Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
I drive back towards the ranch, but I get cut short when I get a call about a broken fence. It’s a quick fix and I’m the closest and have the tools in my truck to get it done. But it takes longer than I expected. After a good hour, I finally pull back into my own driveway, and all the lights in the house are off.
Fuck. I hope she didn’t go to bed already. I pull myself from the truck and make my way inside, flipping on the light in the kitchen. I see a note lying on the counter and go over to it.
Went to the Empty Bottle with Dolly. Left you something to eat in the microwave.
Night.
My fist crumples the letter as I think about Luciana going to the Empty Bottle. It’s a hole-in-the-wall most nights, but on the weekends the place fills up. It’s where everyone in town goes to have a drink and let loose from time to time, and I know my Luciana is going to be the center of every single man’s attention in there.
Chapter 8
Luciana
“Hey, Jimmy. We want two margaritas,” Dolly says and winks at the bartender.
“You and I both know all three of your brothers would kick my ass for serving you, Dolly. You’re underage,” Jimmy replies, shooting her a soft smile.
“They're both for me,” I say, sliding some cash across the bar. I wink at Dolly and the guy rolls his eyes, muttering something about plausible deniability.
“Thanks,” Dolly says, elbowing me before leaning up against the bar.
“Just don't tell your brothers.”
I look around the place and see people everywhere. Looks like this is the place to be on a Friday night. It's a typical Texan bar with worn wood floors and animals hanging on the walls. There’s a band playing some country music and people are line dancing on a stage. I like the feel of it. There's a buzz of excitement, and people are having a good time.
Jimmy comes back with my two drinks, and I slide one over to Dolly.
“She’s just holding it for me,” I say, but we all know what’s really happening. Small towns have rules all of their own. They make them up as they go and change them as they see fit.
“Hey, your family know anything about that missing girl?” Jimmy asks, placing both hands on the bar as he looks at Dolly.
“Not that I know of. Sheriff knocked on my door this morning asking about it,” Dolly says.
“What happened?” I say, leaning in.
“Probably nothing,” Jimmy says. “Someone found a beat-up truck washed out down one of the country roads close to the Jennings’ Farms. Checked the tags and the owner isn’t local. The sheriff said they’re looking into it, but if you ask me it's probably some woman who got her truck stuck in the mud after that big storm the other night and then hiked it out.”
Jimmy shakes his head before he heads to help someone else, and Dolly shrugs and takes a sip of her drink. “I’m sure it’s nothing. In small towns any news is big news.” I do the same and go back to enjoying my drink, loving the tangy, sweet mix.
I see couples on the dance floor laughing and having a good time together, and for a second I think about what it would be like to dance with Blake like that. Having a Friday night date night out together. Going out dancing. Knowing steps and having him lead me around, smiling so big his dimples show. I’ve never had a chance to experience something like that as I was always too busy putting everything into my family, work, and school. I knew I wanted a family of my own one day, but for some reason that need has started to pound down hard on me since I landed at Blake’s farm. I wasn’t sure it was something I thought I could ever have until now.
He’d caught me off guard with the kiss. I’d been hoping all day he’d give me one, but every time I thought he might, he’d seemed to change his mind. I wasn’t sure what to do myself. Most things in life I want, I go straight for, but I’ve always been uncertain about men. I didn’t know if I was reading him wrong. Had I built all this up in my head and read way too much into things?
Then he kissed me. It was like the world ignited around me. I wanted to grab a hold of him and pull him to me. Wrap myself around him, but he was gone so quick. I didn't even have time to process what had happened. It left me feeling mixed up and confused, questioning once again if I was reading him wrong. It was almost like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough.