Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Ginny laughed. “I know. It sucks when they’re nice.”
“Girl, I’m allowed to complain; you’re not.” Sophie rolled her eyes. “You don’t look as if a train ran over you then backed up to hit you again.”
Ginny shook her head. “You’re very pretty.”
“Maybe in another universe,” Sophie scoffed, fiddling with her messy bun. “I need to get my hair done. These glasses need to go, too. Thanks to Baylin, I’m out of contacts. My prescription is out, and to get it redone, I need to go to the eye doctor.”
“You have had your challenges since coming here,” Ginny commiserated. “By the way, Jody needed to take off when the customers died down. I have Fynn in the back, mopping the floor.
“He doesn’t need to do that.”
“Yes, he does,” she said firmly. “The more jobs he does here, the easier it will be for Silas. He hates to punish Fynn; he prefers being the big brother than having to be the disciplinarian.”
“I wish I had a brother like Silas.”
“I’m very blessed.” Ginny eyed the items Sophie was pulling out of the bag. “I see Lily told you about the bakery Willa runs upstairs of the thrift store.
Sophie took out the raspberry cheesecake, an apple pie, and chocolate cupcakes.
“Help yourself.”
Ginny didn’t have to be told twice. Pouring herself a glass of milk, she nabbed a chocolate cupcake and sat down at the kitchen counter.
The tingling of the bell had both their heads turning to see Deputy Bevere walk inside. He took a seat at the counter and eyed the variety of desserts.
“Hello, Deputy, what can I get you?” Sophie greeted him.
“I’ll have one of those of cupcakes, a cup of coffee to go, and you can call me Joel.”
Sophie felt a heated flush fill her checks as his eyes met hers.
She filled his order, then felt self-conscious when she turned around and caught him still watching her.
“I was wondering if you’re doing anything Saturday night? There’s a music festival going on at the park. Everyone takes blankets and coolers to watch the performances.”
“Sounds like fun, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to. I don’t close the diner until ten.”
“You’ll be wasting your time. Everyone will be at the festival. There will also be food and drink booths.”
Sophie bit her lip then nodded. Why not?
“Okay. I’d like to go,” she agreed, sliding his order across the counter.
Joel stood, picked his order up, and went to the cash register.
“I’ll pick you up at six.” He gave her his card then looked toward Ginny. “Are you going to be singing Saturday?”
“I’m supposed to go on at seven, but I expect it to be more at eight.”
“I’ll see you ladies Saturday. Do you want me to pick you up here, Sophie, or your apartment?”
“You can pick me up here,” she replied, giving him his card back.
Sophie glanced at Ginny as she finished drinking her milk while Joel left. “I didn’t know you sang.”
“I’m a woman of many talents.”
“I see that.” Finding a display case under the counter, she filled it with the desserts.
Ginny rose and picked up the empty glass. “Do you like Joel?”
“What’s not to like? He’s very attractive and seems nice.”
“He is.”
Sophie raised an eyebrow at her gloomy tone. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I was just hoping you … I thought you and Jody were hitting it off.”
“You thought I liked … like Jody?”
“You don’t?”
“I know he’s your brother, but I would never look at Jody romantically.”
Ginny’s mouth dropped. “Why not? Is it because of Baylin?”
Sophie leaned her hip against the counter. “No … Maybe a little. But I stay away from men like Jody.”
“What’s wrong with Jody?” Sisterly outrage poured out of Ginny.
“Nothing. He’s been really good to me, helping out here, and I honestly don’t think I would have made it through this morning without him.”
“Then what’s—”
“Ginny, you may be his sister, but have you noticed how women react around him?”
Ginny’s outrage vanished and was replaced with a pained expression. “It’s hard to miss,” she acknowledged.
“They can’t keep their hands off him, and he must be a breast man, because they love flashing their boobs at him. They aren’t even discreet about it. The woman who falls in love with Jody is going to have to have thick skin, be willing to overlook his wandering past, and deal with trust issues each time when they’re apart. I’m not that woman.
“Look at me, Ginny. I’m a four on a one-to-ten scale, and I’m being generous to myself. Jody is a twenty just wearing jeans and a T-shirt. I don’t want to know what he would look like all dressed up.”
“Joel isn’t exactly chopped liver,” Ginny argued.
“No. He’s a ten, a normal ten.” Sophie put both her hands up, mimicking a scale. “This is Joel.” Sophie put one of her hands out in front of her. “This is Jody.” Her other hand went way higher than Joel’s. “With Joel, at least I stand a chance of keeping him faithful. Jody … not a chance in hell.”