Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“Nicole’s been handling her nicely,” Heather added. “I’m her new neighbor. We were going to breakfast, and then we were playing out some weird Scarlet Letter thing.”
Josh stared out over the lawn where a good portion of the town was staring right back at him. “Just so we’re clear, I know how this town treated my momma when she came back and married my dads. She’s been happily married for over twenty years, not that it means anything to you people. What you need to understand is if you’re going to have a problem with Nicole, you’re going to have a problem with me. Understand I will hear every name you call her, write down every single one of you who makes her feel bad, and there will be a reckoning. You think my daddy could be ruthless, you haven’t met me yet. I’m Jack Barnes with a deep sense of privilege. I’m Sam Fleetwood, who knows no one’s sending me to jail. And while we’re at it, stop talking about Grim like he’s some kind of freak. He’s one of the smartest men in this town, and we’re lucky to have him. The next time your poodle can’t crap, don’t bug Grim. Do I make myself clear?”
The crowd broke up and quietly started moving away, not a one of them looking Josh in the eyes.
“Well, everyone told me you were bad news and not much of a gentleman,” Alyssa pouted.
“I might not be much of a gentleman, but I know what’s mine, and I take care of it. You are not mine so I don’t care.” Josh started walking Nicole’s way. “But this one is, and she is not where I left her. Miss Heather, thanks for helping her out, but she’s got a date she seems to have forgotten.”
“I didn’t forget any…” She gasped as Josh hefted her over his shoulder like a sack of flour. Her ass was suddenly in the air, and his hand came down in a resounding arc.
“That was for not calling to tell me you were leaving,” Josh announced.
“Oww,” she said, though it hadn’t truly hurt. It had sparked against her flesh. “I’m going to breakfast with my new friend. I was walking her to Christa’s when that nasty woman accosted me.”
Josh turned and started for the SUV. “Christa’s is that way, ma’am. Sorry to take your breakfast friend, but she’s coming with me. And now I know to tattoo my name across her ass so she’ll remember who she belongs to.”
Nicole held her head up and saw Heather waving, a grin on her face like she’d enjoyed the show.
Well, it was obvious they’d had a breakdown in communication, and Josh was a little overstimulated.
And he had the nicest ass.
She enjoyed the view while she could.
Chapter Six
Josh settled her into the seat, his gut in knots.
What the hell had gone wrong? It was a nice Sunday outside. He’d looked forward to spending more time with his brand-spanking-new girlfriend, and this time maybe they would get to the actual spanking. In his head he’d seen a nice breakfast, showing her around the ranch, watching Sunday football, sneaking off to fuck her again, and then Sunday dinner and more fucking. Very wholesome, with a side of perversion. Sure it had gone off track, but damn, he hadn’t expected to see the entire congregation of the Willow Fork Baptist Church standing on the lawn, basically pointing and calling his girl a whore.
And what the hell had gotten into Alyssa’s head?
“Are you okay?” This was everything his father had warned him about.
Nicole frowned up at him. “Well, I’m intimidated by you now.”
Damn it. He’d been careful with her. He’d been polite and a gentleman. Sure he’d eaten her pussy and shared her with his best friend, but she hadn’t seen his ruthless side. “I scared you.”
Those gorgeous eyes of hers rolled. “I’m not scared, Josh. I’m annoyed. You and Grim left me and then you roll in like you own me or something. I was getting breakfast with my new friend. You’re the one who chose to leave, so we didn’t have plans. I’m not going to let you walk in and out whenever you want. So I would appreciate it if you would move out of my way and let me get back to my friend.”
He felt his jaw clench. Damn it. He did not need her attitude this minute. She was obviously under some misconceptions. He’d been surprised when he’d gotten to the motel and found her gone. Lucky for him, he knew she’d be on foot, and it wasn’t like downtown Willow Fork was hard to search. Of course there was one thing he hadn’t been able to do. “Why didn’t you answer your phone? I tried to call you.”
Her eyes widened slightly. So she thought she had the upper hand in this minor argument. “It was almost out of battery. I forgot to charge it last night, but I checked before I left. You hadn’t called me as of twenty minutes ago.”