Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
My mouth dropped open as Ryan looked at me imploringly. “Come with me,” he said.
I wanted to go. It was the craziest thing ever.
“I can’t,” I murmured, surprised by how sad that made me. “I need to finish cleaning the store and locking up.”
He ran his hand through his hair as he stared at me. “How about I drop my dude off and then come back and get you? We could go to dinner or a movie. Maybe dinner and a movie? If you have errands to run or you want to go get a few drinks, we could do that, too. I’ll do whatever you want to do.”
It was out of character how badly I wanted to throw caution to the wind and go, especially considering I’d been up since four thirty in the morning and had been, at least in the moments before he dropped into my life, ready to go home and collapse. I needed to be sensible since I was due back at work at six in the morning. It killed me to do it, but I had to say no.
“I actually have to go home,” I admitted reluctantly. “I’m dead on my feet and I have to be back here at six in the morning… but maybe after that? If you’re free?”
“I’m free,” he assured me. “Any time. When can I pick you up?”
I gestured back over my shoulder at the store. “I work until two, but I’m open after that.”
“I’ll be here,” he smiled.
“For real, Unca Ry! Can we please take these bots home?”
We both laughed at how sweet Emmett’s little plea was. I couldn’t blame him for being impatient and lord knew he’d been more than patient with us.
Ryan reached into his back pocket and pulled out his cell. He swiped his finger across the screen and then typed for a few seconds before he handed it over to me.
“Add yourself to my contact list.”
He’d already started by typing in my name, so all I had to do was add my last name and my cell number. I did it quickly before handing it back to him.
He tapped across the screen, watching it for a few seconds before grinning at me as he slid the phone back into his pocket.
“I just called your cell so you’ve got my number now, too.”
“Thank you,” I smiled.
We stared at each other for a few seconds, both seemingly unsure of how to say goodbye. Ryan finally threw caution to the wind and stepped forward. His beard tickled my cheek when he kissed a spot right next to my ear. Immediately I wanted him to do it again.
“Tomorrow,” he murmured. “I’ll be here.”
When he pulled back, I almost swooned.
“Thanks for the bots,” Emmett said cheerfully.
I’d forgotten for a few seconds that Ryan and I weren’t alone. I giggled softly as I looked down at Emmett.
“You’re most welcome.”
My heart raced at fourteen thousand beats per second as Ryan took Emmett’s hand and then put him in the car. After Ryan got into the driver’s seat, he waved before starting the car and backing up.
I closed the store in a daze, so much so that I had to check and re-check that I was doing all the things I should before I finally turned out the light and called it a night.
3
Ryan
Once we got into the house and set the cake on the counter, it took Emmett roughly thirty-eight seconds to tell his mom I had, and I quote, broken up with my fist because I had a girlfriend. My brother-in-law literally doubled over and howled with laughter so hard I think the fucker almost pissed himself.
“Emmett!” Jamie scolded sternly. “I told you that wasn’t what I said—wait a minute! What do you mean, girlfriend?”
“Her name’s Julia and she made my bots,” he informed her. “She makes sweet things.”
Jamie’s eyebrows shot up as she looked to me in shock. “You’ve been dating someone and you didn’t tell me?” she shrieked.
“No, I—”
“We met her at the shop and he just asked her, Mommy. Why’s you yellin’? I thought you wanted Unca Ry to have a girlfriend.”
“Hold on a minute,” she said as her eyes darted between Emmett and me. “What the heck? Did you even know her before tonight?”
I shook my head, but Emmett answered before I could.
“Nope, but he’s gonna marry her and give me…” Emmett trailed off, looking to me for an assist. “What are them called again?”
“Cousins,” I answered with a laugh. “Lots and lots of cousins.”
Jamie huffed out an annoyed sound and gave me a dirty look.
“You two are hilarious. You had me going for a second there.”
Emmett shrugged. “I’m gonna go watch Iron Man with the girls,” he said before walking out of the room.
Jamie scowled at me as she went and stood next to Harrison, who was still chuckling about Emmett saying I was breaking up with my fist.