Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Well, an easy catch for anyone other than me.
I ran backward, arms outstretched. Was I still in bounds? I wasn’t sure, but I kept going, sliding in the mud, crashing into something large and solid behind me.
“Watch where you’re going, kid,” a voice sounded behind me. Fuck. I hadn’t been a kid in years, but before I could argue, I slipped farther, taking down the man I’d run into.
“Crap.” We both went spiraling to the dirt, no ball, no touchdown. And there I was, lying in a mud puddle, ketchup stain on my white T-shirt, dirt everywhere else, as I gazed up into the most gorgeous set of eyes I’d ever seen. The dark-haired dude was older than me, probably close to forty. I cared less about our age difference and more about fixing my absolutely horrendous first impression. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”
“Tony!” Sean and Eric both came running over to haul the guy off me. And, of freaking course, this was Tony. Their much-talked-about special forces friend. My soon-to-be coworker if the rumor mill was right. Apparently, Eric and Sean had helped him get a maintenance position at the fire station while he completed the last of his fire certification requirements. Army Ranger to rookie firefighter was a heck of a leap, but this guy looked more than capable of leaping into anything he chose.
“Are you okay?” Sean asked.
“I’m fine.” Tony had a deep, melodic laugh, which I would have enjoyed far more if it hadn’t been directed at me. “Did I squash you, kid?”
I wish. “I’m fine.” Another white lie in an afternoon filled with them. I wasn’t fine. My pride stung worse than the muddy scrapes along my arms. I wasn’t a kid. And no way was I going to allow myself another hopeless crush on a coworker.