Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
She smiles. It’s soft, and I can see a sadness that I know she’s trying to hide. She’d probably succeed had I not been studying her all damn day. “Thank you. It’s the hand I was dealt.”
“So, Willow River?”
“When my mom passed, I had to sell the house to pay for her medical bills. I packed up what I needed with my camera and started to travel. Nothing exotic. I spent a year in Nevada and another in Washington State. I’ve been taking freelance jobs, and I’ve been getting by.” She takes a long pull from her glass. “I was looking late one night at job openings on this photography site I’m on, and I saw the ad for Captured Moments. I looked up the town, and it seemed like a good place to land for a while.”
“So, we’re just a stepping stone for you?” I pause. “Does Palmer know that?” It doesn’t matter how bad I want her. I still need to look out for my family. Palmer’s been talking about adding a photographer so she can spend more time with Remi for a long time. I’d hate for her to get settled and Scarlett up and leave her.
“Yes, and before you go all Hulk on me.” She must see the confusion written on my face. “Your hand fisted up.” She nods to where my hand is sure enough in a fist hanging at my side. “And you bulked up. I mean, why do you need all of those muscles anyway?”
I’m not sure if she expects an answer, but I’m not giving her one. Instead, I stare her down, waiting for her to answer mine.
“Palmer knows. I was upfront with her that my time here is limited. I agreed that I would sign on for a year, and then we could go from there.”
I feel my shoulders relax at her confession. Scarlett reaches out and places her hand on my bicep. I follow the movement with my eyes and try to mask what I feel from her touching me, even through my dress shirt.
“Sorry.” She grins. “I just had to make sure they were real. I mean, I thought maybe you might have blow-up biceps under there or something.”
I don’t even try to hide my laughter. “I’m not even sure how to respond to that.”
“No need. I felt the proof.” She winks, and her green eyes sparkle. “Do you eat a lot of spinach?” she asks, barely containing her laughter.
“Umm, does it count if it’s the dip my mom makes?”
She nods. “Sure thing, Popeye.”
A laugh falls from my lips. “Not much of a sailor.”
“Well, it was either Popeye or arm porn guy. I figured I should clean it up for the kiddos.”
I choke on my drink. “Arm porn?”
“Come on now, Archer. You can’t tell me you don’t know that that”—she points at my biceps—“is referred to as arm porn.”
“Never. Not in my entire life have I heard that.”
“What? How is that possible when you look like you? What is wrong with the women in this town?” Scarlett shakes her head as if my not knowing about this crazy arm porn phenomenon she speaks of is just unheard of. I take a sip of my beer to hide my amusement. She’s seriously irritated or baffled, I guess is a better way to explain her current mood, that I’ve never heard of it before now.
“Alyssa!” Scarlett reaches out and grabs my sister-in-law’s wrist. “Help me out here.”
“What’s up?” Alyssa gives Scarlett a kind smile.
“You two know each other?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah, we met earlier.” Scarlett waves her hand in the air.
I know she’s talked to everyone, but to remember their names and to talk as if they’re old friends is surprising. Then again, there’s nothing about the beautiful Scarlett that says she is like anyone I’ve ever met. This one is a firecracker, for sure.
“Anyway, this guy”—Scarlett points at me—“has never heard of arm porn.”
“Really?” Alyssa asks. “How is that possible? I mean, all nine of you are perfect examples.”
“Perfect examples of what?” Sterling asks as he joins us, wrapping his arms around his wife from behind.
“Arm porn.”
“Arm what now?” he asks.
Scarlett and Alyssa fall into a fit of laughter. “Arm porn.” Alyssa turns in his arms and squeezes his biceps. “This,” she tells him.
“Why is that turning me on?” Sterling asks with a glint in his eyes.
“On that note.” I finish off my beer and set the empty on the table. I hold my hand out for Scarlett. “You’re new in town, but let me help you out here. My brothers, when it comes to their wives, and our dad, too, they don’t care who is around.” I point to my brother, who is now lip-locked with his wife. “Save me. Dance with me.” I jut out my bottom lip in a pout, and Scarlett tosses her head back in laughter.