Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“We probably need to head back,” his voice echoes behind me. “Troy just said he’s on his way back. I don’t know how he’d feel about us being in the woods. I don’t even think he liked the idea of leaving me alone with you.”
“What? Why?” I spin around, confusion filling my face. “Why would he care?”
Gerard’s eyebrows shoot skyward. “Really? You do know that we’re much closer in age than you and Troy, right?”
“Yeah, so?”
“Yeah, so he’s a jealous asshole. He doesn’t want any man left alone with you, let alone taking you for a walk in the damn woods. I don’t feel like getting my ass beat today, thanks.”
I let out a sigh. “That’s ridiculous.” However, as the words leave my lips, I can’t deny that it’s kind of hot that Troy cares about me like that. I slip past Gerard, eyeing him as I pass. He rolls his eyes at me, which is becoming a norm, and follows me as I head back toward the house.
“If you want to walk the rest of the trail, I’m sure that Troy would go with you,” Gerard comments as I trudge onward. “In fact, he’d probably be thrilled to walk it with you. He’s all bent out of shape that you’re mad at him.”
I laugh. “Yeah, right.”
“He is.”
“Why would he care if I’m mad?”
“The same reason he cares if I go into the woods alone with you,” he chuckles, his shoes snapping a twig behind me. “Troy Watkins is not the kind of man who shares his woman, and he’s not the kind of man who takes it lightly when his woman is upset.”
“I take it you must’ve witnessed it before?” I inquire, feeling insecure about the thought of Troy with someone else. Ugh.
“No, I haven’t,” he admits from behind me, “but I know him, and that’s exactly how he’ll be with you. He’s already lost his marbles over you.”
I smile to myself, making sure that Gerard doesn’t see it. “Good to know.”
“Pick up the pace,” he grunts from behind me. “He’s almost here.”
Shooting him a look but obeying, I break into a speed walk. I don’t know why Gerard is so worried about being caught outside with me, but I do as he says anyway.
“Shit,” he grumbles.
I look back to see him on his phone. “What?”
“My GPS lagged. He’s already here.” His shoulders fall, and I see the worry on his face.
“Why did you agree to go outside with me if you knew it would get you in trouble?” I demand as we approach the trail’s end, and the back porch comes into view.
“I needed a smoke.”
“Oh my god,” I mutter, shaking my head. Just as I look back from Gerard toward the house, a figure comes into view. My heart stops at the expression on Troy’s face.
“What the hell are you two doing?”
“She wanted to go on a walk,” Gerard answers, his voice taking on a professional tone. “I wanted a smoke, too.”
Troy nods, but I can see his jaw ticking beneath the five o’clock shadow, even ten feet away. “So you decided to take her out into the woods alone?”
“Told you he’d be pissed,” Gerard mumbles as he passes me, meeting Troy’s glare head-on. “It’s my fault. I felt bad for her since she was stuck in the house.”
“It’s true,” I say quickly. “I was going regardless of what anyone else had to say about it.”
“You’re a stubborn woman,” Troy chuckles, the tension in his face fading. “And as much as I’d like to kick your ass,” he turns to Gerard, “I have things to get done. I’m taking Liz on an overnight trip farther upstate. You’re going to stay here.”
I raise my brows. “Does my dad know?”
Troy turns back to me, his eyes sweeping over my frame. “No, and he doesn’t need to. Do you have any objections?” His deep voice sends a shiver of excitement through my body.
I shake my head. “No, it sounds lovely.”
CHAPTER 12
Troy
“You really think this is a good idea?” Gerard asks me as we stand in the kitchen, waiting for Liz to finish packing. “If he shows up…”
“He’s not going to. He’s tied up with a legal issue right now. Henry won’t be bothering us at least until sometime tomorrow. I need some alone time with Liz.”
“You are getting alone time with her,” he shoots back at me, shaking his head. “I know I work for you, but this could go really fucking bad.”
I pat his shoulder. “I know you’re just trying to look out for me, but I think I can handle this and my best friend. Right now, I’m focused on making this right with Liz.”
“I don’t think she’s mad at you anymore,” Gerard reasons, pulling out a chair and sitting at the table. “I think she just needed some time to think things through. All this is a lot for her.”