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)
“I’m sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. Some people just shouldn’t be parents. I think he hated me.”
“If he hated you, then why did he leave the restaurant to you?”
“I have no clue. The only reason I can think of is Marty expected me to fail. He knew I had limited funds. He had made our lives a living hell. My parents and I moved from job to job, state to state, trying to stay ahead of him. I was able to save some money, so I guess he thought I would sink what money I had into the diner and be left with nothing.”
“That’s screwed up.”
“You just summed up Marty.”
Jody turned into the driveway, to the side of Silas’ house, then turned off the engine. He felt her stiffen when he leaned toward her and gave her an amused glance as he opened the glovebox to take out a flashlight.
“I’m afraid I can’t see in the dark.”
Sophie gave an embarrassed laugh. “I can’t either.”
“Guess we’re walking home together,” he said before getting out of the truck to walk around and open her door. Jody took it as headway when she didn’t pull away from his touch on her arm as they walked.
“I can’t get over how large this property is.”
“With all of our family, sometimes it doesn’t seem large enough,” he said wryly.
“I would love a family as large as yours.”
“There’s a way to get one for yourself.”
“Oh no. I have to be perfectly content to have one or two children.”
Jody shined the flashlight on the ground to the small path, which would lead to his trailer.
“I was thinking more that you could always marry into a large family. That would make them your family, too, wouldn’t it?”
“True, if I like them.”
“Do you like mine?”
He had to tighten his clasp on her arm when she stumbled.
“Oh, thank you.”
He could feel her trembling as they neared the trailer.
“You didn’t answer my question. Do you like my family?”
“Yes, I do. Well, here we are.”
He nearly burst out laughing at the relief in her voice.
“Thank you for bringing me home. I had fun at the music festival. I’m glad you talked me into staying. Good night.”
Jody continued walking her right up to the steps of the trailer. “Would you mind if I came in and grabbed a couple of my things?”
“I don’t think that would be a great idea.” Pulling her arm away from his touch, she started up the steps.
“Why not?”
Sophie turned around on the steps. “Jody, I’m smart enough not to open the door when a wolf wants to come inside.”
He couldn’t hold back his laughter. “You don’t trust me?”
“I trust you.”
“Then it’s yourself you don’t trust?”
Her face turned angry. “What’s wrong, Jody? Shocked I’m the only woman in Treepoint who can resist you?”
“Prove it.” He took a step forward, his hands going around her waist. “I’ve wanted you under me since you walked up to my table.”
Sophie’s hand went to his shoulder as if she was about to push him away. “I’m not attracted to you,” she stated with seemingly angry certainty.
Jody didn’t allow his hurt to show. “Like I said, prove it.”
“If I do, will you accept I’m not and won’t try again?”
“I will.”
Sophie placed her other hand on his shoulder before pressing her lips to his. If he thought he would be able to remain unmoved while proving that she was attracted to him, he failed.
When her lips met his, he felt as if he had done a backflip off a diving board and didn’t know which way was up when he’d hit the water. He might have let his cock overrule him into losing judgment a time or two, but he had never felt as if he had his legs swept out from under him.
Keeping his hands on her waist, Jody kept the kiss gentle, exploratory, holding the desire he was experiencing back. Her lips trembled under his yet yielded to the soft pressure, parting to allow his tongue entrance into her mouth.
Sophie might have allowed her mouth to part, yet she stood as still as a statue, her arms remaining on his shoulders. She wasn’t into him.
Pulling his mouth away, he stared down at her.
“See? What did I tell you? Zip, zilch, nada. Friends now?” she asked him casually.
“You win, Sophie. Friends.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jody walked away from Sophie numbly. Instead of heading to Jacob’s trailer, he walked toward Silas’ house.
He didn’t go inside; he went to the rise providing a clear view of the sky. Sinking down to the grass, he turned off the flashlight to stare up at the sky. Pinpointing the star he was searching for, he read the surrounding stars.
“I didn’t see you here.” Silas sat down next to him.
“Where did you expect me to be?”
“With Sophie.”
“She wants to be friends and sent me on my way.”