Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
It was about the size of my hand, and I knew that because my brother had picked it up and moved it farther into the path so it wouldn’t fall a second time.
My brother had picked it up with one hand, sure, but it’d taken everything he had to hold on to it.
“I think it’s time to leave,” I heard said.
I turned to find Bindi there with Rooster, Rooster looking happy as always, and Bindi’s face expressionless.
“Oh, hey, Lea.” Joseph pulled out the smarmiest smile I’d ever seen.
“I don’t want to see you. I don’t want to hear you. I don’t want to even hear about you,” she replied simply.
“You already can’t see me…” Joseph offered.
This fucking asshole.
I took a threatening step forward, ready to fuck him up despite the fact that I was in my DPD uniform, but Bindi somehow found my hand and held it. As if she knew I was about to lose my shit.
“Have a good day, Joseph,” she said. “When I have time, I’ll be filing a restraining order.” She paused. “Or maybe I’ll just take this entire thing to the attorney’s office, and we can file a real lawsuit this time.”
“You said you wouldn’t do that,” he said. “We already paid you.”
“Well, funny how I can’t remember any verbal agreements.” She shrugged. “And also, I would like to point out that life is a whole lot harder than I expected. It’s been months and months of hell for me, Joseph.”
Joseph did look scared then.
The thought of losing his money, or more of his family’s money, actually did the trick.
He left without another word, but I knew that wouldn’t be the last time that we heard or saw him.
“He’s gone, right?” she asked.
“Right,” I growled.
She squeezed my hand and then leaned into me.
Without thought, I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers.
Soft and sweet and cherry.
Yum.
“I hate him,” I said when I pulled away from her, slightly breathless.
“Agreed,” she said. “Maybe I do need to find a lawyer. I don’t think he’ll stay away.”
“No,” I agreed. “I don’t think so either.”
The smile that lit her face when she got the food and the coffee was worth waking up twenty minutes early for.
Her favorite bakery item was the cream cheese and cherry monstrosity that was a delight to watch her eat.
By the time we got to DPD, she’d devoured the entire thing and sampled one other before closing the box up.
“Which one of these boxes is for me to take in?” she asked curiously.
I wanted to kiss her so bad in that moment.
I didn’t like seeing her nervous.
“Get out of the car, and I’ll grab the box,” I said. “I should’ve pulled over and kissed you before we got here.”
Her cheeks flushed. “I would have liked that.”
I was tempted to pull out of the parking spot I’d just backed into, but she got out before I could.
I followed reluctantly behind with Boss and the box of sweets for her.
“You’ll have to tell your sister-in-law that it was delicious,” she said as she rounded the car with Rooster.
“You can tell her yourself this weekend,” I suggested. “There’s a family get-together at my mom’s place.”
She opened her mouth and then closed it before looking around—at least pretending.
“There’s no one anywhere near us,” I commented.
My phone rang before I could say more, causing me to pull it out with a frown.
“Hold on a minute,” I said. “It’s the vet.”
She stopped and waited as I answered the call.
Relief hit my chest as soon as I heard the vet’s voice on the other line say, “Rufus is going to be just fine. He seems to be perfectly okay…but only time will tell. I don’t know that he needs to retire yet, but he needs a month or so off to recover. He’ll be lethargic, and honestly, he may have issues getting back in a car again.”
I didn’t blame him.
“How will I get him home?” I asked worriedly.
“There is some calming medication that I can give him that’ll get him there,” he continued. “Reintroduce the car to him gradually. But don’t push him if he’s not ready.”
After a few more minutes of back and forth, I told him I would pick Rufus up before closing time and hung up.
“He’s okay?” she asked, hope filling her voice.
“He’s fine.” I sighed. “Within reason, anyway.”
I then explained everything that the vet told me.
We were almost to the building as she said, “I’m coming with you.”
I wanted to reach out and squeeze her hand, but remembered her saying she wanted to spend the first little bit of her time here not being associated with the Carters.
I understood.
Truly, I did.
At least, my brain did.
My heart, not so much.
I love pretty things, coffee and F-words.
—Bindi to Garrett
BINDI
I’d spent the majority of the day with a smile on my face.