Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 72828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“Hell of a deal,” I agree. “Who owned it before?”
“One owner,” Hudson continues, rubbing his hands over the seat like he’s stroking a lover. “Always garaged. I couldn’t pass it up.”
“It’s gonna be a chick magnet,” Liam says with a grin.
“Not that I need one,” Hud says with a smug smile. “Anyway, it’s perfect for me, and there was room in the garage for it.”
I raise an eyebrow. Hudson lives in the newest of two houses on the Cousin Compound, and I know for a fact that the house only has a two-car garage.
“How do you guys decide who gets to park in the garage?” I ask them.
“We go by age,” Liam replies with a shrug. “Since Hud and I are the oldest, we get the garage.”
“I moved my truck onto the street,” Hudson adds. “And the bike will live in the garage.”
“So, you’ll keep both vehicles?” I ask him.
“Hell yes. This is Seattle. There’s too much rain to only have the Harley.”
“Good point.”
“Sometimes, if the weather really sucks, we let Abby pull her convertible into the garage. I know it’s weatherproof, but it’s best to be sure.”
“So, the living arrangements are going well? Everyone getting along okay?”
“Sure,” Hudson replies. “Zoey’s a neat freak and sometimes yells at Liam for leaving his socks around.”
“I’ll just stop wearing socks,” Liam says, as if that solves everything.
“We’re gonna have a compound party soon,” Hudson adds. “The weather’s finally good enough that we can open up the yard and the pool and spread out.”
“Which is good because there are a lot of us.”
“We’re thinking about inviting the two youngest.” This comes from Liam, who frowns. “We’ve always said no way to the underage kids, but it’s just Finn and Emma who are under twenty-one now, and we can make sure that they don’t drink.”
“We’ll threaten them within an inch of their life.” I cross my arms over my chest, thinking it over. “And if they fuck it up, they don’t get invited back.”
“Agreed,” Liam says with a nod. “Well, we’d better get back to the house. I have to be on set in a couple of hours.”
Liam’s a photographer and a damn good one. Dad hired him at Williams Productions to be the film set photographer for movies they shoot nearby. And, sometimes, Liam flies out to other locations, as well.
So far, he loves it and is doing a hell of a good job.
“See you all later. Be safe on that thing.”
“Yes, Mom.”
The guys get on the Harley and take off, the engine purring like a kitten as they head down the long driveway.
So, Sid’s already moved on.
That shouldn’t hurt as badly as it does.
We didn’t make any promises.
And she made it perfectly clear the night before she left that she was finished with me.
But fuck me, I suddenly want to beat the shit out of whoever this Rick dude is.
My eyes are gritty.
I haven’t left the shop all damn day. If I go inside to rest, I’ll think about Sidney, and nothing good comes from that.
I’d rather work until I can’t keep my eyes open. At least I’m directing all my aggression into something productive.
I’ve just finished putting away my tools for the night and am ready to go inside and eat some sketchy leftover pizza and hit the shower before passing out in bed.
In that order.
Hearing footsteps behind me, I scowl and shake my head. How did I miss the roar of an engine pulling into the drive?
“Sorry, guys, the shop is closed for the day. I’m dead on my feet and headed to bed.”
“Well, damn.”
Every hair on my body stands on end at the sound of that perfect voice, and when I spin around and see Sidney standing in the doorway, I have to rub my eyes, sure that I’m imagining her.
But when I drop my hand, she’s still there.
“Sorry it’s so late,” she adds. “I thought you’d be in the house, but all the lights were off, so I thought I’d try out here.”
“What are you doing here?”
Yeah, my voice is way gruffer than I intended, but I’m tired.
“Well, I thought we could use a conversation.”
“Look, Sidney, if you’re here to bust my balls some more for being an ass before, I’m gonna save you the trouble. I already apologized, and I’m too fucking tired to spar with you right now.”
She shakes her head and swallows hard, shoves her hands into the back pockets of her skin-tight jeans, and looks to the floor.
God, she’s gorgeous. Sure, she was stunning in that dress on the show, from what I saw of it, but standing here, in my shop, with that tight denim and cropped sweatshirt, showing off the smooth skin of her stomach, I want her with a need that I’ve rarely felt before.
Hell, never before, except when it comes to her.