Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” I whisper, not sure why that quietly asked question makes my throat tight, but it does.
“All right.” He stands back and taps the roof of my car. “I’ll see you tomorrow, babe.”
“See you tomorrow.” I muster up a smile, then hit the button for the garage, which sends the door up. I back out and do a three-point turn in the yard since there isn’t an actual driveway, then glance in the rearview mirror and notice he hasn’t moved from his position. And he doesn’t until I’m almost halfway down the road.
And darn it all, my stupid heart flutters in my chest because I know I’ll see him again tomorrow.
Chapter 10
Bridgett
Hell No
Sitting on the floor in the laundry room, I giggle as Lola’s puppies—who I’ve named Coco, Louie, and Chanel—attempt to waddle around me with their eyes barely open. I had no idea they could get any cuter, but as they gain weight and become more active, they do. And if there was a way I could convince Noah to keep them all, I would. But he’s already told me he’s only keeping Chanel. A couple of people he works with are adopting the other two.
Hearing the back door that leads to the garage open, my nerves start to buzz. Today, both Noah and I have the day off, which means I can’t avoid him—something I’ve gotten very good at doing.
“You still in here with them?” He stops in the doorway and crosses his arms over his chest as he watches me, making me feel self-conscious, especially since the only thing I did today was brush my teeth and tie my hair up into a bun. It doesn’t help that he looks ready to break hearts, even in sweats and a hoodie, with a backward ball cap on his head.
“I can’t help it. They are so cute.” I pick up the puppy closest to me and kiss the top of its furry head. “When I move out, I might just tuck one of them in my bag.” I smile as he laughs, then ask, “What were you doing outside?”
“Just cleaning up some of the leaves and shit from the gardens since the weather is warming up.”
“Do you want some help?”
“No, I’m just about done. I was only coming in for a garbage bag.” He lets his arms fall to his sides, then looks down the hall. “Are you cooking?”
“I put on a pot of Guinness stew.”
“Smells good.” He taps the edge of the door before walking off. Since there is no way I’ll just sit on my butt and not help him, I carefully place all three puppies back in the box with Lola, who’s been snoozing as I babysat, then get up off the floor. With Noah in the kitchen digging under the sink, I head to my room and put on a sweater and boots, then grab my vest out of the closet. I walk out of my room, and as soon as his eyes lock on me, he frowns.
“Where are you going?”
“To help you.” I walk to where he’s standing and take the garbage bags out of his hand. “Is that okay?”
“I’m guessing if I say no, you’ll ignore me, so sure.” He looks me over, then shakes his head. “Do you have a hat?”
“No, but I don’t think I need one.”
“Babe, it’s cold. Come on.” He places his hand against my lower back, then leads me down the hall, letting his palm fall away as he goes into the laundry room. “You can use this.” He comes back a second later and starts to place his navy-blue beanie on my head, then stops. “You need to take your hair down,” he mumbles. Then, with a flick of his wrist, my hair comes tumbling out of the bun I had it in, and he places his police-issued hat on my head.
“Thanks,” I mumble, fixing my hair as his eyes roam over my face.
“Sure.” He takes a step back away from me, then turns to head down the hall and opens the door. When we get outside, we go to the front of the house where not a small but a huge pile of leaves and yard debris waits.
“You can help by holding the bag.” He walks around me to the mound, and I open the bag for him, then look at the driveway when I hear a car. With the trees scattered throughout the yard, it takes a second to see the vehicle, but when I spot a black Mercedes, my stomach pitches.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, my mind going a million miles an hour as Conner parks his car in the middle of the dirt driveway.
“Tell me that’s not your fucking ex,” Noah rumbles, and I turn to face him. The minute our gazes lock, his eyes scan mine, and the look he gives me sends a chill down my spine. “Go in the house.”