Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 138588 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138588 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“In my world if a man wasn’t screwing over everyone outside of his family, he wasn’t a man at all.” Wyatt could relate wholly. “Did she ever tell you that you’re beautiful? I don’t say it because I’m trying to get something out of you. I’m saying it because I know how it feels to get ground under the boots of someone else’s damage, and what helps is hearing the truth. Sometimes you have to hear it over and over until you believe it.”
Her eyes were suddenly shining in the low light from the dining room sconces. “That’s kind of you.”
“He’s not being kind. He’s telling you the truth.” Sawyer was studying her. “But you don’t know it, do you? Like he doesn’t get he’s smart. You should stop listening to those voices. Just shut ’em down.”
Her eyes rolled, and she picked up her napkin, dabbing at them. “Another to write down. Forget your trauma. So, Sawyer, who’s your terrible parent?”
He seemed to think about the question for a moment. “I guess my dad. He left when I was four, though, so I don’t remember much about him. My mom was lovely, and my grandfather was the best man I know.”
“Then how did you end up being such an asshole?” Sabrina asked.
Sawyer’s lips curled up. The big bastard did seem to like it when she was mean. “I was born that way, I guess. So you’re telling me you don’t care about anyone’s past?”
“I’m telling you I don’t think a person’s past matters if they’re trying to be better.” She turned Wyatt’s way. “I think it’s wonderful you got your GED. I don’t need to run a background check to make new friends. My mom would have done it. She was suspicious of everyone. I would rather concentrate on the here and now. Wyatt, what is it you do for a living? I know Sawyer rips off his tenants.”
“I do not.” Sawyer finally seemed a bit offended. “Your rent is perfectly reasonable for the valley.”
“It’s not reasonable for a place where the electricity needs fixing,” Sabrina countered.
“I told you it’s a ghost.” Sawyer snapped his fingers as though remembering something. “Grandad used to tell the tenants to play Creedence Clearwater Revival once a day and the ghost finds it soothing. I think maybe it puts him to sleep or something.”
“That is the most…” Sabrina began.
Wyatt needed to take control or they would fight the rest of the night. “I handle some of Sawyer’s business work. His grandfather left him the bar and properties and a couple of other businesses. I do all the accounting. It’s the one thing my father and brother did value about me. I’m good with numbers and detail-oriented work.”
She focused on him. “Really? Do you use a spreadsheet? I could use a couple of lessons. The new system Stef Talbot had installed is hard to navigate.”
Now she was talking his language. He would learn the system from top to bottom if it meant spending time with her. “Absolutely. I’m good with spreadsheets.”
“He’s not great with passing on complaints, though,” Sawyer grumbled under his breath.
Wyatt kicked him under the table. Sawyer grunted.
Bella, who’d been laying under the table at Sawyer’s feet, thought it was a signal it was time to play. Her head came up, tongue lolling out as she stared at the stew.
“She’s so cute. How long have you had her?” Sabrina asked.
“Since she showed up and wouldn’t leave.” Sawyer went back to sipping his beer. “Tried to turn her over to the vet, but somehow she ended up back in my Jeep along with a dog bed, food and water bowls, and a collar.”
“He didn’t give her a name for the longest time.” Wyatt was beyond relieved they weren’t going to go into his child and young adulthood this evening. His childhood was a horror story for another time. “I moved in and finally couldn’t handle him calling her Dog all the time. So I went on the Internet and searched for most popular dog names and Bella seemed nice. I wonder why Bella, though. I love the name, but why is it so popular?”
“Twilight,” Sabrina replied with a brilliant smile. “Your dog is named after the heroine of a popular book.”
Sawyer snorted.
“I did not know,” Wyatt admitted. He’d never heard of Twilight. He wondered if she liked it. “Maybe I’ll give it a try.”
“Oh, I want in on that book club,” Sabrina shot back. “I bet you’ve never read a book like it.”
“He hasn’t read many books at all,” Sawyer said with a huff. “He’s definitely never read Twilight.”
Was Sawyer trying to make him look bad? “I read all the time. I like to read.”
Sawyer turned his way, surprise plain on his face. “Dude, I was talking about before. You weren’t exactly a big reader. You didn’t have time between…”