Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
I raised a single brow. “If you say so.”
“Oh, I see your Uncle Nate. I’ll be right back, darling.”
Once my mother walked away, I pulled out my phone and sent Hollie a text.
Me: ETA of when you’ll be here?
A loud bang came from across the room, and I looked up. Someone had fallen into one of the food tables.
“Shit,” I said as I rushed over to help.
“I’m so sorry! I lost my balance while trying to show Dan here how long I could stand on one leg,” my Aunt Nancy stated as my father was helping her up.
“Thank you, Tim, darling. You’re such a good brother and thank goodness you’re a doctor. I think I broke something.”
“Your ego, dear sister,” my father said with a smile as he shook his head at his sister.
“What happened?” I asked as I bent down to pick up some plates and food that had spilled over.
My father rolled his eyes. “Your aunt was just showing us proof that she was once a flamingo in a previous life by standing on one foot. Unfortunately, she lost her balance after five seconds.”
“It was at least ten!” Aunt Nancy called out as I attempted to hide my smile.
“You okay, Aunt Nancy?” I asked as I picked up the last of the bad food and tossed it into the garbage that was being held open.
With a wave of her hand and then a thumbs-up, she made her way over to the punch, which I was positive my father spiked.
A light tap on my shoulder had me turning around, a smile on my face.
When I saw it was Wendy, my smile faded. “Wendy,” I said as I looked at her hand that was extended out.
With a smile that said she was up to no good, she purred, “You dropped your phone, honey.”
I took it and cleared my throat. “I’m not your honey, Wendy.”
She leaned in and ran her tongue over her top teeth. “You are when you let me suck that big cock of yours.”
I cringed at the image and her words. “Is there something you wanted?”
She laughed. “Besides you?”
“I see the rash is clearing up.”
Her smile faded and she reached up to touch her face. “I think that little witch had something to do with it.”
“Little witch?” I asked.
“Hollie! She must have told her sister to sell me some bad products. It’s not a coincidence my body broke out after I used a soap her sister recommended I try.”
“Really? It could be, especially if you’ve never used it before.”
Her mouth opened to argue, but it was clear she hadn’t been prepared for me to be alone.
“Lucas, do you have a moment where we could talk? It’s not personal, more on the side of business.”
I laughed. “Business? What could we possibly have in common when it came to that?”
A look of hurt moved over her face before it disappeared.
She looked around. “Can we go somewhere quiet?”
A strange feeling swept over me, and I knew if I went anywhere with Wendy Hoffman, I would be in a heap of trouble.
“Whatever you need to say, you can say it here.”
She sighed. “Fine. Rumor has it you’re involved with Hollie Craft. I stopped by earlier to see if I could help set up and saw the two of you coming out of the office together, and it was clear to everyone looking that something was going on between the two of you.”
“And that’s a problem why?”
“She’s crazy, Locus. Did you know she’s now claiming to be a witch? Just like her nutty sister and aunt.”
I didn’t say anything. Instead, I slipped my hands into my pant pockets.
“Lucas, you hold a very prominent position with the city. What if they found out you were dating someone who thought she was a…a witch?”
Leaning in closer, I asked, “You do know what town we live in, Wendy, right? The mayor practices witchcraft. Besides, doesn’t your mom dabble with crystals?”
“She most certainly does not!”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Listen, Wendy, whatever you have to say about Hollie isn’t going to work. We’re dating. I don’t care if she thinks she is a poodle. So, if you’re done, I’m going to excuse myself. My girlfriend just walked in.”
Whipping her head toward the front door, Wendy gasped, then turned back to me. “You’re dating her? You’re honestly dating her?” Wendy let out a disbelieving laugh. “You hate her!”
I took a step closer to Wendy. “You have her mistaken for you. I don’t care that your sister is now engaged to my brother. If you so much as look at Hollie the wrong way, you will regret it.”
Her mouth fell open, and she stared at me with a shocked expression before it turned cold. “Is that a threat?”
I stood up tall, took a couple of steps back, and then winked. “That is a promise.”