Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
"Larkin has one of those ride-on cars, and it needs a new battery. I have one on the way. When it gets here, I need you to go to her house and hook it up."
"It's a rather simple process," I tell her. "Can't you just give it to Claire to plug in? The woman isn't an idiot."
Even with the ruckus and noise coming from the bar, I can still hear her annoyed intake of breath.
"She doesn't know the battery is coming. In fact, she lied and told me she had one on the way."
"Maybe she does," I argue.
"She doesn't. Will you take care of it for me?"
I stare at a nail hole in the wall, not answering.
"Walker?"
"Sure," I tell her, knowing it'll be the only thing that gets this woman off my back.
I'll find a reason to be busy when it gets here. The very last thing I need is to be that close to the woman's home and all her personal belongings.
"I'll need you to go over there after dark."
"After—" I begin but then Claire appears at the mouth of the hallway, making me lose all train of thought. "I'll take care of it."
I quickly end the call as if Claire would be upset if she found out I was speaking to another woman, as benign as that conversation was.
"Can I help you?"
She tilts her head to the side, and I feel like a complete asshole for the tone that just came out of my mouth.
"The light beer is sputtering again," she says. "If you show me your setup, I can take care of it."
"I'll take care of it," I say quickly, taking a step back when the soft scent of her skin meets my nose.
She blinks in my direction for several seconds before turning around and walking away.
I take care of the beer issue within minutes, all the while wondering if she thinks I hate her. Maybe it would be easier if she did.
Instead of hiding in my office like I have been, I head back out into the bar. Maggie and Claire have everything under control.
At least I think they do, until a few minutes later, I see that same idiot from earlier grab her by the arm.
I'm around the end of the bar and ready to kick his ass clear from the county in seconds.
By the time I approach, Claire is already free from his grasp, and the man's friends are already trying to usher the man to the door.
"Last warning," I tell them, recognizing the young man as someone we've had problems with in the past.
"He had a bad day," one of the other guys says.
"Not my problem," I tell him. "Don't forget to tip your waitress."
One guy stops and pulls out a wad of cash from his wallet and hands it to Claire.
She looks down at it, frowning, but she doesn't say a word before gathering their empty beer bottles and shot glasses and walking back toward the bar top.
I watch the guys leave the bar before heading that way myself.
"What was that?" she growls when I approach her.
"He grabbed you."
"I'm a grown-ass woman. I don't need some guy with misplaced chivalry coming to my rescue."
She walks away before I can argue.
I throw my hands up in the air when I see Maggie staring at me with raised eyebrows.
"I'll be in my office," I mutter.
I nearly run into Claire when she comes out of the kitchen, having taken the dirty shot glasses to the back to be washed.
"I want to talk to you after your shift," I tell her, when I should've just walked right past her without a word.
It was working before with her being gone right after the bar closed. I don't know why I had to just ruin the best situation I could be in where she's concerned.
"Fine," she says, skating past me.
I turn to fire off some more words, but I get lost in the way her jeans hug her body and the way her shirt clings to her skin.
I hate that she smells like sugar cookies.
I hate that she's a widow and untouchable.
I hate her independence when every cell in my body wants to protect her.
I hate that she's off-limits.
Most of all, I hate how my body responds to hers because Claire Kennedy is untouchable.
Chapter 6
Claire
I knew my luck here wouldn't hold out. I knew I'd say or do something that would make the man fire me, but I couldn't keep my mouth shut.
Everything is a rescue.
The monthly book.
The free groceries.
The free cupcakes from Adalynn for Larkin's birthday a few weeks ago.
Even the tips people have been giving me feel like charity.
I don't mind working for my money. I prefer it, but I also know that Adalynn's brothers, Ronnie and Donnie Tate, don't tip Maggie thirty freaking dollars when she brings them beers.