Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
She is smart.
Quick-witted. She has a response for everything and nothing seems to shake her.
She is strong. For my world, it requires a woman who can handle herself. I can’t always be home to change light bulbs or take out the trash.
She is independent. She didn’t ask for my help when her car broke down, I just took over. Again, something I have never cared to do before.
Even now, I should walk away. I should put her on a plane and let her get home and back to her life.
But I can’t.
Which is why with her against me, I drop my head and kiss her with everything I have because I can’t not.
She pulls away and I feel empty immediately.
“Sugar, as much as you can kiss the world away for me, I would really like a shower and to brush my teeth.” She whispers looking up at me.
Her face is as flawless as the day at the coffee shop, but her eyes are sad and tired. I don’t know what to say so I say nothing as I take her by the hand and lead her inside the hotel.
Once we are in the room, I secure the door behind us after scanning the space. Immediately, I drop the bags to the floor in front of the bed and go to the bathroom. Sara moves behind me picking up the bags and placing them on the dresser.
“A purse on the floor is money out the door,” I hear her mutter. “I’ve never missed my purse until now.”
Interesting, I think as I turn the water on in the shower finding a good temperature. This woman has me all twisted up. Once I have the water just right, I scan the shower and find the shampoo, conditioner, and soap. I’m sure it’s not what she’s used to, but something is better than nothing, right?
Going back out, I find her staring at her bag on the dresser.
“Sweets, you okay?”
She shrugs, “shouldn’t put your belongings on the floor, its bad luck.” Her tone is softer than any other time we’ve spoken.
It’s slightly awkward between us like never before.
“Got the shower ready.” I tell her.
She turns to look at me. “Thanks.” Then she goes right back to her bag. Digging around, she seems frustrated.
“Talk to me, Sweets. Just me and you here. Know shit’s got to be on your mind.”
She pauses, then begins, “This is the first time I’ve been able to go in my own bag. He would always get me stuff and toss it to me.”
Anger hits me, but I know I have to remain calm for her. She needs to process this.
“I didn’t get to finish packing.”
Surprise hits me that she was even able to begin packing before he took her, but I don’t press the issue right now. She takes out some clothing before looking at me.
“I’ll feel better after a shower.” She kicks off her shoes.
I nod and let her pass by. Get her home and don’t look back, that is what I need to do.
Instead, I pick up my phone while I sit on the bed to take off my boots.
“Honey’s Hot Rods, you got Honey here,” Tiffany answers. She’s Stud’s daughter and a freaking genius at fixing anything. The way Stud tells it, she was born, he looked down at her screaming face, fell in love with her momma like never before all while saying, ‘oh honey, you are beautiful.’ Honey stuck ever since her first damn breath.
“Hey Honey, it’s Country Boy. Sorted Sara’s shit in why she hasn’t called.”
“Yeah Dad gave me the basic rundown. Didn’t figure she was gonna bail on the car regardless. It’s been well cared for to last as long as it has. I ran the VIN and her grandmother owned the car before her. Might as well be a damn twenty-year-old-one-owner-car. She isn’t gonna give that up even if the shit is gonna cost more to fix it than it’s worth.”
The phone shifts, “hey, hey, we don’t take cash from bras, underwear, or socks. If it touches your skin, I don’t want it. Learn to use a wallet, carry a purse, or straight up bring the cash in from the car, but my days of drying dollar bills out because it came from a bra is done.”
“Money is money, Honey,” the person replies.
“Country Boy, give me a second,” Tiffany tells me as if she just remembered I’m on the line. “Look lady, you can deal with my rules or kick rocks. I ain’t got time for the shit. Told you how to pay. Now I got shit to do. My brother is gonna deal with gettin’ your car and taking your dry money or your credit card. Got a fan over there if you need to dry it yourself, but we ain’t takin’ it wet.” I hear more shuffling, “Anthony, you’re up, she’s got the Toyota Yaris.”