Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Was I supposed to tell you?” I counter.
“She’s been here a while, Rush. You could have come and said hi,” Ramsey tells him.
He swallows hard. “Are you drinking?”
I hold up my almost empty glass of beer. “Yep,” I say, tossing the rest of it back.
“How are you getting home?”
“We’ve got her covered,” Jade speaks up.
Rushton’s eyes never leave mine. “I’ve got her covered,” he tells his sister-in-law.
“No can do, brother,” she replies. “The arrangements have already been made. That is unless Crosby says it’s okay.”
I look away from Rushton, which is harder than it should be, and find Jade’s gaze across the table. She gives me a sly grin, and I nod. I know what she’s doing. She’s giving me a choice that I wasn’t sure I even had until she spoke up. I can choose to let Rushton take me home like he’s demanding, or she and her husband will happily take me home as well. The choice is in my hands, and for someone who didn’t get to choose until she turned eighteen, I appreciate that. These days, I don’t allow myself to put my trust in someone else to let them make decisions for me.
“We’ll see.” That’s the only reply I can come up with. On the one hand, I want to spend time with Rushton. I don’t know that there’s a single woman on the planet who wouldn’t want time with him. On the other hand, I know that he’s too much. The risk is too high to let myself get close to him. And I know that I will fall. The risk is far too great to my heart. I don’t let people in, but with Rushton, there’s this pull I’ve never in my life felt before. I’m usually a trust-your-gut kind of girl, but what happens when you don’t recognize what your gut is telling you?
I feel his hands on my shoulders and his hot breath next to my ear. I shiver as he speaks the words. “Let it be me, Crosby. Let me take care of you.”
Six words that I’ve longed to hear, and they come from a man I barely know. It’s not that I need someone to take care of me. I’m an adult and am very capable. I’ve been proving that over and over since I turned eighteen and was released from the foster care system. That doesn’t mean I don’t think about what it would be like to have someone in my life to lean on. To carry some of the burdens.
“It’s girls’ night,” Alyssa speaks up from her place beside me. “You guys are cramping our style.”
Her fiancé whispers something that makes her laugh. He gives her a quick kiss on the lips and urges the others to leave us be. It’s not until they all walk away that I realize I’ve been holding my breath when I pull a heavy inhale into my lungs.
“Damn.” Palmer’s eyes are wide as she pretends to fan her face with her hands.
“I thought you said you and Rush just met?” Kennedy asks.
“We did.”
“That”—Ramsey points to where Rushton was just standing behind me—“did not seem like just meeting.”
“I’ve seen him three times, counting tonight four.”
“Gunderson’s and the shop.” Alyssa ticks off what they know. “What am I missing?”
“Last Friday, I went to Pizza Town to grab dinner. I ran into Rushton and Blakely. They insisted that I join them. Blakely looked so hopeful I couldn’t say no.”
The group turns to look at Kennedy. “You knew about this?”
She nods. “Blakely talked about it for days after. She really likes you.” Kennedy smiles kindly.
“I really like her. She’s a joy to have in class.”
“Who paid?” Palmer asks.
“Uh, Rushton did. I tried, and he refused.” Palmer nods.
“He’s into you,” Piper speaks up.
“He’s being friendly. Besides, Blakely didn’t give him much of a choice.”
“Trust me, Crosby. The Kincaid men don’t do a damn thing they don’t want to do.”
“Are you into him?” Ramsey asks.
“I don’t know him.”
“Are you going to let him take you home?” Alyssa asks.
“I… don’t know. I hate to impose on anyone. I’ve only had one beer.”
“You’re not an imposition,” Jade tells me. “I promise you that it’s not a bother to drop you off at your place. I can also promise that there is no judgment if you want Rush to be the one to see you home.”
“I’m—” I pause, wondering how much of myself I can let them see. Glancing around the table, all I see are kind eyes watching me patiently. “I’m used to being on my own,” I finish.
Alyssa reaches over and places her hand on top of mine that’s resting on the table. “You can trust us, and whatever is said between us stays between us.”
“Nothing to tell. I’ve been on my own for a long time, and I’m not used to relying on anyone or having anyone to rely on.”