Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“What happened?”
“Someone smashed my truck window in, but we don’t know who yet.”
“I’ll send Jessie. Should be about ten to fifteen.”
“Okay, thanks.” I hang up. I walk around the truck as I end the call. Shit. I hadn’t noticed the slashed tires until now. They’re on the driver’s side, so they weren’t visible from our vantage point. I’m seeing red. This is some bullshit. I hope one of these businesses has a camera that works. I know many times people put them up for show, but we won’t know until asked.
“They’ll be here in fifteen,” I tell Ava. She nods, staring at my broken truck.
“Is this what you received a message about earlier?” she asks, a slight hint of fear in her voice. Fuck, I hate that she’s afraid.
I wrap her up in my arms, hoping that she’s not too cold. “No.”
She looks up at me with her eyes expectant. “Then what was that? You were upset. Please don’t lie to me.”
“Someone destroyed my front gate and then must have limped off since the vehicle’s still there.” She gasps, pressing her hand to her mouth. “I didn’t want to ruin our night out.”
“But aren’t you upset?” I look around and see the crowd is only growing. I don’t want people in our business, so I move us slightly away from the truck to avoid being recognized.
“I’m pissed as hell, but it’s still going to be there when we get home. It’s not like canceling our date would make it better,” I say, taking her hand in mine and turning her so we’re face to face.
“I suppose,” she sighs, her eyes not meeting mine.
I tip her chin up so I can look at her gorgeous face. When her eyes meet mine, I see unshed tears. “Are you upset with me?”
She shakes her head vehemently. “No. It’s sweet that you tried to save our date.”
“It’s ruined now?” I ask, cupping her face, rubbing my thumb over her cold cheek. Maybe we should go back inside the restaurant until our ride arrives.
“Hardly ruined. I’m sorry about all of this, but you made it a wonderful night.” The genuine smile on her face makes me feel so damn good inside. This woman has changed me in a way that’s hard to explain.
“You made it wonderful. I’m here with the most beautiful woman in the world.” I lean in and kiss her lips lightly. I back off when I feel how cold they are. “Babe, you’re freezing. We should go back inside.”
“I’m fine.” I slip off my coat and slide it onto her.
“You shouldn’t,” she protests, but the added warmth is evident in her face instantly.
“Don’t argue with me or I’ll spank you later,” I warn her playfully.
“But…” she pouts.
“Did I stutter, woman?”
“Maybe you did, now that you’re cold.” She jabs me in the chest with her gloved finger.
“I’m the farthest from cold, but I think you’ve earned a spanking,” I growl in her ear, aching to be alone with her, but I doubt we’ll get a chance to do more than sleep.
“Good. Goal accomplished.” She kisses my cheek with a sultry grin. I wrap her up in my arms again and hold her tightly as we wait for our ride. Less than a minute later, Jessie calls. “I’m down the street. I’ll be there in a minute. Want to meet me on the corner to avoid the crowd?”
“Works for me.”
I hang up and take Ava’s hand. We walk just ten feet to the corner where Jessie’s waiting. I open up the back door to the crew cab. I bow slightly and say, “My lady.”
“Thank you, kind sir,” Ava sasses back, hopping into the back where I swat her ass. She whips her head at me and says, “That’s one.”
“Oh you’re getting a lot more than one,” I growl, following in behind her. Once we’re in and buckled up, Jessie turns back toward the ranch. “Thank you for picking us up, Jessie,” I say.
“No problem, boss man.” He smiles into the rearview mirror. He’s young and handsome, but I try not to be jealous because Ava’s with me.
“Jessie, this is my Ava. Ava, this is Jessie.”
“Hello, Jessie,” she says so sweetly that I feel my hold tightening on her waist.
As if sensing my tension, he doesn’t take this time to goad me. “Hello, Miss Ava.”
“So any ideas who could have done this?” Ava asks.
“I don’t know, but I will find out,” I promise, moving my arm around her shoulder and tugging her down to rest her head on my chest.
She wants answers I don’t have. This was supposed to be a magnificent night. A small demonstration of what it’s like to be my wife. For the first time in my life, I’ve found someone who makes me undeniably happy, and someone’s trying to ruin it.
Ava starts to lose some of the tension in her body, but I know the second she sees the damage to the front of the ranch, she’s going to freak out. Her life has been flipped upside down for weeks now, and I just want it to be right side up again.