Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“I already like it,” he says, surveying the area, and I can tell he’s picturing it all in his head.
“I do, too.” I can imagine the wraparound porch, my truck in the driveway, and a dock on the water. I want to fish out here in the summer, maybe with a couple of kids and a pretty wife. I don’t just want this for now. I want it forever. This is my place.
“I know we need to get through the wedding to really wade into the project, but why don’t you go ahead and get the surveyor on the schedule? They might be booked out a bit, and this way you’re on top of it. Have plans drawn up.”
“Plans are drawn.”
“I should have known,” he says with a rueful laugh. “It may be a newer idea, but once you get your mind set on something, it’s full speed ahead.”
I simply grin over at him. “No sense in moving slow.”
“No, God forbid we move slow.” He snickers. “Come on, we’d better get back.”
But I stop, just for a minute, and look back at my place. I belong here. I’m ready to plant my roots in this spot.
“If she had any issues, she’d have called me already,” I mutter to myself as I park my truck in front of Paula’s Poseys and cut the engine. “And she likely doesn’t want my mom’s cookies. This is lame.”
I’ve wanted to see Summer all week since the incident at her place on the Fourth. Yeah, I want to check in to see how her new security systems are working out, but more than that, I just want to look at her. Make her smile that big smile that lights up the goddamn room. Bonus points if she laughs because Summer has the best laugh I’ve ever heard.
“You’re a sap,” I whisper as I push out of the truck and, with a plate of cookies in hand, walk to the door of the flower shop. The bell rings as I push in, and I hear Summer laugh and then see her pat a tall man on the shoulder.
“Oh, stop it, Evan. He didn’t say that.”
“Swear to God,” Evan says, his right hand in the air as if he’s swearing on the witness stand.
Both sets of eyes turn to me. Summer’s expression warms, and if I’m not mistaken, her smile brightens.
Evan’s eyes narrow. I keep my face passive but quirk an eyebrow.
This idiot can fuck right off.
“Well, hey there,” Summer says. “It’s good to see you, Chase.”
“Hey. My mother swears she baked too many of her famous peanut butter cookies, and I can’t eat two dozen by myself, so I thought I’d stop in to share with you. Also, I wanted to see how your security systems are working out.”
“First of all, I never turn down a cookie,” Summer says and accepts the plate from me just as Lily the dog hops out of her bed to come and greet me. “And second, everything is working great. I think I’ve finally got the hang of checking the app, and I love being able to see both places when I’m not there.”
“You got a security system?” Evan asks.
“I did,” she confirms. “Both here and at home. I’m sorry, Evan, I assume you know Chase Wild?”
“Sure,” I say with a nod to the other man. “How’s it going, Evan?”
“I’m great,” he says and turns back to Summer. “Why do you need a security system?”
“Oh, I had some kids try to break into my house on the Fourth,” she says, waving it off. “Chase and Brady installed it for me.”
“Well, that was…nice,” Evan says with a forced smile. “You’re okay?”
Summer bites into a cookie and closes her eyes with a groan.
Jesus Christ, I want to make her groan like that for completely different, more primal reasons.
“These are seriously so good. Tell your mama I want the recipe, Chase.”
“You’re okay?” Evan repeats, clearly irritated that he’s being ignored for cookies.
“Oh, yeah. Totally fine now.” She waves him off and takes another bite of cookie.
“Well, you know you can always call me. I’m just down the street. I’m pretty sure I can be at your place in just a few seconds.”
“I appreciate it,” she says to him. “Chase arrived and saved the day, and now I feel a lot safer. You should try one of these cookies.”
“I’m allergic to peanuts.” His voice is tight as he shakes his head. “I’d better go back to the office for my next appointment.”
He nods at me, then looks longingly at Summer before walking out the door.
Looks like Evan Spencer, Attorney at Law, has a crush on the florist.
And he’s going to be damn disappointed if I have anything to say about it.
“Seriously,” Summer says as she chews another cookie. “Do these have crack in them or something? Because holy moly, they’re addicting. Ida, come eat some cookies before I eat them all myself.”