Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Mildred waved a hand at him. “She isn’t uncomfortable. Are you, Dolly?”
My eyes widened as I looked from Walen to Mrs. Mildred. “Well, uh—”
“Yes, she is. Why don’t you check on the Bundt cake? We don’t want it to burn. I’d like to take it with us when we head to the hotel.”
“I’m not going to the hotel,” she argued.
I jumped up, thankful for the excuse. “I’ll do it. You stay put,” I told her and hurried over to open the oven.
I needed a reason to leave, but I didn’t have a good one, and it was too late to think of one now. It would be clear as day I was running off. I hadn’t mentioned needing to prep for the storm when I stopped by. They would know I was lying if I tried using that excuse now. It wasn’t in my raising to be rude. Besides, Walen seemed nice enough.
A knock at the door gave me yet another reprieve.
“Cake isn’t ready just yet,” I told them. “I’ll go see who’s at the door.” Not waiting on Mrs. Mildred to stop me, I left the room, sighing in relief as I reached the front door.
However, once I opened it and found Micah standing there in a pair of black jeans and his bare chest, showing under his open leather vest, I wished I hadn’t opened it after all.
“What are you doing here?” I snapped.
He raised an eyebrow. “Looking for you. There’s a hurricane headed our way, and I did try to call. You declined it.”
Yes, I did. And you called me slow.
“I think everyone is aware of that. I’m fine,” I replied.
He shifted his stance and studied me. “You in a snit about something, Tink?”
Yes, Micah Abe, I absolutely am in a snit. Because you called me slow, you jackass.
“Just don’t see why you had to stop by my neighbor’s, is all.”
“Is there a problem, Dolly?” Walen asked from behind me.
Micah’s gaze hardened as he looked past me. I was not going to let him make a scene and upset Mrs. Mildred.
“No, Walen. This is my best friend’s brother. He’s just looking for me. I hate to leave before the cake, but I need to get something for him,” I explained.
Walen nodded, not looking sure about my explanation. Right now, Micah looked every ounce the badass biker. His tatted chest was on display, and he had his hair pulled back in a ponytail, but some strands had gotten loose. I was sure Walen was thinking I had myself mixed up with some dangerous folks. He had no idea.
“Yeah, we can wait on you to return. Cake isn’t ready yet anyway,” he replied. His entire body seemed tense as he kept looking at Micah.
I felt Micah’s hand touch my waist, and I almost jumped right out of my skin.
“Let’s go.” His tone was demanding, and if I wasn’t afraid that he’d do something unnecessary, I would tell him to piss off.
Instead, I did my best to hold my smile. “Tell Mrs. Mildred I’ll be back when the storm is over to help with the bills.”
Walen finally looked at me. He didn’t seem pleased with my decision, but he wasn’t going to argue with me. “Okay. I’m here until I convince her to leave, if you need me.”
“She won’t,” Micah snarled.
I spun around and glared up at him. “Go,” I snapped and shoved past him and out the door.
He closed it, but I didn’t stop walking. I stalked toward the stairs, annoyed by the way he had acted toward Walen.
“You sure are moving on from Canyon real damn quick, Tink,” he said, entirely too close to me.
I reached the top step and spun around, then tilted my head back to look up at him. Ugh! Why did he have to look like that? So, so panty-droppingly gorgeous. I hated him. I hated him. I had to remember that while looking at his bare chest. Jabbing said chest with my fingernail, I made an angry growl in my throat.
“I went to help Mrs. Mildred pay her bills. That was her great-nephew. He is there to take her with him before the storm hits. That was all that was going on, not that it is your business. You didn’t have to be rude.”
Micah grabbed my wrist to keep me from the constant jabbing I was doing with my pointed almond-shaped nail. “Sure didn’t seem like he was just there for his aunt. He was ready to take me on for you.”
“Because you are all biker dude right now with the lack of proper clothin’ and messy, windblown hair. He was worried about my safety.”
Micah smirked. “No, Tink. He was pissed that I’d come in and messed up his time with you. He’d have asked you out before it was over.”
“Go back to the club, Micah. I am just fine without you being here.”