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)
I nod, “That’s me.”
“Well. Welcome to town. You’ve got a friend now.” She leans over, playfully blocking her voice with her hand as she leans her face to my ear. “I’m also the Sheriff’s girlfriend. Fiancé, actually. So, if you need anything, just let me know.”
“Thanks.”
“I gotta get back to the bar. Stop by again soon, and be careful, okay?” She closes up her laptop and walks away.
I look out the bar window and see the sun is lower in the sky. Checking the clock, I realize I’ve been here over three hours. I leave the money for my burger and beer on the table and make my way to use the rest room before I head out for the forty-minute drive up the mountain. Indoor plumbing is a luxury, and I plan on taking full advantage whenever possible.
When I’m done, I wash my hands, take a look in the mirror and do a little finger comb on my wild hair before heading out the washroom door, not paying much attention, and run smack into some dude in the hall.
“Wow.” I jump back. “Sorry.”
I recognize him from a table near the dart board. His long red hair is tied back in one of those thin ponytails, held by three spaced-out rubber bands, making him hard to forget. His beard matches his hair, including the rubber bands and his smile reveals some serious need for dental care. His eyes are slightly unfocused as he looks me up and down. “You want to bump into me anytime baby, we all good.”
“Yeah.” Sarcasm tips the word as I squint, shaking my head and swatting away his hand which comes up to touch my hair, which people do more than they should. “No.”
He laughs, and the with beer and a burger with extra onions lingering, I’m not saying my breath is minty fresh,, damn, his is whiskey, cigarettes and a dead rat. His lips are wet as he steps forward, giving me an arrogant look.
“I like hard to get. Why don’t you smile? You’d be much prettier if you’d—”
Before I can tell him to fuck waaaay off, an arm as thick as a tree trunk comes between us, flat hand on the wall next to my head. His body is so huge, it damn near blocks out the light coming from above as he occupies the majority of the hallway.
“Don’t touch her.” A rumbling voice shakes me to my bones.
His back is to me so I can’t see his face, but his scent takes away the foul odor of the pony-tail guy and replaces it with a wild masculinity mixed with some spicy forest scent. To my surprise, it makes my belly flip, and there’s an odd flutter that lands hard smack dab between my legs.
“Sorry, man...” I see through the sliver of space between the enormous guy and the wall, the patron raises his hands, leaning over to meet my eyes, his arrogance replaced by fear. “Sorry, miss, ma’am...” he says, backing away, his eyes now back on the other guy.
“Okay.” I cock my head to the side and step back to take in the back of the man standing between us. He has to be the largest human I’ve ever seen up close and in person, and the hairs on my arms stand up.
“Don’t touch her. Ever.” His voice booms in the cramped space, and as much as I’m stunned by this stranger’s possessive sort of protectiveness, it’s vibrating through me like a long-lost symphony.
“I won’t. Mathias, man...” He cranes his neck to look up and I realize they clearly are familiar with each other. “Was just a dumb comment. Won’t happen again.”
“Fucking right, it won’t.”
“Hey, it’s fine...” I start, trying to diffuse the moment, so I can be on my way, but another part of me feels compelled to stay put.
He doesn’t turn, and I find myself reversing my steps, hoping if I retreat, whatever this is will be over.
A low growl vibrates from the human mountain as he turns his head, and I see his face.
Raw. Unbalanced. Rugged.
A little scary.
But sexy in its own way.
His beard is unrefined, his eyes wild, brows arched like a predator ready to pounce.
My breath catches as an unexpected desire surges through me.
Then, reality cools the moment, knowing I need to get out of here and back to my camp. Now is not the time for undue attention.
The Duck Dynasty dude starts again, “Mathias, no deal man. I didn’t know you knew her, I would never...” He leans around the bulk of the man in front of me to catch my eyes again. “I didn’t mean any offense.”
I lick my lips as fear tightens my chest. The entire encounter has taken mere seconds, but time feels slow and I need to get out of here.
The gladiator that’s taken up for my honor turns toward me, and my eyes take in the vastness of him. It’s like looking over an enormous human topographical map.