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)
“Well, four men nearly died last night.” Cam stood in the hallway, a mug of coffee in one hand and a half-eaten muffin in the other.
In this he wasn’t as manly as he sounded. “It was two. Sabrina took the other two out.”
“What?” Marshall’s eyes had gone wide.
Cam nodded. “That’s right, Marsh. She’s good with a stun gun, and if I heard correctly, a bottle of vodka.”
“Tequila.” She’d bashed one of his attackers with a reposado. It was kind of a tragedy since it had been one of the only expensive liquors Sawyer bought. There had been a perfectly cheap blanco sitting right there, but no, she’d gone for the good stuff.
“Sabrina wouldn’t…” Marshall began.
Wyatt huffed. “Dude, you don’t know her. You’re seeing the sweet schoolteacher who would have given you some status in this town, who you likely thought you could set up a nice life with. She could take care of a cabin for you and have supper on the table every night and never give you a moment’s trouble. There’s a crazy bitch under those cardigans. You couldn’t handle her, and I’ve been told in no uncertain terms I don’t get to make the decision whether she should be with me or not. So I suggest you do your job and ensure my brother’s men don’t come back.”
“Dude, she’s Elisa’s sister.” Cam was looking at his fellow deputy like he was a dumbass. “Did you really think she’d be some easy chick?”
“She’s a schoolteacher. She’s not like El. El is great and all but she’s not like…” Marshall began.
“Not like what?” Gemma stood up from her cubicle, reminding everyone she had excellent hearing. She also had a headset on. “Yeah, they’re talking about you now. I’m waiting to see if Marshall is going to finish his sentence or crap his pants.”
“You called Elisa?” Cam grinned her way. “Damn, I thought you were softening up in your old age.”
Gemma’s eyes rolled. “Never. Hey, I finally have a woman in this department. Chicks before dicks and all. Elisa and I get along like gangbusters. The only argument we’ve ever had was when she set her sister up on a date with the Creede boys. You see, I thought they were a bit too traditional.”
“I was going to share her with Knox,” Marshall pointed out.
“You liked her because she wasn’t scary like me or her sister,” Gemma shot back. “I hear everything, dude. You and Knox talked endlessly about how scary the women are around here and how soft and sweet Sabrina is. You have obviously never been in charge of a large group of eight-year-olds. She’s a badass.” She laughed at whatever was being said in her ear. “Yeah, I think he was going to say you weren’t wife material, too. I mean he’ll make up some bullshit now, but we all know.”
“You could be more of a team player, Gemma.” Marshall’s cheeks were stained with red.
“Oh, I am a total team player,” Gemma replied. “You’re just not on my team.”
“Well, I guess Elisa isn’t the woman I thought she was if she’s going to let her sister fuck around with criminals.” Marshall took a step back as though ceding the argument. “Sabrina’s going to get hurt, but I guess she’s such a badass she doesn’t need our help. Like a lot of women in this town she seems to have forgotten why she needs a man.”
“To clean her stun gun. Make sure it has batteries.” Wyatt was sick of the macho bullshit. He was surprised he’d found it here since Marshall was right. Most of the women in Bliss were badasses who loved their men but didn’t cling to them crying when bad times happened. Nope. They pull out their stun guns and expensive bottles of sipping tequila and go to work. “Also to bring her lunch when she forgets it. Which she did, and it’s Nell’s day to menu plan, so I’m pretty sure it’s like salad she found in the field and maybe some weird bread. I’m getting my baby a burger from Stella’s. And that bad-boy Sawyer? You know, the baddest dude in town? He’s picking up shampoo and feminine products so she’ll be comfortable while she’s staying in our cabin. See, I’ve learned a few things since I left the toxic land I call my childhood. When men talk about taking care of women, they’re talking about defending her from vague threats while the women do all of the other work. Most women would rather have a dude who actively participates in the life they share. But that’s just my criminal opinion.”
Gemma clapped. “Damn straight. I told you he’s a keeper.”
At least he might have made a slightly better impression on her sister.
“The threats aren’t vague, Kemp,” Marshall said with a frown. “They’re real, and as much as you want to play house, your past is going to come back. I’ve studied up on the Horde and I’m surprised they let you go. They don’t tend to let family leave. Makes me wonder what you have on them. Or if you gave them something so big they know you’ll never tell.”