Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 131888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
He knew this was a fucking mistake.
Nox shook his head and his fingers moved quickly over the keyboard as he typed out a short and to the point message. Forget it.
Before he could put his phone down, it rang. He was not expecting to talk to her right now. He needed to mentally prepare himself first. Instead, he quickly sent: Can’t answer where I’m at. I’ll just see you next week at the meeting.
Oh no, sir, you aren’t backing out now. That message was followed with: Name the time and the place. I’ll be there.
Shadow Valley Community Center, Wednesday at 7 pm.
Try again. Apparently, she could be short and to the point, too.
He should’ve known she wouldn’t accept that answer. When he had opened the damn door, she jammed her foot in it to prevent him from closing it. The only way he’d be able to achieve that would be to let her in and shut it behind her.
He needed to come up with somewhere to meet that would be both quiet and not in Uniontown, Shadow Valley or Rockvale. Last thing he needed was someone he knew, especially anyone wearing a badge—more like a “busy-bee” badge—seeing him with a woman. That gossip would spread like a brushfire during a drought and high winds.
Do you know Above the Ground in Knoxville? he asked.
A long pause proceeded her answer. Did you pick that place because of the town name?
Picked it because no one will know us there.
She came back with: I know a lot of people.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t the only one.
Are you worried about being seen with a woman?
Instead of answering her question, he texted: Tomorrow night at 7:30?
The coffee shop wouldn’t be busy then. That meant less chance of getting busted by someone he knew.
See you there. Make sure you show up. Don’t make me chase you down for the third time, because believe me, I will. I need to get my daily steps in somehow, even if I’m wearing heels.
Chapter Five
Two cars and one familiar Harley were the only vehicles in Above the Ground’s parking lot. If she didn’t already know it was a coffee shop, she would consider the name a bit morbid.
With their connection, why the hell he picked a coffee shop with that name…
She sighed.
After slipping her Benz into the open spot next to his sled, she stared at it for a few seconds, surprised he actually showed up. In truth, she expected to be stood up on this little coffee “date.”
Before heading to Knoxville, she fed her boys dinner and told Devyn he needed to keep an eye on his little brother. She assured them she’d be home soon, before giving them both a kiss on the forehead.
Keenan still loved her kisses and hugs. Devyn, not so much. He got them anyway.
Her sons would only be children for a short amount of time, and she wanted to cherish their childhood while she could.
Her childhood wasn’t the best and she was determined to do better with her own kids. While she wanted to give her boys everything, she also didn’t want to spoil them. She tried to find a happy medium.
But she wasn’t meeting the man calling himself Nox to talk about her kids, she was there to listen.
Heading into the coffee shop, she spotted him sitting alone at a corner table and facing the entrance. She was aware that law enforcement avoided sitting with their backs to the door whenever possible. For a valid reason.
Instead of approaching him, she ordered an iced chai latte at the counter and as she waited for the employee to make it, she turned and stared at Nox’s broad back and shoulders.
She realized every time she’d seen him, he wore a baseball cap. It made it easy to hide his eyes and his thoughts.
But tonight, he wanted to share them. With her.
If he was ready to talk, she was ready to listen. If she could help him, she would. The main reason was, people had been there for her when she lost Mark. She wanted to pay it forward. The same reason she decided to get back to leading a bereavement group. It had helped her, she hoped it would help someone else.
She grabbed her drink and went to the table, rounding it to face him.
She stood there waiting until he lifted his head and asked, “Are you only going to stand there?”
“I’m waiting to see if you sprint for the exit before I sit down.”
He sat back in his chair and raked his gaze over her from head to toe. Before making her family dinner, she had changed into a pair of jeans, sandals without a heel and a pastel pink embroidered V-neck top. She also had her hair pulled back from her face with a rolled pink bandana.
“Surprised you didn’t wear sneakers, then.”