Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69098 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
And then he’s yards away, laying on the horn.
Asshole.
At the last second, he jerks the wheel to the left and slams on the brakes. Air swishes past me, sending my hair flinging in my face. I swear I felt his side mirror graze over the material of my shirt covering my arm. Whirling around, I follow to where he’s skidded to a stop, truck parked crooked and taking up the road.
The passenger door opens and some guy around my age climbs out. He’s tall with shaggy blond hair and is wearing sunglasses.
“Holy shit,” he says in greeting. “You almost got killed. You do know this idiot is driving and no one is safe on the roads, especially not hot chicks running through the woods.”
I narrow my eyes. “I wasn’t running through the woods. I was standing on my property. Who are you again? Don’t tell me you’re actually friends with that fucker.”
He snorts, offering me his hand. “That fucker is my best friend. I’m Chet.”
“Funny,” I snip, eyeing his hand warily. “He never mentioned you.”
“Well, he sure as hell mentioned you,” Chet says with a wicked grin. “Said you’re his future wifey or some shit.”
The rear door opens on the passenger side and another kid around my age gracefully leaps out. She, too, has blond hair, but hers is silky and sleek. Her cropped top and short denim shorts that reveal long, tanned legs make her seem more worldly than me, though. My plain jeans and T-shirt feel boring and drab in comparison.
“Hi,” the girl says, wearing a bright smile. “I’m Sadie. Chet’s sister.”
As interesting as these two people I’ve never met are, I’m antsy to speak to him. Stupid Wild. Operator of the dumb truck that makes too much noise. Not that I miss him or anything. I just need something…normal. Fighting with Wild is something I’m one hundred percent comfortable with.
The two golden-haired teens watch me with unhidden interest like I’m a specimen they’re here to study. Another truck door slams shut. Seconds later, Wild saunters around the truck.
He’s beautiful.
No one and I mean no one can deny that, not even me.
It’s just his mind is a mess. He’s calculating and mean and crude. Wild is the exact opposite of everything good my brothers are.
Wild has a ball cap pulled low over his brow and his head is dipped slightly, so all I can see is the cruel slant of his full lips. My hackles rise and I fist my hands, steeling myself for whatever barb he has ready for me.
“Sorry,” Wild rumbles in a deeper voice than I last remember. His tone is far from sorry. “I didn’t see you there.”
I roll my eyes and ignore his apology. “Where’s the rest of your family?”
“Twins are sick,” he says, annoyance dripping from his words. “Again. What else is new? They’ll be here in a few days.”
Sadie and Chet remain frozen like beautiful statues, their shiny gold-spun hair the only thing moving as the wind dances by us. Their matching smiles give me the creeps.
Wild slowly approaches until he’s towering over me. He’s bigger than my brothers. Wider through the shoulders and packing more muscle. The older he gets, the more he looks like a spitting image of Uncle Atticus—minus the man bun and beard and tattoos. His slightly unhinged green-eyed glare reminds me of Aunt Eve, though.
“Looking frumpier than usual, wifey,” Wild says, bearing a wolfish grin. “It’s like you don’t even try for me anymore. You wound me.”
I plant my hands on his solid, massive chest and shove him. He stumbles back a step before roaring with laughter. His weird friends join in, politely trying to muffle their amusement.
“Don’t be a dick.” I cross my arms over my chest and glower at him. “There’s enough of those around lately.”
And, as if on cue, dick number one appears.
“New people!” Mya squeals, running over to us. “Hi, I’m Mya. Raegan’s bestie.”
I snap my head toward her and curl my lip up in disgust. We are not besties.
“Holy shit,” Wild says with a chuckle. “Your dad let people onto his backwoods inbreeding factory?”
I’m going to kill him one day.
Just pick up a rock and smash it against his mouth that says mean things endlessly. Maybe if his teeth were hanging from the roots, he’d have a harder time spitting out his nonsense.
“Wild Knox,” Wild greets, turning on his fake charm for Mya. “These are my friends Sadie and Chet.”
Mya shakes Wild’s hand and is slow to release it.
“Girlfriend?” Mya boldly asks, eyeing Sadie with a forced smile.
Wild chuckles. “Nah. Didn’t you hear? I’m gonna marry that girl right there.”
Me. I’m that girl.
Fat fucking chance.
Mya takes her time scrutinizing me as she steps closer to Wild. “What a catch.”
They all crack up laughing at my expense. I’m half tempted to whip my knife out. Maybe I’d stop being a joke at that point. And, if that didn’t work, I could just poke them a few times with the blade.