Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
I closed my eyes and swallowed down the acid. I was such a fool.
“I’m here because I thought about what you said at breakfast.”
My eyes popped open when she verified my fears. He’d eaten breakfast with her, which meant he’d been with her when he got up.
“And?” Logan asked, stepping back when she ran a finger down his arm like the lover she probably was.
She pouted at him then turned her attention back to me. “Beating Chance at his own game is a hobby of mine. I’m good at it, so I’d like to help you with your problem. I spoke with Matt and he’s positive he can find a bank who will loan you at least half the money, so I’m here to offer a solution for the other half.”
The bar had grown silent as she spoke, but the thundering heartbeat in my ears made it hard to listen. I’d been too focused on the fact Logan slept with Kenzie the night before that I hadn’t paid attention. “Sorry, did you say you want to help?”
Kenzie nodded. “I propose we have a fundraiser. A carnival with tarot card readers, dunk tanks, and pie sales.”
I blinked at the suggestion. She had to be joking. “Kenzie, half the town is in the same shape as me. Winter is here, so that means we have to pinch pennies. Not to mention, it’s cold outside. No one would come.”
She gazed at the men sitting at the bar and raised a brow. “We can have it at the indoor fairgrounds, so it won’t matter if there’s snow on the ground. I figure there are close to a thousand people in Ennis, and if each one of them spent a hundred dollars at the carnival instead of spending it on drinks, we could raise most of what you need. But I’ll go one better since I can see the panic welling in your eyes. I’ll match whatever we raise to make sure you have enough to pay off Chance in full.”
My mouth dropped open, then closed, then opened again, then I lost my balance and tugged Max with me. He crawled onto my lap and began to lick my face like he had that morning, and I let him. I was too stunned Kenzie would offer to help in that way to care that everyone was staring at me.
Kenzie smirked. “I think I’ve shocked her.”
Logan moved behind the bar and squatted to help me stand. “You okay?”
Kenzie was right, I was shocked. So much so, I didn’t check my reply as I stood. “You asked your girlfriend to help my brothers and me?”
Logan’s head jerked back slightly, and he scowled. “What?”
Kenzie laughed in that deep sultry voice of hers. “Honey, I don’t do girlfriend. One-night stands, yes, but I won’t play girlfriend to anyone ever again.”
I raised my hands to stop her, ignoring Logan as I walked to the end of the bar. “It’s none of my business who you two sleep with. As for the offer, I’m beyond grateful. Blown away, if truth be told, but I’m not sure the rest of the town would agree to help bail out my family.”
“I don’t know. It sounds like a solid plan to me,” Ed Burk threw out and half the bar murmured their agreement. Even men I’d never seen before.
“I guarantee Lacy will be the first to sign up to help,” Gerry Sullivan joined in.
“It’ll take a permit, but I’ll push it through with the mayor. Just give me the date,” Duke offered.
Tears began to sting my eyes, along with hope. “You would do this for my brothers and me?” My voice cracked with emotion, so I took a deep breath to stall the tears. I wouldn’t shed any more because of Chance. He wasn’t worth it.
Gordon Andrews rose from his stool and approached me. “Darlin’, everyone in the room remembers your momma and daddy, and how much they loved you and those boys. Ennis is family. That means you’re family. And family takes care of its own.”
I really shouldn’t have vowed to stop crying since I hated being a liar. But at Gordon’s insistence we were family to the town, a strangled noise spilled from my throat right before Logan folded me into his arms and hung on. Relief filled every molecule of my body. There was hope now. Light at the end of the tunnel. A way to end a nightmare of Chance’s making. I buried my face in Logan’s chest, forgetting for a brief moment I had no right to draw strength from him because he belonged to Kenzie. But I was too selfish to pull back immediately. I needed that hug more than I needed my next breath, so I hung on for a brief second, memorizing his spicy scent before ripping out of his embrace and turning away from him.