Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Look,” she lowers her voice and leans close to me. Her breath smells of her favorite cinnamon coffee and cigarettes. “I get it. You’re about to settle down and to a girl like you—the kind that’s faithful—it means a life sentence. So if you want to have your fun, I’m not judging you, girlfriend. But there are better choices than Striker. Safer choices.”
Fortunately, I’m saved from having to answer because the boys leave the break room in search of more snacks. They seem to have endless room in their stomachs and I’m always worried if I’m feeding them enough.
The rest of my shift passes in a stressful blur until Journey comes to pick up the boys. She works at the flower shop, but she’s been watching the triplets for me. She says she needs the extra money, but I think she’s just trying to help out because her hourly rate is too low. Still, I’m grateful for the help even if it is hard for me to accept it.
“Are you gonna lock up?” Bailey asks me when she’s done.
I nod. I still have two customers, but they’re regulars. They never cause trouble or hassle me, so I feel comfortable being left alone with them.
She bumps me with her hip as she moves to gather her things. “Think about what I said. Call me if you need names. I know a cowboy or two.”
I force a smile I don’t feel and thank her. After that, I move through the two haircuts on autopilot. The men talk to each other about various town happenings. They try to involve me in the conversation, but my mind is a million miles away.
When I’m finally done with them, I lock the doors and start cleaning. I’m exhausted but I’ll have tomorrow off. A day to get married. The idea makes me feel funny.
But I remind myself that Cassie said all new brides get nervous and not to worry about it. She’s a toymaker that lives on the Kringle Christmas Tree Ranch. She’s pretty shy but we’ve formed a budding friendship over the past four months.
When I step outside the shop, I don’t bother to look around. I never do. This is Courage County. We’re safe here. Besides, it’s still light out. Sort of. It’s dusk, just like it was last night when he showed up.
“Don’t marry Tristan.” The gravelly voice I’d recognize anywhere says.
I close my eyes as my nipples pebble. Is it weird that just his voice can have that kind of effect on me? Is it strange that I want to rub myself up and down his body, to know every inch of him the way I know every inch of the farm?
“I have to,” I admit. There’s a tone of defeat in my voice that I don’t like. I’ve tried to convince myself that this marriage is a good thing. That it’s not the death sentence I fear.
“He doesn’t deserve you.”
My heart skips a beat at his words, but I remind myself that I barely know the sexy cowboy that’s behind me. There’s no reason for me to feel anything toward him. “Well, he’s getting me.”
“The hell he is,” Striker snarls.
Before I can respond, everything is upside down as he tosses me over his shoulder. It all happens so quickly that I don’t even have a chance to tell him to put me down.
One second I’m standing there and the next, Striker is shoving me into his truck. That’s when I realize what he’s doing and a hysterical laugh bubbles to the surface. He’s kidnapping me. I’ve just been kidnapped by the cowboy.
4
STRIKER
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Maisy demands from her place in the passenger seat of my truck.
It’s a fair question given that I just scooped her up, tossed her in my truck, and drove away. I meant to have a calm, rational discussion with the woman. That’s why I showed up in front of the barbershop. Think I may have bypassed calm and rational though.
“Are you kidnapping me, Striker?” There’s no fear in her gaze but she doesn’t exactly look all that amused either. Yeah, I think this one might just have to go on my list of fuck ups.
A smart man would probably say sorry, turn the truck around, and drop her back off on the sidewalk. No one ever accused me of being smart, so I reckon I’m doing this now. Couldn’t give her back even if I wanted to.
Something inside won’t let me release her. She needs my protection. Can’t explain how I know it. Only that I do. Already got a call in to Nick and them Taylor boys. I want to know what the hell Tristan’s end game is. Man’s too rich and too much of a snake to be marrying a little hairdresser out of the goodness of his heart. He’s gotta have more on his mind.