Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Mike: Hey, are we still on for tonight? I’ve got a lot of ideas about Saturday. Do you want to meet in the park or grab something to eat nearby?
“I think so, but what about you, Mace?” I don’t hear Briar or even feel her come up beside me and read the text because I’m in a cloud of anger. “Hey, that’s private.”
I’m so stunned by the message from whoever this guy is that when she grabs the phone out of my hand, I don’t have a chance to hold on to it.
“Who the fuck is Mike?” The words sound so harsh that as soon as they come out, I wish I could claw them back in. My jealousy snapped, and I see the hurt flash across her face.
“I’m sorry, I just need a card to place the deposit,” the manager says politely as she pretends to not notice what happened.
“It’s none of your business, Mace, and neither am I.” Briar turns and storms off, and just as I go after her, the manager calls for me again.
“I’m sorry, but if we don’t take the deposit, I can’t place the order.” I growl in frustration as I toss her my card, but she calls after me again, “You have to sign for it.”
I look at the entrance of the greenhouse, and I can’t see where she went, but she doesn’t have a car. I’m sure she’s just waiting, and we can talk this out.
It takes an hour for her little machine to work, or maybe it only feels that way. After it runs my card and I scribble my name, I haul ass to the car. My driver is leaning against it playing on his phone, and when I walk up, he opens the door for me. Briar isn’t in the back, and she’s nowhere in sight.
Great, now I’ve sent her running to whoever the fuck this Mike guy is.
NINE
BRIAR
“Mike!” I call out when I see him sitting on the bench waiting for me. “I’m so sorry. I meant to text you earlier, but it slipped my mind.” I rush over to where he’s sitting, feeling like a total jerk. When Mike isn’t working, he’s volunteering, and I know I’ve wasted some of his time.
“So you forgot about me.” He gives me an adorable lopsided smile, and I notice his dimples. Mike is always so sweet and gentle, and I’m sure if we were side by side, we'd make a good match.
He’s a vet who loves to take care of animals, and we get along really well and never run out of things to talk about. He’s always willing to lend a hand if needed, and he’s charming, like what some might call the boy next door. Except I feel nothing for him, at least sexually. I guess I like my men like I like my cats…grumpy.
“My twin decided she wants to get married in a week. As the maid of honor, that leaves me crazy busy.”
“A week? I thought you said she wasn’t dating anyone.” His eyes widen in surprise.
“She wasn’t. I mean, she’s been in love with someone forever, but now it’s all come to a head.” I don’t recall telling him about my sister, but it’s not shocking. I can ramble, especially when asked a question.
“Sounds like there’s a story there. You want to grab some food?” He motions to a restaurant across the street from the park.
“Yeah, I could use some food.” More than that, I could use time away from Mace because the man has my head spinning. It does that enough on its own, and I don’t need him adding to it.
“You really think you’ll be able to pull this off in such a short time?” Mike asks after ordering a drink and a few appetizers.
“She’s marrying a very rich man, so anything is possible. I just want the details to be right. It should be a perfect day for her.”
“If anyone is paying attention to the details, it’s you,” he says as the server places our drinks down.
“Do I pay that much attention?” I ask before I take a sip of the yummy pink martini.
“Yes, it’s why I wanted to ask for your help on the Saturday Adoptions idea. You catch things that some of us miss. The devil is in the details, and sometimes I don’t realize how a small detail could really be something big.”
“Thanks.” He’s so nice, but there is literally no attraction. My mind wanders to Mace, and I bet he’s so mad at me right now. A few weeks ago, that would have tickled me but not so much today. I take another big drink of the fruity cocktail and try not to think about him.
“I think doing it every Saturday would be too much, and we should switch locations. We can’t bring all the animals out at every event, but we can rotate which animals we take each time.”