Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
I think it’s the Atwood charm he possesses.
They’ve all got it, and it’s probably one reason I haven’t dated in forever.
No one can live up to Paxton.
It sucks, but it’s true.
Chapter Four
Paxton
My brothers continue to talk with Hartford and surround her like she’s either their prey, or their goddess. I do love that my family loves her. However, right now, I’m on the outside of this circle around her and I’m not having that.
She’s my best friend.
I push through and stand in front of her. “I’m sure you all have work to do.”
“I don’t,” Tripp says, hopping up on a stool.
I playfully nudge him away, eliciting laughter from the crowd as he regains his footing. “Well, if you don’t have any tables to bus, then find something to do. Hartford and I need to discuss a project she’s writing for work.”
“What are you working on?” Brock asks, his eyebrow arching in a subtle display of curiosity, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue.
A delicate blush rises to color her cheeks, and she steals a quick glance in my direction, her eyes shimmering with bashfulness.
“She’s writing an article about all the ways to kill your siblings without getting caught. I’m giving her all the best ideas.”
“I know you’re joking, but I don’t doubt you have a list,” Tripp says, shaking his head as he walks away.
“Like he could get us before we got him,” Brock says as he follows Tripp. Callum chuckles as he slaps their backs as they get back to work.
Hartford sighs, glancing up at me. “Thanks. I couldn’t think of anything that fast.” She reaches for her bag, pulling it up onto her lap. “So, I wrote down the rules we need to discuss.”
I take her hand, halting her movements, and her eyes lift to mine. I raise an eyebrow with a slow grin. “You think I’m going to discuss this with you out here in the open with all my brothers around? Have you forgotten how intrusive they can be?”
She shakes her head gently, her hair falling across her face, her gaze now fixated on the wood floors. “I wasn’t even thinking about that.”
“It’s fine. We’ll go into the back room. We’ll have privacy there.”
She steps into the back room, and I swiftly close the doors behind us, shutting out the cacophony of sounds from the bustling bar. Moving toward a table, I gently pull out a chair for her, to which she responds with a grateful nod of her head. Taking my seat opposite her, I gesture with my hands, signaling for her to start at her own pace.
As she retrieves a folder out of her bag, my phone dings on the table. I see it’s the group text I have with my brothers and open it.
Brock: Daring, big brother. Bringing Hartford into a room with a door that doesn’t lock. I like your style.
I roll my eyes and put the phone down.
“So, I wrote up the rules that I think are important,” she starts.
Ding.
Tripp: Is it really daring when he blows his load in less than two minutes?
Christ, these idiots. They all think I have a thing for Hartford. They can’t understand how, after all these years, we are still just friends. I’ve tried explaining to them it’s not like that with us, but they just don’t get it.
Ding.
Callum: Poor Hartford.
“Pax, really?” she asks, annoyed with my phone constantly going off.
I turn off the phone and toss it on the table. “I’m sorry, it’s off now. You have my full attention.”
She straightens herself, appearing more confident, as she opens her folder. It’s cute how official she’s being about this. She pulls out the paper and clears her throat as she runs her hand across it, removing the nonexistent wrinkles.
“Hart, relax. It’s just me. Read to me what you have,” I say, grinning at her.
She nods, her auburn hair falling into her eyes as she takes a deep breath. “All right, rule number one.” She lifts her light brown eyes to me and says, “No kissing.”
“Of course,” I say, crossing my arms as I lean back in the chair. “Kissing is much too intimate.”
“Yes, it is.” She puts a check by it on the paper and I hold back a laugh. Sometimes she’s overly organized and putting a check next to the rule is her way of saying we discussed it and I’ve agreed.
“Rule number two is no eye contact.”
This time I chuckle and she snaps her head up to me. I hold my hands up in defense and nod. “All right, fine. If you don’t want to make eye contact, I won’t.”
“Eye contact is what couples do and we aren’t a couple.”
I reach across the table and place her tiny hand in mine. “I know that, Hart. No eye contact. I agree.”
She grins, giving me a brief nod before putting a check next to it. “Rule number three.” She chews her bottom lip, keeping her focus on the paper.