Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
But … the look I get back from her is not one of sisterhood.
More like annoyance. And distaste.
Right. Okay then.
But still, he’s being rude, and that’s just not acceptable.
“River”—I nudge his arm with my elbow—“Macy said hi to you.”
“I heard,” he grunts.
“Aren’t you going to say hello back?”
His eyes flick to mine. His expression screams, Are you fudging kidding me? Although I’m sure he’s not thinking fudging. More like the F-word that ends in K.
I stare back at him, refusing to look away. “It’s the polite thing to do,” I say softly.
His brow lifts. “Have you met me?”
“Yes, quite a few times,” I say dryly. “And, although I do know you’re rude and impolite, I also know you can be nice when you want to be.”
I know the word nice irks him.
He scowls. Eyes narrow. And he continues to stare.
So, I stare right back. Refusing to give in. And I smile. Widely.
It annoys him. I know this because he pinches the bridge of his nose. His eyes close. His jaw clenches. He huffs out a breath through his teeth.
His hand drops. He stares at me. “Hi, Macy,” he grits out through that still-clenched jaw of his.
And I smile even wider. Not to be an ass. But because I’m proud of myself. I didn’t back down to his intense stare, and trust me, the guy has got a stare that could refreeze the melted polar caps in the Antarctic.
That’s a big thing for me. Not backing down.
A few months ago, I wouldn’t have dared to speak to another person the way I just spoke to River.
And I managed to make a grumpy bear like River be nice to someone.
Go, me.
I pat him on the arm and turn to Ellie, whose eyes are pinging between me and River like we’re a tennis match she’s watching.
“Sorry about that, Ellie. So, I’ll leave you guys to do your thing.” I gesture to the box that’s still sitting on the counter, unopened, River’s hand now sitting protectively on the top of it. “I’ll go outside with Macy and pick out my tree. Oh, and, Ellie, do you have any other tree ornaments than the ones you have in the window? I do love them a lot, but they’re a little out of my price range.”
Her warm eyes smile at me. “I have some right over there.” She points in the direction of the far corner of the store. “I’ll show you them when you come back in from picking your tree.”
I give Ellie one last smile, and then I follow Macy outside, leaving River where he stands.
And I feel his eyes on me the whole way out.
Carrie
“She likes you,” I say to River as he pulls upside my house and turns the engine off.
“Who?” He climbs out of the truck, not waiting for my response.
I climb out my side and meet him at the back of the truck, which he’s opening to get my tree and decorations out.
I got some real nice tree ornaments at a great price. Not the glass ornaments. But still, really lovely. And a set of Christmas lights on discount.
“Macy,” I tell him. The word feels a little sticky in my throat. I’m not sure why.
It’s not because I’m interested in River. Of course I think River’s handsome. His body is out of this world, as are other parts of his anatomy. But I have no interest in him in that way. I have zero interest in men in general. My focus is on my baby and Buddy and building us a great home and life. River is just a friend. If he’s even that. I think, if you asked him, he’d say we weren’t friends.
And Macy wasn’t the friendliest of girls. But I think maybe she saw me with River and got the wrong idea about us. She was probably a little jealous. And River isn’t the friendliest of guys. They’d be a perfect fit.
“She doesn’t know me,” he grunts as he drags the tree out of the back of the truck and hauls it onto his big shoulder.
I grab hold of the tree stand and box of ornaments, and I quickly follow after him to my front door.
“I don’t mean she likes your personality,” I tell him as I balance the box on the arm holding the tree stand while getting my keys out of my purse. I somehow manage it and unlock the front door, pushing it open. Buddy’s there in an instant, jumping around with excitement at my arrival home. “Hey, Buddy boy. We’ll have a fuss in a minute, just watch out while River carries the tree in,” I tell Buddy as River navigates the tree through my front door and into my living room.
“You do realize that dog doesn’t understand a fucking word you just said.”