Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“You don’t mind bar food, do you?”
“Not at all.” I smile and get out, following behind him into the bar.
Once we’re inside, the buzz of people talking fills my ears, and I try my best not to look around for any familiar faces. Being Friday night, the bar is packed, but we find a small table in one of the corners. As soon as we sit down, I pull the menu from the holder in the middle of the table and inspect it, just so I can avoid all the awkward looks I’m receiving. I know word had spread around town about me being home, but for the most part, I’m always at the house, so I never really have much interaction with people. But sitting here, I can feel people looking at me like I’m some kind of leper.
“Do you know what you want to eat?”
“A bacon burger and fries,” I reply.
“I’m getting the same. I’ll go put in our orders. What would you like to drink?”
“Corona.” I smile, or try to, and he nods, getting up from the table and heading to the bar, coming back a couple minutes later with two beers, both Alaskan Amber, which I hate, but instead of saying anything, I take the bottle from him and gulp down half.
“So, Dr. Rubin—”
“Keith.” He smiles, taking a pull from his beer.
“Okay, Keith. What made you move to Cordova?”
“I’m not sure. There was an opening in Alaska for a doctor, and I figured, what the hell? I may as well see if I like it before I have kids and a wife to worry about. What about you? Are you planning on sticking around?”
“I actually don’t know what I’m going to do,” I say, then every hair on my body stands on end. I look towards the door as Austin walks in with Ben and Rhonda. I sit up taller as Rhonda waves, and Austin follows her gaze to me. The moment our eyes connect, I feel a surge rush through me. Then his eyes move to Keith and I see something flare in their blue depths I can’t make out, or I choose not to.
“Do you want to invite them over to sit with us?” Keith asks, and my eyes go to him.
“I’m sure they’re going to get their own table,” I tell him, once again trying to smile, but failing miserably.
“We have room,” he says, scooting toward me.
“Hey, Lea. Hi, Dr. Rubin,” Rhonda says, pulling off her coat and setting it on the back of one of the empty chairs at our table. “Do you mind if we sit with you? There aren’t really any tables left.”
I look from her to Ben then to Austin, and my pulse spikes as his fists clench at his sides. This is such a bad idea. “Sure.” I smile, and she moves to sit one chair over, and Ben sits next to her, forcing Austin to take the seat on my other side. “Keith, this is Austin and Ben. Rhonda, you already know.” Everyone greets each other—Ben with a, “Hi,” Rhonda with a smile, and Austin with a chin lift and a grunt.
“I’ve been craving a giant hamburger all day, so I called the boys to see if they wanted to go get something to eat,” Rhonda says.
“We just put in our orders,” Keith tells them, and Austin grunts again then leans back, placing his arm on the back of my chair. I start to lean forward, but his fingers in my hair prevent me from getting anywhere.
“How do you two know each other?” Ben asks, and I clear my throat, feeling suddenly uncomfortable.
“Keith is Mom’s doctor,” I say, earning another grunt from Austin. “She was supposed to come with us, but got a headache.”
“Is she okay?” Rhonda asks, not sounding concerned at all, which surprises me.
“She’s fine,” I mutter, suddenly finding the label on my beer bottle very interesting.
“You know what you want, Wolf?” Ben asks, pulling his arm from around Rhonda and standing.
“The usual,” Austin says, then Ben’s head dips to look at Rhonda.
“What do you want to drink, babe?”
“A virgin daiquiri.” She smiles, and he shakes his head and dips lower, brushing his mouth against hers before walking off to the bar.
“I’m going to use the restroom,” I say, praying that Austin releases my hair so I can get up without looking like I’ve gotten whiplash. Lucky for me, he does. The second I stand, I realize my dilemma. Austin is on one side, and Keith is on the other, both of them caging me in. “Excuse me,” I tell Austin, scooting in front of him, and then cry out as my feet get tangled and I end up in his lap. His arms wrap around me and the whiskers from his beard tickle my neck, where I feel him inhale a sharp breath against my skin, causing my core to contract.