Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38855 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38855 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
“Just a coke today.” Astrid answers. “But, I’d love a burger too. Not for free of course. Double patty, with bacon...extra grease.” She looks up at me. “That okay? I’m starved, for some reason.”
“Anything you want.” I lean down and kiss the part of her hair. “I’m just going to take care of some business at the bank, and a couple other quick stops. Should be back in an hour.”
“I’ll take good care of her.” Beverly winks at me and I growl, looking down at Astrid to find her grinning at my discomfort.
I take Astrid’s shoulders in my hands and turn her to me. “I’ll be back. Have fun. When I’m done, we’re going to go get your new phone. I don’t like not being able to know where you are, how you are...every second, I’m thinking about you.”
“Stalker.” She crinkles her nose and pokes a finger at my chest.
“Proud stalker.” I reach down and give her ass a swat, then turn around and glare at every other male in the place until each one looks away. Most in town know me. I’m not one to pick a fight, but I’m also one to win any fight that picks me.
I may not have a lot of friends, but I do have respect, and that’s enough.
“I’m going to leave my shirt...” I peel off my a heavy flannel shirt, more a jacket I wear almost every day, with a t-shirt underneath. Fashion is not my thing, but the way Astrid looks at me, I don’t think I have to make any changes in that department. “It’s getting warm.”
Astrid takes it from me putting it to her face, inhaling deeply. “I think whenever you leave me, you should make sure I have one of your shirts. It’s better than any teddy bear.”
I smash my lips to hers for a full on, tongue swiping, no holds barred kiss, then let her plop down in a chair at the closest table, breathless as she holds onto my shirt, with Beverly cackling as I make my way outside.
I didn’t want Astrid with me because I’m going to see the sheriff about her fuck-father and the other errands have to do with her. And I want them to be a surprise.
The simple walk from the car to the bar, pride swelled in my chest. Knowing she was next to me gave me more purpose than I’ve felt before in my life.
To me, she is perfection, and it’s still hard to believe a woman like her would want a Cro-Magnon like me.
So, one of my tasks today is to get her sweet ass locked down. Bind her to me before she thinks twice.
I swing open the door to Medawar’s Jewelers so hard it slams into the wall outside. It’s the only jewelry store in Walkerville, and the owner, James Medawar, shoots me a stunned look as I enter.
“Mathias...” He fusses with the knot in his tie, looking uncomfortable and I never realized he looks like an undertaker with his black suit and tie. “This is a surprise, is something wrong...”
He was an acquaintance of my parents, but I’ve never had any use for jewelry and probably came off as rude to him in the past, because materialistic things like jewelry made no sense to me.
Until now.
“No.” I grunt walking toward a jewelry case full of rings. “Nothing’s wrong.” I start, then grab the edge of the glass case, arms shoulder width apart, elbows locked, leaning in and looking like I’m probably about to be sick all over the perfectly polished glass. “I’m fine. I need a ring.”
“A ring?” He throws me a puzzled look but steps my way, maintaining a safe distance between us. “What sort of ring?”
I stare into the case. Under the glass are all sorts of diamond ring sets, but nothing looks right.
Not for my perfect love.
“Is there something bigger? Different?”
“Bigger and different...” He steps forward, looking into the case full of diamonds rubbing his forehead and I understand a good portion of the diamonds would not be considered small, but I don’t see anything that’s just right.
“Yes,” I snap, then stand straight, shoving my hands down into my front pockets. “Bigger. Not so...common looking...”
“Well.” He brings his hand to his chin, half covering his mouth as he contemplates. “I have some heritage jewelry I purchased recently from an estate. It doesn’t usually sell to the market around here, I tend to find buyers in New York, out east, California...”
“I want to see.”
“The pieces are...” He’s trying to be tactful, and I narrow my eyes when he finishes. “Not for the average budget.”
“Bring them out.” I enunciate each word, hard and clear.
“Very well.” On a huff he disappears into the back room. A few minutes later, he re-appears with a hinged black velvet box about twelve inches long and half as wide, and sets it on the glass case in front of me.