Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 90682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“My point is, just ’cause she’s old doesn’t mean she ain’t diabolical.”
That’s what I’m saying.
“She was giving me eyeballs.” Because she can as these damn houses are way too close together.
All houses are too close together when you’re raised on hundreds of acres with wide-open sky surrounding you until you get to college.
“She was giving you eyeballs?” Posey laughs, not taking me seriously.
“Well, she wasn’t tryin’ to flirt, that’s for damn sure. Even gave her one of my trademark smiles.” I resume pulling out more nails with the back of the hammer.
“You have a trademark smile?”
Is she mocking me?
Posey crosses her arms over her chest. “I’ve only seen you smile, like—twice—and you’ve been here almost a week.”
Yup. She’s definitely mocking me.
“Let me see it,” Posey says.
I shake my head. “I can’t smile on demand. It’s gotta be natural.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard you say, and you’ve said a lot of stupid shit.” She laughs. “Come on—smile.”
I scowl. “No.”
Her hands are on her hips now.
First, her face is expressionless.
Then.
She smiles.
It’s a goofy smile—over-exaggerated and comical—eyes wide and teeth twinkling.
“Knock it off,” I tell her. “That isn’t gonna work.”
“Wanna bet?” She sticks her tongue out, and I notice the flash of a dimple in her right cheek, which is adorable and irritating and something I don’t have time for.
“I’m not bettin’ you nothin’.”
She continues smiling at me like a nut, her hair shining under the warm sunshine, red tank top and denim jean shorts with frayed hems, her short legs looking all shaved and shit.
Smooth.
“Wanna hear a joke?”
“No.”
Posey ignores me. “What’s the difference between me and a pair of glasses?”
I roll my eyes.
“Glasses sit higher on your face.”
I blink.
Blink again.
Let the hammer fall from my hands, hitting my big toe with the head when it drops to the ground with a thump.
She did not just say that.
Sweet, innocent, kindergarten teacher Posey did not just say that.
Red tank. Red bow in her hair.
Smooth legs.
Bare feet.
She looks like a fucking prude.
My brain wonders; how bad can a good girl get?
She’s still standing there, plucking imaginary lint off the front of her shirt; three buttons straining from her breasts pushing against the fabric. How I didn’t notice when she first walked out here, I do not know.
“Why do I wear panties with flowers on them?”
I brace myself, knowing she’s trying to set me up, hoping she’ll make me smile.
Joke’s on her.
I won’t.
“Why?”
My temporary roommate makes the sign of the cross before looking up toward the heavens.
“In loving memory of all the faces that have been buried there.”
I swear to fucking God, my mouth falls open, damned if it doesn’t. The hammer still lies at my feet, cookies and lemonade and boards forgotten. The sight of Posey’s satisfied smile has me frozen in this spot on the ground.
Suddenly, she bursts out laughing. “Oh my God, you should see your face.”
The laugh is…so…
What the fuck is going on right now?
Why…how is she such a pervert? How does she look so cute and sound so…so…
Fucking dirty?
Okay, so maybe not dirty. I’ve heard way worse shit before, especially when I was younger. Those teammates of mine were dogs. But never, not really from a female and not one who looked like her.
I can’t fucking even.
My brain can’t muster up a single goddamn decent or intelligent comeback, not after it’s been rattled like this.
Dammit. Warn a man before you catch him off guard!
“Everything okay over there?” That old lady is back, this time making her way around the hedge row. I can practically hear her squeaky orthopedic shoes from here.
Posey turns.
My eyes?
Migrate toward her ass, of course they do—her butt cheeks seemingly on full display, or maybe it’s just my imagination now that she’s poked it.
What about those jokes was supposed to have me smiling?
All it did was make my mind wander.
All it did was make my eyes wander.
That ass…
Fuck.
Why are her legs so tan? Isn’t she inside all day?
Posey isn’t tall, but everything she’s working with is candy. Sweet, sweet candy.
Oh my God—shut the fuck up, Duke.
Candy?
Really?
“We’re good, Mrs. Galvin—Duke here was just fixing the porch. We had a hammock out here, and he took a tumble on it, so now we have a bit of work. He’s not disturbing you, I hope?”
The old bag saw me staring at Posey’s ass, I just know it.
She narrows her eyes. “Just wanted to make sure things were on the up and up.”
The up and up?
What does that even mean?
“They are.” Posey shifts on her heels. “Actually, Mrs. Galvin, Duke here is staying with me for a bit. He’s my cousin.”
Cousin?
Like hell I’m her cousin!
“Is that so?” The old woman’s gaze homes in on me. “Well. Good. I hate seeing Miss Posey here all alone. She needs a man around the house—wish she’d let me set her up with my grandson.”