Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Betty lowers herself into the rocking chair beside me, her gaze thoughtful. “Your dad’s always been like that–even as a kid. Hard. Bossy. Doesn’t know how to connect with people, not really.”
I laugh bitterly. “That’s an understatement.”
She leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “You can’t let him dictate your life, sweetheart. We all get one shot at this. One chance to love and be loved. And when it’s over, all the money, the power, the legacies—none of it matters. The only thing that stays with you is the love you gave and the love you let yourself feel.”
Her words wrap around me, warm and grounding, but they also bring the tears I’ve been holding back. I wipe at my face, sniffing. “I just need some air, I think I’ll go for a walk.”
Betty pats my hand. “Take all the time you need, darlin’. But don’t let him take the spark out of you.”
The crisp mountain air clears my head as I walk aimlessly down the dirt road that leads out of town a while later. The sun is dipping lower, casting golden light over the pines. I don’t know how long I’ve been walking when I hear the faint sound of a hammer hitting metal. I follow the noise, my feet carrying me toward King’s barn.
Chapter Six
King
The thick scent of cigars wafts through the air as I lean back in my chair, boots propped up on the railing of my cabin’s wraparound porch. My brothers are scattered around, each nursing a drink, cigar smoke curling lazily between us. The sound of shuffling cards and laughter fills the evening air.
"Archer, you gone soft on us?" Barron drawls, grinning like the devil as he flicks ash off his cigar. "What’s this I hear about you doing all the baby feedings?"
Archer, sitting across from me, smirks, his hand cradling a whiskey glass. "Damn right I have. Bella went through hell to bring Blaze into the world. Least I can do is let her sleep. Besides, holding that little bundle makes me feel something none of you lot would understand." He raises his glass in mock salute. "It’s called love. Try it sometime."
The table erupts in groans and laughter, Judge slapping Archer on the back hard enough to nearly knock the whiskey out of his hand. “You’re whipped, man. Two weeks of diaper duty, and you’re a fucking Hallmark card.”
Archer takes it in stride, chuckling as he puffs on his cigar. "Say what you want. I wouldn’t trade it for anything."
The teasing shifts focus as the cards are dealt, and the brothers start in on me. It doesn’t take long—those vultures have been circling ever since they got here.
“So,” Cruz says, lighting up with a gleam in his eye that puts me on edge. “Speaking of love... word around town is you’ve got your eye on someone.”
I stiffen, but I don’t bite. “What are you talking about?”
Creed leans forward, elbows on the table, grinning. “Betty’s niece. Indie.”
I sigh, long and slow, trying to keep my annoyance in check. “The city girl?”
"City girl," Knox scoffs, shaking his head. “That woman’s been running rings around you since she showed up. Admit it, King, she’s got you twisted up like a barbed-wire fence.”
“Twisted up?” I snort, shaking my head. “She’s just... different. Doesn’t mean anything.”
Cruz raises an eyebrow. “Doesn’t mean anything? Then why do you light up like a damn Christmas tree whenever she’s around?”
“I don’t,” I growl, setting my glass down with more force than necessary.
“You do,” Judge interjects, his smirk infuriatingly smug. “Betty says you’ve been hanging around the café more than usual. You never used to care about the pie-of-the-day specials before she showed up.”
“That’s because Betty’s been trying to marry me off for years,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “She’s relentless.”
"Relentless or not, you need to wake up," Arrow says, his voice quieter but no less firm. "You’ve been a stubborn hard ass for too long, King. Indie’s not like the others. She’s related to Betty–she’s got grit, and it doesn’t sound like she takes your shit."
I glance around at the circle of my brothers, their faces ranging from amused to downright smug. There’s no point denying it—they see right through me. Indie Burton has been under my skin from the moment I found her stranded on the side of the road nearly two weeks ago. But admitting it to these jackals? That’s another story.
“You all think you know so damn much,” I mutter, leaning back in my chair. “Maybe she is different. But she’s also hiding something.”
“She doesn’t have to be perfect,” Archer says, his voice softer now. “If she’s the one who makes you think about settling down, isn’t that enough?”
The words land harder than I’d like to admit. I stare out at the horizon, the darkening sky stretching over the mountains. Indie’s laugh, her fiery retorts, the way she looks at me like she’s daring me to come closer... it’s all I’ve been able to think about for days.