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)
“Ready?”
“Probably not, but we’re here.”
He kissed her. Linc didn’t want to think too much, he simply dipped his head and captured her mouth. An easy brush of their lips. Didn’t mean she didn’t rock him to the core from such a simple act.
“Let’s go then.”
Sliding his arm around her waist, he escorted her up the steps to the diner and held the door for her to walk in first.
“Emma!” A couple of the customers called out her name.
She responded to each of them. Mr. Perry walked out, his expression turning gleeful until he spied Linc near the door. God help him, he wanted nothing more than to be beside her, but he knew she wanted to do this herself. So, he forced himself to hang back.
“Come to beg for your job?”
She lifted her chin and held out the uniforms. “No. I came for my final paycheck and to return these.”
Perry folded his arms over his pudgy belly and unimpressive torso. His smile was obviously forced.
He glared at Emma, his thin upper lip curling in obvious disgust. “I gave you a job when no one else would. When he tires of you, you’ll have to beg for your old position.”
Now Linc moved up to stand behind her. Settling his left hand along the curve of Emma’s hip, he gave her a soft squeeze but held his tongue.
Something I deserve sainthood for. Not reaching over and decking this pompous asshole.
“My paycheck, please.”
Cold heartless eyes swung to him and Linc merely cocked an eyebrow. The man’s skin flushed and he knew he longed to challenge him. While wishing he would, the fact was, this wasn’t about him but Emma. For that reason, he held onto his temper.
After a short stare down, the man stomped to the rear of the establishment, only to return with an envelope that he tossed on the counter, partially landing in a pool of spilled coffee which hadn’t been cleaned up.
“Take it.” His sneer was lecherous. “You know where to find me when he gets tired of you.”
Linc bared his teeth and the man slunk away. “Ready?” he murmured to Emma.
“Yes.” She shuffled her feet and released a small huff.
He felt the slight tremble that moved through her and he pushed his lips to her temple as he reached over the counter with his right hand. Shaking off the excess liquid from the envelope, he carried it as he led her to the door.
Unlocking his truck, he handed her the envelope before he reached for the handle. He lifted her up and this time she stopped him before he could walk away. Linc held her gaze, waiting.
Her expression was soft as she cupped his cheek. Every synapse fired at the simple caress. A simple brush of her thumb along his skin.
“Thank you.”
“Always.” And he meant it. He would be there for her always, and the kicker was she didn’t even have to ask.
His heart tripled in speed when she gave him a small, tender smile.
Linc opened the door to Mitchell’s house and walked in. No need to knock or anything. They all had keys to one another’s places. After the diner, Emma had gone on her way to run some errands, even though he’d wanted her to stay with him.
“Honey, I’m home,” he called out as he strode through the front room. He needed his friends because he was becoming all too focused on that one slip of a woman.
“Out back!” Mitchell hollered.
He made his way through the kitchen, the one room other than Mitchell’s bedroom, including the ensuite, that had been fully renovated. The living and front rooms were partially finished. He dropped the bags he had carried in and made his way out through the sliding glass door to where his friends were.
Tully leaned against the railing of the porch, his Bobby Hull jersey and jeans typical attire, his brown hair longer and in its usual rakish disarray. At the grill, keeping an eye on the steaks, Mitchell had on board shorts and an unbuttoned white shirt.
“I thought I told you to bring food,” Mitchell said with a grin as he lifted the bottle to his lips, taking a swig of beer.
“Check the counter, bitch. I brought you food, even though you should simply be fucking happy I’m here.” He gave a chin jut to Tully who responded in kind.
“And I told you, that’s what happens when you ignore me. I’m fucking sexy and I deserve to be petted and adored.” Mitchell sniffed and tipped his nose up in the air. “All the time. Adored and petted.”
Linc and Tully laughed and soon enough Mitchell joined in. They talked about Mitchell’s computer company, Inicio—inspire in Latin—that he’d started but put in Linc and Tully’s name to keep it from The Viper, his ex who struggled to get her claws and fangs into every cent of Mitchell’s money.