Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
JW met me at my car, a low groan left the back of his throat, and then he was on me. Our mouths fused together, his hands on my waist lifting me up until my legs wrapped around his torso, and we went hot and heavy against my car. When our make-out session was over, he grabbed my bags, the boxes, and shut down my car mainly due to the fact he had my door open and me out of it before I turned the engine off. We celebrated with him taking me up against the front door, well, once we were inside. JW is not big on sharing me in any way. No one gets so much as a hint of me when he’s around. His words, not mine. He’s honestly ridiculously protective and, well, it’s really freaking hot.
“Just a minute.” I hold my finger up when my sisters appear at the door. JW is going so far as to drop me off in the morning and pick me up in the afternoon when I close for the day. He asked me to yield to him on the plan, even when I explained it’s an awful lot of driving back and forth when he could work straight through instead of taking a break after his morning work. He didn’t care. He held firm, and I relented. Therefore, he walks me inside Whisked Away, unarms the alarm, does a walk-through while I stand near the back door, and once he gives it the all-clear, he kisses me senseless, smacks my ass, and tells me to lock up. He even waits by the back door until he hears the beeping of the alarm before leaving.
“Aunt Mae-Mae, hurry, please. I’m starving,” Ryan says through the glass door. I hit the unlock control on the alarm. Dad was insistent on there being a disable, enable, and a panic button by the cash register.
“Is your mom not feeding my favorite niece again?” She rushes into the bakery, going straight toward the display case.
“I’m your only niece…um, what in the world? There’s basically nothing in here,” Ryan states the obvious.
“Well, kiddo, your Aunt Mae has had a rough patch,” Maddie tells my niece for her. I’d have rather she not come until I’m back in business, but I’d never deny her the opportunity to visit.
“What, why?” Ryan spins around, hands on her hips and utterly astonished.
“It’s only for a little bit. We can make whatever you want, though,” I offer instead. I’ve already gotten my weekly orders done and dropped off to the local restaurants. There’s been a stop on website holds because, well, whoever the fuck this nincompoop is hacked my website and now I’m locked out. Yeah, it’s gone from bad to worse. JW promises that Fletch is close and that it shouldn’t be too much longer. The not knowing is what’s the hardest. He’s reassured me between Fletcher’s police department and Arrowleaf’s police department working together, they’re just buttoning up a few pieces, which is bringing Fletch and his wife, Delilah, here tomorrow.
“Yes! But can I have a snack to hold me over?” I nod. Ryan darts off to my office, where she knows there’s granola bars, fruits, yogurt, chips, and even a few candy bars. Before all this mess, there were times when I couldn’t get away from the bakery and would need sustenance. Now, the same goes, except I’m so slow that I sit around for a few hours after I get everything done and stare out into space. JW said he’d pick me up whenever, but guilt eats at me to call him when I know he’s working at the ranch.
I wait until Ryan is around the corner and out of earshot. “This is a pleasant surprise. Were you in the area, or did JW call you all, too?” I ask. This whole week, it’s been Grand Central Station. Truth be told, I love having people here, and I know why JW rallied the team. It’s that protective part inside of him.
“Actually, it wasn’t JW. There’s more coming,” Michelle says. A look of confusion must come over me because she says, “Well…” before her words trail off.
“Surprise!” Birdie calls, walking in with Tully, Juni, and Sienna. Juniper, who hasn’t been here this week, turns around and locks the door right away. Someone has been well informed; I’d say Lawson and JW have had many talks.
“This is the best gift ever, really. Boredom is never any fun. Do you all want to bake something?” My hands are itching to be in a dough of some sort and to let my creativity flow. Then I can pile them up with boxes to take home.
“Umm, duh. When do we come here not to bake?” Maddie states. It’s the middle of the workday. Everyone should be doing their own thing, except they're here, for me.