Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“Why would you do that?” Tom asked.
“Because he’s a freaking saint,” Josh grumbled.
Poor Josh. He wanted to kick some ass in defense of his family, and no one let him do it. “Because I’m a vet and I won’t let my clients down. No matter what Ezekiel says. What I’ve figured out recently is that my time with that man was an aberration. I had a great dad. He taught me a lot, but he died. And then I found two other dads who loved me for no other reason than the fact that I needed love. They taught me I’m capable of anything, including caring about people who don’t care about me.”
Tom’s eyes came up, and there was a sheen to them. “Damn, Grim. I’m sorry. You should know they’re talking about you.”
“No one else believes them,” Gail said, her eyes rolling.
But there would be others. At least he seemed to have fixed things with Tom. He would have done that for Gail’s sake alone. Gail had always supported him, had helped him ease into the community after he graduated and finished his internship. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going to clean up, and I’ll get that paperwork done in the morning, if you don’t mind.”
“We appreciate everything you’ve done,” Gail said quietly. “You come clean up in the big house when you’re ready. I’ve got a batch of cookies and a bottle of rum I brought back from my cruise last week for such an occasion. I’ll make a basket for you boys. And I’ll throw in a sampler of that hand lotion I was telling your momma about on Sunday.”
Gail started up the long walk to the big house.
“Sorry, Grim.” Tom tipped his hat. “We do thank you.”
He followed his daughter.
Josh stared after them. “Your stepfather is heading for trouble.”
Grim started to pack up. “It’s nothing he hasn’t tried before and nothing I can’t handle. You do not have to bring the dads into this.”
Josh turned slightly his way. “You’re no fun. You know Dad hasn’t recently eviscerated anyone in a metaphorical fashion. He’s getting antsy.”
“He can stay antsy.” He wasn’t putting Jack Barnes in the line of fire. “Ignore them and they’ll find someone else to hate on.”
Not for long, but he’d had respites when Ezekiel decided Taylor Swift was in league with Satan and needed to be brought down with a carefully thought-out social media post. Or a completely unhinged one that should get him on a couple of watch lists.
“At some point the man’s going to push this too far, and you need to understand I won’t let you get hurt,” Josh vowed.
But it wasn’t tonight. “If he ever gets dangerous again, I’ll let you and the dads handle him. For now, let’s get cleaned up. I’ve got a mountain of paperwork to do, and I have to get it all ready because I’m not working while we’re in Austin with our sub.”
In a few days, he wouldn’t have to think about anything except her.
He was looking forward to some peace.
Chapter Eleven
Nicole couldn’t escape the feeling that she was being watched. Maybe it was nothing more than all the gossip that had spread after Sunday’s showdown with Josh’s evil ex. Maybe she’d simply made a misstep that put her on the town’s radar, and in a couple of days they would move on to something else, but Nic wasn’t sure and the knot in her gut made her think it was past time to move on.
She adjusted her purse over her shoulder as she looked up at the auto mechanic’s shop. She had the money in her bag and with tips over the next two days, maybe she could head out before she was supposed to go to Austin with the guys.
Or maybe going to Austin would throw off anyone who was watching her. Maybe going to Austin was actually a way to solve her problems.
She was getting good at justification.
“Hey, sorry. I had to take that,” Heather said as she joined her on the steps leading up to the office. She’d decided to tag along since her mom was being tended to by a home health nurse today. She’d declared it was her day off and joined Nicole.
It was nice to have a friend, but she kind of wondered what Olivia was doing today. Heather was nice but she was probably almost old enough to be her mom. She talked about her kids and husband a lot. And the town she was from.
If Olivia was here, Nic could get her to talk about Josh and Grim. She could hear all their childhood stories.
It was good she was with Heather because Heather reminded her of everything she had to lose. She’d already lost her chance to have a normal life. If she wasn’t careful, she wouldn’t have any life at all. She wasn’t going to get to have kids with her husband, wouldn’t enjoy living in a quirky town. She wouldn’t have a solid job like Heather’s.