Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 73230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
It wasn’t the case for this lady. She didn’t look like she could do anything wrong.
“Ma’am,” Casten sighed. “Put the gun down. I promise we can get this done in less than thirty minutes. Then you can finish your shopping and get home to your pets.”
I hadn’t realized that Casten was such a smooth talker until I watched in surprise as the woman placed the gun in her purse, passed her credit card over to the cashier and held her hands out in surrender.
“I’m done. But I wish you’d let me take my groceries home first.”
***
“You’re such a sucker,” I said to Casten.
He shrugged. “I’m not a mean guy. Not usually. And I wouldn’t have let her stay in there, even if she has given me the slip over fifteen times.”
I laughed, and Casten looked over at me with amusement.
“She’s good,” he promised.
I nodded.
“Oh, I watched her. That’s why you stayed for dinner. Helped fix her sink. Set up a dog house and promised to come back next week,” I told him.
He grimaced.
“She was lonely. I miss my own grandmother,” he said suddenly.
“She’s gone?” I looked at him.
He nodded. “She died a few months before I met you. She was a special part of my life. It’s her house that I’m living in.”
“Ahh,” I said. “And your mom? What are her plans since she just got remarried?”
“Florida with the new guy…for now. Mom can’t stand the obnoxious Texas heat anymore now that she has a heart condition, nor cold Northern winters. So her new man moved her down to Florida in hopes that the climate would remain about as neutral as possible,” he explained.
“Ahh,” I said. “My parents want to get a condo in Florida. Do they live on the ocean?”
He shook his head. “No, on the bay.”
I loved Florida.
When we were younger, my parents took us to vacation in Destin, Florida every year. It was so awesome being that close to the beach.
However, after about a week, I got tired of the sand in the unmentionable places, so I wasn’t sure that I’d want to live there year round.
“Do you plan to go visit?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Major holidays. When I do go, it’s only so I can take Rhea up there so she can visit with Mom. I don’t stay much past two to three days. Why?”
I shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind going to Florida again. I’ve always wanted to go deep sea fishing.”
He sighed.
“It’s fun for the most part. It’s only bad when some of the people that go with you can’t hold their stomach contents,” he informed me.
I could imagine.
My sister got car sick. I could only imagine getting sea sick.
“I need to stop by the clubhouse for a few, do you mind?”
I shook my head.
“No, that’s fine,” I conceded.
We drove down the darkened streets that led to Caddo, winding and turning until we arrived at a house directly on the lake.
The Caddo River and Caddo Lake were one and the same. Caddo River went up into what looked to be a river, while Caddo Lake furrowed out into a large, beautiful lake.
The sides of the River were lined with weeping willows, Spanish moss, and beautiful low hanging trees. It was truly one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
If I could live on the river, I’d be one happy girl.
Alas, living on the water cost a pretty penny, and it wasn’t in my immediate future.
“What’s going on tonight?” I asked as we pulled into the parking lot and parked behind a large group of bikes.
We were in Casten’s truck, seeing as he wouldn’t be able to get the old lady who doesn’t pay her fines on the back of his bike. The truck didn’t fit nearly as well into the parking spaces as all the other bikes did.
“Party, I suppose. That’s at least what it looks like,” he rumbled.
“You weren’t invited?” I asked.
He shrugged.
“Nobody needs an excuse to party. It might’ve been a last minute thing,” he swung out of the truck.
“My sister’s here,” I pointed out, following him out of the truck and walking alongside Casten to the front door.
“Yep,” he agreed, having seen Mig’s bike, too.
“Without a kid,” I added.
“Yep,” he agreed again.
“So that takes some planning. They have a kid and they can’t put the kid on the back of a bike, which means she had to plan ahead to get someone to watch Vitaly,” I informed him.
Casten pushed open the door, and my ears were assaulted as everyone in the entire place yelled, “Surprise!”
I blinked stupidly for a few long moments, then turned to survey Casten.
“You. Little. Shit,” I pointed at him accusingly.
He smiled broadly.
“Happy Birthday.”
I stared in utter surprise as everyone that I loved in my life came forward to greet me.
“But it’s not my birthday yet!” I cried.
My sister on one side, and my mother on the other, hugged me tight.