Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Her expression was still set in a mutinous line but she didn’t pull away as he helped her down. Flexing his fingers on her waist, he lowered his head to whisper in her ear. “We need to talk about this.”
God, rebar had more flexibility than she did. “Nothing to say.” She ducked under his arm and opened the back door to take Greer’s bag as her daughter unbuckled her belt to climb down.
He nudged Emma to the side and reached his arms out for Greer. His heart melted when she jumped at him, trusting he would catch her. And he would. Always. Like he would for her mother, if she gave him a chance.
“Call me later when you have a moment, Emma.”
“Sure.”
That was a not-going-to-happen response if he’d ever heard one. He bent and put Greer down, watching as she slipped her hand in her mother’s. “Night, Linc.”
“Night, kid.” He brushed the back of his hand along her cheek and nodded to the door.
No way was he leaving until they were safe inside. He didn’t give a damn how safe Rock Falls was. Linc protected his women.
Greer waved at him over her shoulder seconds before she vanished inside. At least one of the Henricksen women was on his side. Muttering to himself, he got in the truck and headed home.
He went to his gym and worked out, phone beside him as he waited for her call that never came.
…
Emma stared at her reflection, wishing she could find that rock star Dawson had spoken of. Even part of one. She snorted as she walked away from her mirror. Why stand and look at the bags under her eyes, the exhaustion in her expression?
Liar. You don’t want to see the hunger for Linc.
And her brain needed to shut up.
But, on the other hand, maybe she did need to do something for herself. Hell, she’d nearly had a stroke when she saw what Linc was paying her. One check was more than a month’s pay from the diner. Far more.
She could be saving and paying off things. Perhaps then she could update the house. After she updated Greer’s clothing. Her own work attire was older and a bit dated but still in decent condition because she’d worn a uniform at the diner.
Her stomach dropped. She had to take those uniforms back before her old boss took the cost from her final paycheck. Unease grew. She didn’t want to face him. He was nothing more than a sleaze but she wasn’t going to let him take her final paycheck from her. She’d busted her ass to get that.
Making sure the dresses were clean and without grease stains, she took them from the hangers and folded them before stacking them on the foot of her full-size bed. She would put them in a bag and bring them back later today.
She looked over at her phone. Hmm, maybe she could get herself a new one, without a cracked screen that tended to draw blood more than it placed a decent call or took a viable photo.
Eyes drifting to the closet, she saw, folded on a hanger, the shirt of Linc’s he’d given her. One of his workout ones from when he’d played professionally for the Pennsylvania Dutchmen. It was a simple men’s T-shirt, but to her it was so much more. Cursing herself, she yanked it off the hanger and refolded it before placing it on the bed as well. She would return this to him when she was out doing her errands.
She hadn’t called him last night, but honestly, she hadn’t known what to say. Explaining her past and all of her insecurities seemed like overstepping between boss and employee.
Or a fake fiancée relationship.
“Mama?”
Greer popped her head into the bedroom.
“Yes, baby?”
“Dawson is working on her motorcycle. Can I go help?”
“Let me talk to her, okay?”
Greer gave her a small smile. “’Kay, she’s in the kitchen.” Then she was gone.
It wasn’t the first time Emma marveled over how much more outgoing Greer had become. For a lot of kids it may not seem like a lot, but for her daughter it was fucking amazing. Lifting the folded uniforms and Linc’s shirt, she walked out of her bedroom and found Dawson in the kitchen, whispering with Greer.
Her friend looked at her and winked. “Okay if I steal this amazing helper today?”
Emma placed the clothes on the counter and pulled out two plastic bags from a drawer. Dawson watched her set them in each without saying a word.
“You should take Linc’s to him first. I think he had some things to do with Mitchell later this afternoon.”
“Thanks, I’ll go right away. And thank you for fixing my car.”
Dawson gave her a one-armed hug. “Flora did most of it, but you’re welcome. And all it’s going to cost you is dinner. You pick the night and we’ll all descend like a flock of birds and have a potluck.”