Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
I shrug, and he continues, “Plus, Maddie will be here. She can handle anything that comes up.”
I just nod my head. “Should you get on the road?”
He laughs. “Yeah, probably. About tonight…”
I make sure to void any expression off my face and try to look uninterested. “What about it?”
He doesn’t answer, and I’m forced to turn and look at him. “What is it, Elliott? What’s on your mind? You might as well spill it.”
He laughs and holds his hands up. “I’m just asking. Are you sure you’re up to it?”
My forehead creases. “Up to making sure some dumbass leaves your sister alone? Yeah, I think I can handle it.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “I wasn’t joking. You can’t do something stupid, Rhett.”
I smirk. Well, I think it’s a smirk. It probably doesn’t look anything like one because my lips aren’t accustomed to turning up. “I’m not going to do anything stupid. Why would you think that?”
He shakes his head side to side and laughs. “Oh, I don’t know. How about the fact that the last time you and I went out drinking, you got into a fight, and I had to bail you out of jail.”
I cross my arms over my chest and roll my eyes. You would think I’d have lived that down by now. “That was at least five years ago.”
He nods. “Yeah, it was, but it doesn’t change the fact that it happened. And this is my sister we’re talking about—”
I cut him off. “You surely don’t think I’d let your sister get involved.” I hold my hand up like I’m some kind of boy scout or something. “I promise you, your sister will be safe tonight.”
He lifts his shoulders in a shrug. “I have no doubt you will protect my sister, it’s just…”
His voice trails off, and I throw my hands up. “What? It’s just what?”
“You’re protective of her, and I won’t be there to keep you calm, that’s all I’m saying.”
I shrug. He’s right. I am protective of his sister. The truth is, if I get the chance to lay out Wes, jail time would be worth it. “It’s going to be fine. I got this.”
He turns his head to the side and glares at me. “What?” I ask him.
“Don’t hurt my sister, Rhett.”
He’s stalking around to the other side of his truck, and I follow behind him. “Hurt her? What the hell is that supposed to mean? I would never hurt her.”
He takes his hat off, tosses it into the passenger seat, and climbs into his truck. When he shuts the door, he leans out the window. “You wouldn’t hurt her intentionally.”
My mouth drops. What the fuck is he even talking about? “I wouldn’t hurt her… period.”
He tilts his head and looks at me. “Rhett, don’t be dense. My sister has been in love with you since you bought the land next to us. I’m just saying, don’t hurt her.”
He puts the truck into gear, and I grab the door. I physically can’t hold him where he’s at, but there’s no way he’s dropping a bombshell like that and then leaving. If I have to block his truck with my whole damn body, I’ll do it. “What the fuck are you talking about? She doesn’t… she isn’t…”
I’m speechless as I stare back at him. His eyebrows raise in surprise. “Wait. Are you saying you had no idea? You didn’t know…?”
His voice trails off, and I shake my head. “No fuckin’ way. She doesn’t… she was engaged.”
He looks up at the house and then back at me. “Shit, I really thought you knew. I just thought it was something we didn’t talk about, you know.” He shakes his head, and his eyes fill with regret. “Forget I even said anything. I can’t believe you didn’t know. How in the world did you miss that? Oh well, look, all I’m asking is for you to look after my sister while I’m gone. Wes—”
I cut him off. I hate Maddie’s ex-fiancé, and I will take great pride in dealing with him. “Wes will not come anywhere near her.”
He blows out a breath. “Okay, fine. I have to go before I miss my flight. See you, Rhett.”
I take a few steps backward. “See you, brother.”
He waves his hand out the truck window as he drives away. As soon as he’s out of sight, I’m staring up to the main house. I’ve been in the house a bunch of times, but I’ve never been in there without Elliott being home.
I should just leave. I should leave well enough alone and go back over to my small piece of land next door, but the temptation is too strong. I know I heard Elliott right, but I’m not sure I believe it. Before I can talk myself out of it, I start walking to the house. I pound on the screen door and open it. “Maddie,” I call out.