Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
My phone dinged, and I glared at it as if it had offended me for several moments before going back over to pick it up. I should ignore him, but right now, I unfortunately needed his help.
Sleep well.
That was it? Sleep well? Did he care if I slept at all? I doubted it. The man just liked to keep me confused. I swore he got off on it.
I will sleep just fine, Storm Kingston.
I turned my phone off and placed it on the nightstand before taking off my clothes. The pajamas felt and looked expensive. Did Maeme have nothing but designer hand-me-downs in this place? Although much like the things I had worn today, this didn’t appear as if it had ever been worn before. It smelled of lavender when I held the luxurious fabric to my nose.
This life could spoil you fast. I hoped Dovie wasn’t getting too attached.
• Twenty-Six •
“Don’t turn your phone off again, or I’ll come turn it back on myself.”
Briar
“What can I help you do today?” I asked Maeme as I rinsed the last dish we had used at breakfast.
She’d made the most delicious waffles I’d ever put in my mouth, and I hadn’t been able to eat just one. Neither had Dovie. She’d taught Maeme the sign for delicious and waffles.
“Not one thing. But Storm stopped by this morning early, and he wants to take you both out to see the horses. Maybe even ride. There are jeans and boots for both of you in the sunroom.”
He wanted to take us to ride? Even me? No, I was sure if he could, he’d do anything to stay away from me. I had expected to not see him, like yesterday. He was doing this for Dovie. Not me.
Dovie signed, “I don’t think I want to see horses up close. I was hoping I could go to the library.”
“You sure?” I asked. “They won’t hurt you.” I wanted to see them. I loved horses.
“I prefer to look at them from a distance,” she signed.
I wasn’t going to force her to do something because I wanted to. That wasn’t fair to her.
I turned back to Maeme, who was watching us with interest. I had to explain Dovie’s decision without looking deflated.
“She would rather stay here and check out the library if that’s okay. I will find something to keep me busy. If you can think of anything I can do here, please tell me. I want to be helpful.”
Maeme waved a hand at me. “Not a thing. But Dovie can stay here with me, and you can go with Storm.”
I wanted to laugh out loud. Like that was going to happen. He was not going to want to take me to see the horses.
“Uh, well, I am sure Storm’s offer was for Dovie. If she doesn’t want to go, I believe he will have other things to do.”
Maeme’s eyes danced with amusement. “Oh, I think you’ll be surprised.”
When she took Dovie to the library, I walked out to the back porch and enjoyed the swing out there. I’d been able to see horses in the distance on the other side of a fence yesterday on our way to the nursery to buy the plants. I wished they could be seen from here. That would make this spot perfect.
The breeze smelled of freshly cut grass and honeysuckle. It was clean, and the world seemed like a safe place possibly for the first time in my life. I knew the truth. This wasn’t something that lasted. Not for me at least.
But oh, how I wished it were so for Dovie. I’d not seen her smile so much as she had yesterday. Pretending like this was a normal home and this was a good ole Southern family was a mistake I would not make. Yes, Maeme was great, but I knew what went on in this house. I’d been to the basement.
The door to the house opened, and Storm stepped outside. My gaze traveled down his body, taking in the black cowboy hat on his head, snugly fit plaid button-up shirt, faded jeans, and snakeskin cowboy boots on his feet. If he wasn’t a walking honky-tonk wet dream, then I didn’t know what was. Completely unfair. I tried to act as if his appearance hadn’t sent a small shiver through me and gave him a bored expression.
“You’re gonna need to change if you want to ride.”
I glanced back at the house, wondering if Dovie was still in the library. I hadn’t heard a peep from her since Maeme had taken her there. “As nice as your offer was, Dovie wants to stay here with the books. She seemed a little unsure about the horse thing. I think it will take some time before she’s willing to even get near one.”
Storm leaned against the railing and crossed his arms over his chest. “Yeah, I know. But I’m here for you. Which you would know if you turned your phone on.”