Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“It’s good to see you, Capri,” he said with his blinding smile.
I needed to add too happy and full of joy to the list of things about him that should be positive, but I found annoying.
“If it wasn’t for Sunday morning service, I’d never get a chance to talk to you.”
And you wouldn’t be doing so now if I’d left early, like I wanted to, I thought to myself.
Instead of being rude, I smiled back at him. “I’ve been busy.”
“Yeah, Esther was telling me that you’re going to New York for one of those horse races,” he replied. “I’m sure your parents are concerned.”
The way his voice had dropped when he said the last bit irked me. Haines had never met or spoken to one of the Shephards, yet like the rest of the people around here, he assumed the worst.
“Seeing as I am twenty-seven, I don’t reckon my parents have any say or cause for worry. I can handle myself just fine.” My voice held an edge to it even if I was maintaining the smile on my face. That was mostly for my momma’s sake. I knew she couldn’t hear us from this distance, but she could see just fine.
“I didn’t mean that as an insult,” he said, looking concerned. “I was just saying … well, you’re traveling with those people.”
He was making this worse.
“Those people own this town. They are also champion horse breeders who win races. I am lucky to get the chance to sit on the back of one of their horses. This takes my career as a jockey to a whole new level.” Which he would never understand because he was not a horse person.
The only thing he knew about horse racing was that folks wore flashy hats at the Kentucky Derby and drank mint juleps. His words, not mine.
“Yes, I am sure it does. Look, I didn’t mean to upset you. I apologize. My plan had been to charm you into having lunch with me.” His smile was back.
I opened my mouth to decline the invitation with a lie that I had to go to the ranch, but Esther grabbed my arm before I could say anything.
“Let’s all do lunch together!” she exclaimed, grinning. “Jaiden and I are going to The Doghouse. I’m craving a bacon cheeseburger from there. Come with us!”
“Their bacon cheeseburger does sound good. Thank you, Esther,” Haines replied, sounding pleased with this turn of events.
Esther knew that Bloodline had left for New York, and she would more than likely call me out on it if I said I had to go to the ranch. This was what she’d been wanting. Me to double date with her. Looked like I was going to get it over with today. After this, I would be sure she knew it would never happen again. I had tried it and did not want to date Haines.
“We will meet y’all there!” Esther said with a little wave of her hand, then hurried off to get Jaiden.
I might have been backed into a corner, but I wasn’t riding with him. “My car is this way,” I told him. “I’ll, uh, see you there.”
Before he could say more, I hurried away, taking long strides and not glancing back. Esther meant well, and I knew that, but I was still pissed at her. Next time, I was leaving the service early.
When I had been a teenager, I’d stayed clear of this place. The Doghouse was where the popular kids at the high school always ate on Friday and Saturdays.
Sebastian Shephard was the only reason I’d even stepped foot in here back then. That was only once too. My friend he’d dated begged me to go with her. The entire experience had been overwhelming, and I’d ended up quietly leaving when they were busy making out.
Sunday after church, it was a place where churchgoers had lunch. There were few restaurants in Madison, so they all filled up when services let out. It had been at least a year since I’d eaten here, and stepping inside still felt like going back in time to when this was intimidating. I was aware of how silly that sounded since I was a grown adult, but some things marked you and didn’t shake loose.
Esther hadn’t been homeschooled. She’d been a part of the crowd. Maybe not the popular one, but she had a group of friends on the inside. I did not.
A hand touched my back, and I jumped, startled. Haines’s chuckle grated on my nerves as I realized he’d walked in behind me.
“There they are.” He nodded his head toward Esther, who was standing up from a booth, waving at us like she couldn’t be seen.
I nodded and started in that direction, wanting to walk fast enough that Haines had to move his hand off my body. I hadn’t said he could touch me, and the way he had assumed it was welcome added to the ongoing list of things I did not like about Haines. Unfortunately, he was taller than me—most people were—and his strides easily kept up with my hurried ones, leaving his hand on my lower back.