Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
He nearly spits out his coffee, coughing as he shoots me a disbelieving look. "Wait, are you fucking serious?" I nod my head, glaring at him through narrowed eyes. "Leave it to you to find your soulmate while you're arresting her," he chortles.
"Once you're done laughing, could you help me?"
My boss suddenly turns serious. "What do you need?"
"I need to find a way to make this go away so my soulmate doesn't have to spend the night in a jail cell." No use beating around the bush. I’m already planning our future and naming our first child, and I don’t have time to deal with bullshit.
"Is that all?" He rolls his eyes. "You do realize thirty-one unpaid parking tickets isn't going to be easy to sweep under the rug?" he counters, folding his arms across his chest.
"Come on. It isn't like she's been out robbing people at gunpoint. What if she pays the tickets and fine?" I'm goddamn desperate.
Dillon sighs, the teasing glint in his eyes replaced by a more thoughtful stare. "Let me call my friend in Houston, and we'll see what we're working with."
"Thank you." I breathe a sigh of relief, thankful my boss knows what I'm going through right now. After all, he fell victim to the Silver Spoon Falls water a while back. "I appreciate it."
"Just invite me to the wedding."
"I'll think about it," I call after him, and he flips me off over his shoulder.
While he works his magic, I head into the conference room to see if Emily needs anything. Fucking hell. When she looks up at me and smiles, I know my life and my heart will never be the same again.
As the flickering fluorescent lights overhead cast their dull glow around the room, I wonder how long it will take for Dillon to get this straightened out. I'm about to go hunt him down when he strolls back into the room. "I've got bad news." He sits on the edge of my desk. "The Houston parking authority has decided to crack down on unpaid violations. They aren't willing to budge, so we're going to have to keep your girl here until a judge signs her release in the morning."
"Fucking hell." I feel like I've been hit by a ton of bricks. "You have got to be kidding me."
"I wish I was." He rubs his bottom lip. "But that doesn't mean we have to put her in a cell by herself. Why don't you search the emergency supplies closet and find a warm blanket and pillow? She can crash on the sofa in my office." I'm suddenly thankful Dillon keeps a supply of new blankets, pillows, and extra toiletries in case of situations like this. He's the best goddamn boss in the world. "We'll just keep the details of her incarceration our little secret."
"I'll stay with her." I'm not about to leave her here on her own all night. "And I'll need tomorrow off to help her organize her mobile grooming van."
"I'm going to need a little more information." He looks confused, so I explain Emily's new business plan. He listens intently while I give him the same spiel my girl gave me earlier.
Once he’s up to date on what’s going on in my life, I tell him, “Oh, and I’m going to need you to stop by my house and pick up Edna. I’ll get her back once I get things settled with Emily.” I’m probably stressing the bonds of friendship, but I don’t care.
“Anything else I can do for you?” His glare is anything but friendly.
“Not right now, but I’ll let you know if I come up with something.”
“Fucking asshole,” he grumbles as he walks out the door.
Once all the paperwork is squared away, I tell myself it's time to break the bad news. I stride back to the conference room where I left Emily earlier. She paces the floor, her gorgeous blue eyes shining with anxiety. When she sees me, there's a spark of curiosity in her eyes mixed with a glimmer of hope.
"What's going on?" Her interest is piqued as she sits a little straighter, clearly ready for some good news.
"Sheriff Armstrong made a call to Houston, and they refused to drop the warrant without you having a video hearing with a judge in the morning," I tell her, pissed I couldn't get this taken care of.
As her aqua eyes fill with tears, I have to fight the urge to pound my frustration out on the wall. "Are you serious? I've never been in jail before."
"Don't worry, you won't have to stay in a cell." It’s not fucking happening. There’s no way my curvy little soulmate is spending the night in a cold goddamn cell.
She blinks several times, asking, "What do you mean?"
"We have to keep you in custody, but that doesn't mean we have to lock you up. Sheriff Armstrong said you can use the sofa in his office, and I'll stay overnight to make sure you don't get into any more trouble," I tease, trying to make it sound as casual as possible.