Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Barely hearing the last part of her mumbled reply, he decided to let it slide without questioning it. Basically, at this point, he would have to agree with her. Whatever powers that be did seem to be thwarting any plans she made. On the other hand, he wasn’t above using the opportunity for his own benefit.
“You want to catch a movie or dinner when we get back to Treepoint?”
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
“Yes.”
“No. I plan to sleep until Viper gets back.”
“What if it takes a couple of days?”
“Then I’ll sleep a couple of days. I could use the R&R.”
“You could show me the town tomorrow?”
“You’ve already seen it twice—when you came into town and when we left last night. There’s nothing else to see.”
“You could take me out on your bike?” he suggested.
“I don’t ride with passengers.”
“Are you coming up with a different excuse every time I come up with an idea?”
She nodded sagely. “Now you’re catching on.”
“You don’t even want to give it a whirl and see where it goes?”
“You”—she pointed a finger at him then at herself—“and me?”
“Yeah.”
“Hell, I don’t need to see where it would go. I’ve already been there too many times to count. Nowhere Ville.”
Chapter Twenty
Grabbing her travel bag from Rory’s SUV, she briskly went up the steps to the club.
“Hey,” Jesus greeted her when she reached the porch. “How was the drive?”
“Too fucking long.” Uncaring that Rory was right behind her, Jewell grabbed the doorknob to go inside. Briskly walking up the stairs, she made her way to her room. A sound from Nickel’s room had Jewell pausing. Nickel was fucking Ember from behind on his bed while she was giving Puck head.
With his hands buried in Ember’s hair as she went up and down on him, Puck gave her a come-hither smile. “You want to join? I’m up for some tongue action.”
If she weren’t so tired, she might have taken him up on the offer. Puck’s tongue was magical.
“Nah. Too fucking tired. Maybe later.” Giving a small wave of her hand, she moved on to her room. She shut the door behind her and dropped the travel bag beside the door. Picking out a pair of brief pajama shorts and a top, she changed. Then, leaving her clothes on the floor, she opened the bottom drawer of the dresser to take out a worn teddy bear. Holding it, she tossed herself onto the bed, turning off the light and pulling the cover over her head, sealing herself in a tight cocoon of warmth. She drifted off to sleep with the teddy bear pressed to her cheek, despite hearing the racket coming from the other bedrooms.
When she woke up in the morning, she was shocked at the time. She couldn’t remember when she had slept past seven, much less to ten.
After dragging herself out of bed to take a shower, she dressed in a pair of thick, lavender sweatpants and a hoodie when she saw it was snowing outside the window.
Checking her phone for any messages from Viper, she almost texted him, but decided to wait. He wouldn’t tell her anything until he was ready to, so it would be useless to waste the effort.
Being kept in the dark was irritating as fuck.
Tucking the teddy bear back in the drawer, Jewell went downstairs to find everyone putting on their coats.
“Where you guys going?”
Ember was tugging her multi-colored stocking hat down over her head. “We’re going sledding. Come with us. We’re all going to Cash’s place.”
Jewell gave her a mock shudder. “Hell to the no. I’m going to keep my ass here all nice and toasty.”
“Come on.” Beth had heard the tail end of her refusal as she, Noah, and Chance came in from the kitchen. “Everyone’s going. Lily’s bringing her kids, Winter is coming with Aisha, and Rachel is going to make a pot of hot chocolate.”
“Tempting as that sounds, I’ll pass. I have a good book I need to finish.”
Beth shook her head, not believing the lie. “If you change your mind, you know where we are.”
“Freezing your”—Jewell caught the two boys waiting for her to curse again—“bottoms off.” Teasingly, she took Noah’s hat off and whacked him in the head with it. “Thought you had me, didn’t you?”
Razer’s son showed the gap between his teeth when he grinned.
Giving Noah his hat back, she breezily went into the kitchen. Her good humor vanished when she saw Rory sitting at the table, drinking coffee.
“Aren’t you going sledding with them?”
“Nope. The last time I went sledding, I broke my arm.” Rory wiggled his fingers at her. “In my business, my fingers are my livelihood,” he said drolly.
Jewell nearly stumbled over her two feet while having to keep her back to him as she managed to hide her laughter.
Damn, he was becoming cute.
No, Jewell. Definity not, she scolded herself. You are not going there.