Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I wanted to swallow the sudden lump in my throat. Instead, I nodded and headed in that direction.
Billy had been a friend of mine for as long as I could remember. It was always Bubba, Billy, and me. The three of us could read one another without even having to talk. And we always knew when something was off…
I walked into his office first, and Billy quietly shut the door behind us.
“Liam, is everything okay? You never take time off from work. Hell, you dragged your ass into work when you had the flu. Now you’re taking a few days off and missing meetings.”
I hated lying to Billy, and a part of me battled with myself on keeping this a secret.
“Um…I’m fine, it’s just been really busy, and feeling down and out I got behind on work. MaryAnne is already on my butt for dropping the ball on things.”
“Maybe you should get out, do something with the guys.”
I shook my head. “No time for that, Billy, you know that.”
He rolled his eyes. “When was the last time you went dancing?”
“Dancing?” I asked, confused.
“Yes, Liam. Dancing.”
“College, maybe? Emily didn’t like to dance.”
“Exactly. Listen, we’re all going out tonight to Red Hots. We can eat some greasy bar food, drink some beer, and do a bit of line dancing.”
“As fun as that sounds, Randy’s coming over for dinner tonight.”
He drew his head back in surprise. “Randy? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
Shrugging, he said, “I don’t know. I know he’s your cousin, but he’s also a cop.”
This time, I really did laugh. “And cops can’t eat or spend time with family?”
He smiled. “Guess that’s true. Are you checking up on Chad?”
“Hell no!” I scowled. “He’s married and living his own life.”
“Yeah, with a hot wife.”
“I try not to think of my sister-in-law that way.”
He chuckled. “If you change your mind or Randy backs out, the invite is open.”
Slapping him on the side of the arm, I said, “I appreciate it, Billy. Honestly, I do. Now I need to get home. Piper doesn’t like the storms.”
“Since when?”
Ignoring him, I opened the door and started out, calling over my shoulder, “Call me if there are any issues after the storm passes.” I jogged from the barn to my truck, started it, and headed home. I felt a sudden need to get back to my place to make sure Mallory was okay.
But as the rain came down harder, lightning streaking across the sky and thunder following close behind, I realized I wasn’t rushing because I was worried about Mallory. I was rushing because I wanted to see her.
Less than a day of her being awake, and she had already gotten into my head. There wasn’t a chance I’d be forgetting a thing about her anytime soon.
CHAPTER NINE
Mallory
Boom!
My hand flew to my mouth to stifle the scream that nearly escaped. Piper was snuggled up on the sofa next to me as we sat in the nearly pitch-dark house.
“Goodness! Does it always storm like this?” I asked as I stroked the dog’s fur.
I’d heard one storm while I was in the basement, but it must have been muffled due to the fact I was underground, because it didn’t sound like this.
“I hope your dad doesn’t try to drive home in this.”
Another loud crack of thunder, and that time, Piper jumped, making me feel a little better about my fear of the storm.
The sound of a vehicle pulling up to the house had Piper leaping from the couch and looking out the nearest window, while I attempted to peek carefully. I was relieved to see Liam’s truck. Piper bolted for the front door and started to bark like crazy. She clearly loved her daddy.
I could barely see Liam’s outline as he ran from the truck and up the steps to the house. The door opened, and I smiled in relief when I saw him. The sight reminded me of the night he’d rescued me, when I opened my eyes just enough to see water dripping off his cowboy hat and that reassuring smile. Which, I was now positive, made every woman who saw it swoon.
“Did the electricity go out?” Liam asked, taking off the hat and hanging it on a peg. Next, he took off the raincoat, shook it to remove the excess water, and hung it on the hook next to the hat.
“No, I just wasn’t sure if I should turn on any lights. I didn’t want anyone to see them and think someone was home.”
He laughed. “Trust me, no one is going to see them, and even if one of the ranch hands saw lights on, they wouldn’t think to question it.”
“Okay,” I said as I stood. “That’s good to know.”
Piper sat at his feet and stared up at her dad. “You hungry, girl?”
“I wasn’t sure when she ate.”