Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
She grinned at me. “You know I’m a sure lay, right?”
“Yeah, I know.” I smiled back at her. “But it still doesn’t mean I won’t romance you.”
That was something I was good at when we were together. Little surprise gifts, flowers for no particular reason, taking her book shopping, or sending her cute cards that were funny but with a personal script about my deep feelings. I didn’t do any of that to make Juniper want me physically, but for her to want me emotionally.
I want that again to the same extent.
I want to do all the things for her just to see her smile the way she did this morning.
So that was three hours ago that I left the house and surely an impromptu call will seem endearingly charming, right? I glance at my watch. I’ve got an interview in twenty minutes for a new assistant athletic trainer. I’ve been interviewing for the position over the last few weeks and had just about made my decision when I received the résumé of a woman with impeccable credentials. She’s as well educated as any of the others, but she doesn’t have quite the same level of experience and that’s only because she’s female. Her sex has limited her ability to break into professional male sports but that’s not something that would stop this team, particularly with Brienne as our leader. So I want to give this woman a shot, at least offer her an interview.
Still… twenty minutes is plenty of time to chat with Juniper, even if I’ve got a million other things I could be doing. Despite the fact I want to cut out of work a bit early so I can pick up flowers for her before our dinner date.
Just a quick call.
Leaning over, I grab my phone and light it up, only to see that I have two missed calls. I keep my phone on vibrate during the day and clearly didn’t hear the subtle buzz when none other than Preston Willard attempted to reach me. He left no voicemail, that would be beneath him. He’d assume I would see his attempts and call him back.
Thoughts of calling Juniper are banished. Obviously, I’ll call Preston first. In all the years he’s been married to my mother, he’s never once called me for anything.
Not even when she had a brain bleed three and a half weeks ago.
The fact he’s calling me now tells me he thinks it’s something more important than my mother having a near-fatal fall, which means he’s likely calling me about Joshua.
I tap my phone against my chin, considering how I want to handle this. Because I’m fairly certain this only pertains to Joshua, who I couldn’t give two shits about, part of me wants to make him wait. But the part of me that’s driven to solve a problem and come out the winner wants to get this over with.
Decision made, I call Preston. Because he’s a power player in all ways, he lets the phone ring four times before he answers it. It’s his attempt to portray control, pretending that my return call isn’t all that important. I know that fucker’s been waiting for it though.
“Preston Willard,” he announces imperiously when the phone connects, even though he knows it’s me on the other end.
“I saw you called.”
“I would’ve figured you’d pick up,” he says irritably. “You’re clearly not worried about your mother.”
“I’ve called Mom every day since I left Incline Village. I’m well aware of how she’s doing. We both know you’re not calling about her so cut to the chase. I’m a busy man.”
Preston grunts in disdain but he launches into his play. “This thing with Joshua and Juniper needs to end.”
“Agreed. Have Joshua give Juniper what she’s entitled to—that would be a divorce and half of his assets—and we’ll call it a day.”
“Don’t be a smart-ass,” he censures. “And besides… Joshua doesn’t want a divorce. He wants to work things out.”
“Of course he doesn’t want a divorce. Who else will cook his meals and serve as his punching bag?”
“Careful, boy,” Preston warns in a low growl.
My tone is deeper. “Don’t even think to threaten me, old man. You’ve done the same to my mother for years but she’s too afraid to leave you. Juni got out and she’s never going back, so tell that son of yours to man up and do the right thing. His deadline is in three days or your family’s dirty secrets are going public.”
There’s a silence and I can envision exactly how red Preston’s face is. No one stands up to him and no one gives him ultimatums. “You’re bluffing. Juniper doesn’t want that attention.”
“No, she doesn’t,” I admit with a hard edge to my voice. “But she needs stability and Joshua’s going to give it to her for all the hell he’s put her through. She’s willing to push this thing all the way. You hold sway over him, Preston. Get him to do the right thing and it all goes away.”