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)
“We’re good. If we need anything else, I’ll let you know,” Baylin said pitifully.
The waitress didn’t immediately leave. “Are you okay?”
Baylin raised her napkin to her eyes, as if she were about to burst into tears. “I guess I’ll have to be. Thank you.”
Nodding, the waitress stepped away to wait on the customers who had just come in. Jody was conscious of her standing where she could keep an eye on their table while Baylin placed her food in the to-go container.
“So, this is it? I’m not going to see you anymore?”
Jody cut off a rare piece of his steak. Piercing it with his fork, he lifted his eyes to hers. “No chance in hell.” Callously, Jody let her see exactly what her chances were of him ever knocking on her door again. “I don’t know what you were going for by acting the way you did. Either you’re a fucking psycho living in a dreamworld, or you did it to get back at me and used the waitress to even your scoreboard. Whatever the reason was, you miscalculated. Colemans might have a bad reputation in town, but no one says we’re stupid, do they?”
Paling, Baylin grabbed her container and fled.
Determined to ride out the embarrassing situation, he ate his food until his churning stomach couldn’t handle another bite. The only reason he had eaten the godawful food was because he wanted the least interaction with Rowyn as possible. Complaining about the food would have him talking more to her and having to wait for the food to be prepared all over again. Having to eat the revolting food was a price he was willing to pay to get away from Rowyn and the effect she had on him.
Standing, he went to the cash register. When she noticed him, the waitress finished pouring the coffee into a customer’s cup.
“Was everything all right with your meal?” she asked him stiltedly, giving him the check.
“Yes.” Lying, he took out his wallet. Pulling out the necessary cash, he handed the bills to her. “Keep the change.”
“Thank you. Come again.”
After the words left her mouth, her face turned bright red before she practically ran through the door to the kitchen to disappear.
He didn’t have to wonder what had embarrassed the woman. It had been plain she had heard Baylin’s remark.
Gritting his teeth, he jerked the door open. He couldn’t have made a worse first impression if he’d tried. Thank goodness the waitress wasn’t meant for him. Baylin had made him look like a dirtbag.
Well, Jody thought fatalistically, at least he had a year for the gossip to die down. The diner had been the hotbed of gossip before the last owner had taken it over. At least the current owner seemed more hospitable than Marty had been. Whoever they were, at least they allowed the customers to eat inside.
Pulling out onto the main road in Treepoint, he braked at the red stop light. Jody drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. He saw only one slight problem—his reaction to Rowyn. Looking back, he was sure his reaction hadn’t been as intense as he remembered it.
Shifting on the bench seat, he put the truck in gear when the light turned green. Who was he kidding? He was lusting after a woman when he shouldn’t have after the night he had spent with Baylin. That in itself was a warning he needed to stay away from the waitress. The only one he wanted that reaction from was his soul mate.
Was that what Silas had been attempting to warn him about? If so, Silas should have given him a stronger warning other than to be careful that he was treading on thin ice.
It might be too late, but he was going to give the town a wide berth until his soul mate came to town.
As he drove up the mountain road toward his family’s land, the sun was beginning to come up. When he passed The Last Riders’ clubhouse, he saw there were already lights on and the members crossing the parking lot to head to the factory.
Three miles ahead, he put on his blinker, even though no one was on the road. The curvy road could be dangerous if someone wasn’t paying attention to their speed. Making the turn into his family’s driveway, he looked to the side of the yard and saw Silas and Fynn watching the sky where the last of the stars were making way for the sun’s arrival.
A cold chill ran down his spine. His younger brother was in his pajamas instead of being inside, getting ready for school.
Jody could think of only one reason that Silas wouldn’t have Fynn inside, getting ready, and that was if they needed to read the stars. Something had happened.
And with a clench of dread, Jody was afraid to find out what it was.