Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
I could argue with him, but I know better. All I do is nod my head.
Satisfied, he nods. “Okay, so what do you need until we get that worked out? I can fly you back to school…”
I don’t let him finish. I know most people don’t cut off Walker, but I’m not most people. He has a soft spot for me, and in this case, I’m going to take advantage of it. “I’m not going back to school. I told him…”—I point at Kanan, who’s still standing next to me with his arms crossed over his chest looking all angry—“that I can finish online when I get everything sorted out.”
Walker starts to talk, and I hold my hand up. “I’m not going to let you pay. I want to earn my keep.”
He shifts to his other foot. “Okay, so how about a job then? You can work here. I saw you working on the dock. You want to do something outside? Or I can probably find you an office job.” I cringe, and he laughs. “Okay, outside it is. Well, Kanan has been looking for another landscaper. It’s hard work, but…”
Kanan is shaking his head. “She can’t work for me, Walker. It’s hard work.”
My mouth falls open. Is he kidding me right now? Does he think I’ve never worked hard before? I’ve had to work for everything I have. I glare at him and then look at Walker. “Even though Kanan thinks I’m lazy, he is right. I can’t work for him. I don’t have a car to get me back and forth, so I’m going to have to find a place to work close to where I live.”
I try to appear confident even though I’m feeling anything but. I have no idea where I’m going to live, I don’t have a car, and I’m not sure what I’m going to do for work, but I am sure I can survive this.
The longer Walker stares at me, I realize he sees right through my confidence. “You’ll work here. You’ll stay here.” He’s nodding his head as if he’s come to some kind of conclusion. “The women’s apartments are full, but I do know that Colter has a two-bedroom.”
I’m shaking my head. “It’s fine. Really, I can find work in town.”
Walker holds his hands up. “Look, I know you don’t want a handout, and I’m not offering you one, but I can’t just put you out, Emerson. Let me do this for you. I have plenty you can do around here. And like I said, Colter has two bedrooms. Trust me, that man would do good to have some company.”
I pause, and then it’s like all the fight goes out of me. I know he’s right. Working here and living here would be the easiest thing, but I can still earn my keep. “If I do this, I’m going to work, Walker. I’m not going to just sit on my butt and do nothing.”
Walker claps his hands together and nods. “Sure, I completely understand.”
“She can stay with me… she can work for me.”
Walker and I both turn to Kanan, and my mouth drops. He’s staring at me, daring me to argue but I’m too stunned to do anything but stare at him. “You’re staying with me, Emerson. You’ll work for me.”
I don’t know what to say to him so I just stand here, unsure of what to do.
“Emerson,” Walker says.
I whip my head around to look at him, and his gaze is filled with curiosity. “Yeah?”
“What do you say? You okay working for Kanan and living at his cabin?”
I look at Kanan, and he nods his head. Before I can talk myself out of it, I’m nodding my head and murmuring, “Yeah.”
“Great. Great. I’ll feel so much better having you close, and I know Brooklyn is going to be thrilled to have you here.”
I’m nodding my head, and I can tell the way Walker and Kanan are exchanging looks, they have something to talk about. I point over to the docks. “I’m going to get to work. Thanks again, Walker.”
He nods, and I walk away, avoiding Kanan’s gaze as I go.
CHAPTER 9
KANAN
I have to drag my eyes off Emerson when she walks away. I cross my arms over my chest and look down at the ground between Walker and me. Looking him in the eye is not something I can do right now. There’s no doubt he’ll see the guilt and betrayal that I just can’t hide from him.
“Kanan.”
Fuck. “Yeah?” I say as I look at him guardedly.
“Ask me.”
It’s not a question, it’s a command, but I have no idea what he means by it. “Ask you what?”
“Ask me how I knew she would be coming to Whiskey Run eventually.”
I uncurl my arms from around me and let them fall to my sides. “How did you know Emerson would be coming to Whiskey Run?”