Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
While Cato goes down the list, I glance at Dante again. He winks at Kian, which sets my spine on fire with fury. Kian grins like they’re sharing a secret. Or, as if they already know each other.
Which means…
If this motherfucker is gay and hooking up with Kian—my goddamn Kian—I will blow a gasket. Unbelievable. I scrub my palm over my face, interrupting Cato to address Dante.
“This isn’t the time or place,” I bite out, pinning him with a murderous stare. “In fact, there’s a club right down the street for that.”
“Jax,” Kian bites out, admonishing me for my rudeness.
Ignoring Kian, I faceoff with Dante, ignoring all the other members in the meeting.
“What is that exactly, Sheriff?” Dante asks, his easy smile gone and replaced by something sinister.
Everyone around the table looks at me with confusion, not understanding my sudden hostility toward the new guy. Except Cato, Kian, and Dante. They know exactly what I’m talking about. This asshole wants a piece of Kian, and for fuck all I know, maybe already had some.
“We’re here to discuss…” I trail off, casting a glance at a wide-eyed Cato.
“The Lobster Crawl,” he offers. “It’s in August, but it takes the whole year to plan.”
I wanted to discuss why in the hell Dante and his friends are trying to take over our town, but I let it slide. Cato could talk about the Lobster Crawl until he’s blue in the face. It’s his favorite event despite being mostly vegan. As he starts in on some of his ideas for the festival that takes place on the Boardwalk every year, I try not to wither under Kian’s furious glare.
Fuck.
I have no claim to him. Not anymore. But seeing Dante look at him like he’ll have him naked and beneath him later this evening was enough to have me seeing red.
Dante, no longer interested in salivating over my Kian, studies me much like a mountain lion watches a fox play in an open meadow, as though he could pounce on me any time he wanted to. With such superiority and smugness, I could scream.
“By August, the B&B will be open,” Dante says, offering commentary to whatever Cato was saying. “We’d be open to holding some of the festivities there. Maybe I could pair up with Kian and we could do a tasting.”
Pair up with Kian?
Tasting?
Kian, interpreting my fury, cuts in. “A wine tasting would be fabulous, Dante. Something different. With all the new, high-end businesses opening in Brigs Ferry Bay and their clientele, I think it’s a great idea.” He cuts his soft hazel eyes my way, a warning flashing in them. “Don’t you think, Jax?”
Dante smirks at me. Bastard.
“I can’t promise it’ll be a success,” I grumble out, “but we can add it to the list of festivities.” I point at Martha Joy Hamlin, the owner of the award-winning seafood restaurant in town, also one of our town’s claims to fame. “What are your thoughts regarding the Lobster Crawl?”
She chatters on about what she and her husband Ed have planned, but my attention is back on Dante. He’s sprawled out in the leather chair, comfortable and seemingly pleased at my response to him, which is pretty damn stupid considering I’m the sheriff around here. Everyone knows you don’t piss off the sheriff.
Not this guy, though.
He’s amused and his evil hazel eyes glitter with promise. A shiver teases down my spine at the look he gives me. I can’t decide what his intentions are, but I know whatever they are, they’re ones I won’t like.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, giving me a reprieve from the stare down with Brigs Ferry Bay’s new supervillain. All too happily, I yank it out, hoping it’s Brie with an official police emergency to rescue me from this shitty encounter.
Fuck.
Mom: I set you up on a date.
My stomach bottoms out at reading her text.
Me: You shouldn’t have. You really, really shouldn’t have.
Mom: I keep waiting for you to make a move on that poor girl you work with and you never do. Today, while picking up donuts for your father’s office before work, I ran into the loveliest gem. She’s been here since this summer and a sweetheart.
She. Not he, she.
But it’s not like Mom knows my sexual preference. No one but Cato and Kian know that about me, and though I’ve never come out and said it to her, probably Brie as well. And apparently, through villainous observation powers, Dante Kincaid.
Me: I can’t. Busy night.
Mom: Too bad. I already set it up. It’d be rude not to show. It’s just dinner at Comida’s. Six sharp. Wear your good jeans and do something about your hair. And shave.
Me: Anything else, Mother?
Mom: For the love of God, don’t bring your dog.
Me: But Ox loves Comida’s…
Mom: You’re almost thirty years old now. I’m starting to think I’ll die before you finally settle down with a lovely girl. Do as you’re told and fill me in tomorrow. Pops says hi.