Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Palmer, it’s fine. Trust me on this. I’m going to pack in these groceries, do some meal prep, and I’ll sleep in tomorrow, which basically means sleeping until like seven because my body is used to getting up early for work. Besides, I want to mow the lawn before the hot June sun is high in the sky, and just chill. It is my day off, after all.”
“I know, but it sucks to not have your vehicle.”
“I’ll be fine.” He’s quick to reassure me.
“Well, let me help you carry everything inside.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I do.” I climb out of the truck and open the back door to start grabbing his groceries.
“You think you’re going to be all right driving this thing?” he asks, taking the majority of the bags and shutting the door with his hip.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’ve driven my dad’s and Deacon’s several times.” I follow him into the house and place the bags on the counter as my phone rings. Digging it out of my back pocket, I answer, “This is Palmer.” I listen to the caller, my client, for this evening. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Sure, just call me when you’re ready to reschedule.” We say our goodbyes, and I end the call.
“Everything okay?” Brooks asks.
“Yes. That was my client for this evening. They had to cancel. She’s sick. Bronchitis.”
“Bummer,” he replies.
“Well, I guess I don’t need your truck now.”
“Nah, take it anyway. Just come and pick me up tomorrow on your way to grab your car. It’s all good, Palmer.”
“I guess I should get my groceries home. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“I’m positive.” He smiles, and I feel that smile and its effect on me all the way to my toes.
“What are your plans for tonight now that you’re off the hook from your shoot?”
“Probably nothing. Unless you don’t mind me out hot-rodding in that truck of yours,” I tease.
“Why don’t you take your groceries home and then come back?” He looks shocked himself that he asked. It’s on the tip of my tongue to decline and let him off the hook, but he keeps going. Selling his case. “I’m meal prepping, and I can show you how I do it.”
“I’m sure you don’t want me here cramping your style.” I wave him off.
“I asked you to come back, Palmer. That means I want you here.” There’s something in his tone, it’s laced with confidence and assurance, and it’s impossible for me to say no.
“What can I do? Do I need to bring anything? Pick anything up that you might have forgotten?”
“No. Just you, Palmer.” His eyes are dark blue pools of something that I can’t name, but I damn sure wish I could.
“Okay. Well, I guess I’m going to run home, and I’ll be back. Um, you have my number now, so if you think of something….” My voice trails off.
“Drive safe. I’ll see you soon.” He nods and begins to unbag all his groceries.
My arms are loaded down with bags, because I’m that person who will overload herself to the point of falling over to prevent making more trips. Why, I have not one single idea, but that’s how I’ve always done it. My cell phone rings, but by the time I get all the bags untangled from my arms and hands, it stops, only to start again.
I dig it out of my back pocket and swipe at the screen. “Hello,” I say breathlessly.
“Hey. How’s your car?” Ramsey asks.
“Brooks thinks it’s the alternator.”
“Are you at Declan’s shop? Do you need me to come and get you? I got held up earlier, but I could slip away now.”
“No. Thanks though. Brooks let me have his truck.” I’m greeted with nothing but silence. Pulling the phone away from my ear, I check that we didn’t get disconnected. “Ramsey?”
“I’m here.”
“Oh. I thought that I lost you.”
“Did you just say that Brooks let you have his truck?” Her tone does nothing to hide her shocked reaction.
“I did.”
“That’s his baby.” I can hear the surprise in her voice.
“Men are crazy about their trucks around here. I asked him several times, and he insisted it was fine. Wait, do you think he’s just trying to be nice because you and I are besties, and it’s really driving him insane right now that I have his truck?”
“Palmer, I… no. If I know anything about Brooks, hell, any of my cousins, they’re honest people. He would have told you he’d drive you if he had an issue with it, or he wouldn’t have offered at all. I’m just shocked, I guess. He loves that truck.”
“It’s not like I’m going to be out tearing up cornfields with it. I’m actually just driving back to his place tonight, and then I’ll come home and wait for Declan to call me, telling me my car is ready. I’ll go pick up Brooks and take him to the shop with me so he can get his truck back when I pick up my car.”