.”
I bring her hand up to my lips to reassure her. “In one piece. Sit tight and I’ll be right back.”
As I get out of the truck and walk up the steps of the Feed Haven, I’m hanging on to the very last threads of control I have. It wouldn’t take anything for me to go in here and beat the shit out of Wyatt, but I know what I need to do to make it really hurt.
CHAPTER 8
CAMILLE
I sit for as long as I can in the front seat of Elliott’s truck, but when people start running out of the Feed Haven I can’t sit still any longer. I’m out of the truck and up on the porch about to go in when a man blocks my path. He doesn’t touch me, but he does have his hands held up in front of me. “Howdy, ma’am. You’re Camille Trotter, right?” Before I can answer him, he continues, “Look, please. Elliott told me I’m supposed to stop you from going in there.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “He did, did he?”
He nods with his eyes wide. “Please, just stay here. He told me not to touch you but to keep you out here where it’s safe, and I’d really appreciate it if you’d just do as I ask. If you go in there, well… I don’t want to get on Elliott’s bad side, I really don’t. So please, I’m begging you, just stay out here.”
There are raised voices coming from inside, and I can barely make it all out, but I do hear Elliott’s voice loud and clear.
“Don’t say her name.”
“You won’t receive another penny from my ranch or any ranch I have anything to do with.”
“You don’t treat a woman like that—especially my woman.”
I can feel my face heat because I know the whole town will hear of this by this afternoon. I know it’s in his blood to defend and protect a woman, but I’m not sure Elliott realizes what he just did.
I stand where I’m at, and eventually the front door of the Feed Haven swings open and a very pissed-off Elliott comes storming out. The man in front of me lets out a big breath. “Oh, thank God.”
Elliott pats him on the back. “Thanks, Donavan. Appreciate it, I owe you one.”
The man named Donavan mumbles something and then stumbles away as Elliott stops in front of me. I know not two minutes ago I was worried about the town’s reaction to all this, but I can’t stop myself from wrapping my arms around his waist.