Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
I still have no idea what went down between them, but the fact that they were married and got divorced makes me think it was something big. Truthfully, it takes a huge effort for me not to start asking him questions that might give me some answers. I don’t, though. I’d never go against Josie’s trust like that.
“You know, I’ve known Bennett nearly my whole damn life,” Clay states, and I’m floored Josie’s name is absent from his lips. “We grew up together. Got in a lot of trouble together when we were crazy teens.” He winks. “I know he can be a real dick sometimes, but there’s a reason he’s like a brother to me. I’d walk through hot fire for him and his daughter, and I know he’d do the same for me.”
“I’m pretty sure I’d walk through hot fire for Bennett’s daughter too,” I comment, and Clay’s face brightens with a smile. “I feel spoiled that I get to spend time with her while I’m working.”
“That little girl is special, isn’t she?”
I nod. “Like God put an angel here on earth.”
I’ve only known Summer for a short time, but for the past three days, every morning when I’ve woken up, I’ve felt excited to spend time with her. And Bennett, too.
“That little girl is his everything,” Clay says, leaning his elbows on the bar. His voice is so quiet I almost don’t hear him over the bar noise. “Since the day she came into this world, everything he does, every decision he’s made, it’s all for her.”
There are so many unknowns about Bennett’s past. I don’t know how he ended up in Red Bridge or why it appears he’s been out of the art scene for the past ten years. I don’t know what happened with Summer’s mother or why she isn’t in the picture at all. Hell, I don’t even know what disease has that little girl pretty much immobilized to a chair.
“Just…be good to them, yeah?”
“I will.” I nod, and Clay stands to his feet when a patron at the other end of the bar gestures toward him.
But before he goes, he leans toward me and says one last thing. “If you happen to fall in love with them, just know, they’re more than worth it. They’re everything.”
And then he walks away like he didn’t just drop a bomb of truth into my lap.
Well, shit. What in the heck am I supposed to do with that?
Come to terms with the fact that seeing yourself falling in love with Bennett and Summer doesn’t feel like such a hard task. If anything, it feels easier than breathing.
I try not to focus on those thoughts or the reasons they’re there in the first place. Instead, I turn on my barstool and face the crowd behind me.
The Country Club is jam-packed with what feels like half the town, and Earl is onstage giving his best impression of a karaoke star. He belts out the lyrics to “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and I’m certain if John Denver were still alive, he wouldn’t be upset he missed the show. And when Earl’s voice cracks on the chorus and causes a horrible screeching sound to echo from the microphone, I turn back toward the bar and try to hide the cringe on my face.
But when I attempt to discreetly plug one of my fingers into my ear to shield myself from the pain, someone bumps my elbow from behind and I nearly poke myself in the eye instead.
“Shit. I’m sorry,” a husky male voice fills my ears, and a gentle hand touching my shoulder follows. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” I turn to face him. “No worries,” I add, and I have to lift my eyes upward to meet his chocolate-brown gaze.
“You sure?” he questions with an apologetic, but also very striking, smile. This guy, for all intents and purposes, is attractive. He’s tall with a slender build, and his jaw appears strong beneath his light-brown beard.
“Positive.” I nod. “It’s crowded in here tonight. Surely a few bumps and jolts are expected.”
“I don’t think we’ve met before.” His smile grows as he offers his hand. I take it. “I’m Tad Hanson.”
So, this is the hot farmer Josie told me about…
“Nice to meet you. I’m Norah Ellis.”
“Ellis? As in, you’re Josie’s sister?” he asks, and I confirm with a little nod. “So, you’re the new girl working at CAFFEINE that I keep hearing so much about?”
“Uh-oh. I can only imagine what was being said. I’m pretty much the world’s worst barista.” I snort and wince at the same time. “Lucky for Josie, I recently got a new job, and her coffee shop is no longer at risk of me accidentally burning it down.”
“A new job?” he asks and leans his hip against the bar. “Sounds like congratulations are in order. Let me buy you another glass of wine to celebrate.”