Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“Griff, my God, what happened?” I’m going to answer that, but first, I’m going to make a woman run out of the salon with her tail between her legs. If I don’t do it, Barbie will, and Laura will be more than scared. She’ll hightail it to the nearest cop to make a false report. Then Barbie would make good on her promise, bat in tow like she’s Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad.
23
STORMY
Oh my God, oh my freaking God. I’m barely holding on by a thread. The two cups of coffee I had are threatening to come up with the emotions swirling through my body. Griff is standing in front of me, which isn’t out of the ordinary even though he wasn’t supposed to be back this early. It’s the dark circles beneath his eyes, the scruff he usually keeps trimmed that’s now untamed, and the fucking sling holding his arm up. I should have known something was up. My radar should have set me off.
He keeps his eyes on me for a moment, allowing me to soak in his presence. If only he’d move his feet, or I’d move mine. The two of us don’t stand still. My tears cloud my view, and I blink them away so they don’t roll down my cheeks. Griff must be over this self-imposed stand-off, because he makes it one step before he changes direction.
“No, no, no,” I mumble so low it’s barely a whisper, worry hitting me for a different reason now. He walks closer to Laura. She’s in her own world. Oblivious to the hulking man walking up to her.
“Oh, this is going to be good, honey. It’s been a long time in the making.” Kitty comes up beside me, takes the color out of my hand, and plops it on a tray. A good thing, too, with the way I’m trembling on the inside.
“I don’t want her to retaliate on Griff, his bar, his name, all because of me,” I admit. The Busby’s have enough money and clout to make people’s life a living hell, a feeling I know all too well.
“A man like Griffin Hawkins knows exactly how to handle a woman of that caliber. You just stay here with me, let him do the Lord’s work.” Her hand catches mine, squeezing it once. Cassidy opens the door, hitting the doorstopper with her foot to prop the glass door open. We’ve found we get more tourists coming and going on the footpath, and they love the products Kitty keeps stocked as well as a few accessories. Today, I wish she had forgotten that little task. It’s Monday and exceptionally busy. Everyone is getting their last bit of summer fun out of the way before school is back in session and our town settles in for fall.
“You got a problem with Stormy and me?” I hear Griff ask. My eyes close, and I take a deep breath. Of course, she has a problem. The woman can’t open her eyes and see two feet in front of her.
“I certainly do. You and that harlot left the wedding. She disgraced my son, and you, well, you should know better. A businessman such as yourself, you’ve got an image to uphold.” I have to put my hand to my mouth, trying to absorb the giggle taking root. Jesus, an image to uphold. Has she met Griff? He doesn’t give two shits what others think about him. Griff exudes confidence. The bar is successful, and he’s a medic in his off-time. Sure, he gets paid for it, but it’s not like he needs that job.
“That the reason you’re running your trap far and wide because you’re grown son can’t handle being an adult?” Laura huffs out a breath of air and gets up from her seat. Griff takes a step back, his arm tucking under the sling. He knows she’s not done; it’s written all over her face.
“Well, I’ll be damned if I let someone drag our last name through the mud and her not come out unscathed.” The sad truth of the matter is she truly believes that.
“Woman, you have your head so far up your own ass, you can’t see fucking daylight. Did you even ask anyone else their side of the story? Zach or Stormy, for example?” She doesn’t like him subjecting her to critical thinking.
“Why would I do that? I saw it for myself,” Laura states, vehemently.
“Then I’d suggest you talk to your son. You know, the one who went on a honeymoon with Mel, my niece.” Griff doesn’t mince words. His voice carries through the quiet salon. Everyone can hear him, and I’m sure so can the people who have congregated around the open door. Shit, some of them even stepped inside. I should be embarrassed with the way more of my dirty laundry is being aired out, except I’m not. Griff is doing what I couldn’t and wouldn’t. The couldn’t part is because people chose who to believe, and as much as it pains me to admit it, Laura is right. How we left was pretty damning. Me moving in with him makes it look worse. I wouldn’t for simplicity reasons. No one needs to know what happens in my personal life that much in order to make it common knowledge.