Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“I don’t like it,” she replied, her tone sharper than usual. “So why bother?”
Deciding not to push (for now), I shoved back from the desk. “Well, now that we’ve exchanged mutual trust, I think it’s time for a break from all this intense talk about our past traumas.”
Sarah smiled at my droll tone and gave me a grateful look. “Let’s go out for lunch.”
“Sounds good.” I stood, pulling out her chair for her to stand. “You can tell me what’s happening with Juno in the new book.”
“You want to spoil it for yourself?” she asked, switching off the gas fire.
“I rather like the idea of being the first to know. And I should really, shouldn’t I? Since I’m adapting it for television.”
“The first two books. If you want any more, you’re going to have to pay for it,” she teased with a devilish smile.
I laughed, following her toward the coat stand at the front of the bungalow. “You, little mouse, are turning into a shark. It suits you.”
When she shot me a grin over her shoulder, I once again ignored that terrifying tug in my chest.
Eleven
SARAH
It was a perfect November morning. My favorite kind. The air was crisp with winter’s chill, but the low sun was a gentle heat on my cheeks and cast light over everything, making the thin layer of frost sparkle on the grass and trees and pavements.
Only one other person walked along the beach with their dog, and the water lapped gently at the shore as I talked to Jared on the phone. Theo stood off in the distance, his mobile pressed to his ear. Jared updated me on the wonders of having a second tractor that Georgie could use, and how much quicker the work was getting done. I’d insisted on paying for the new tractor to help with the workload and I was pleased it was a big help to Jared, but I was also distracted as I took pleasure in watching Theo. Butterflies fluttered in my belly. I was getting used to the sensation. The complicated Englishman wore a dark green peacoat, dark jeans, and boots. A striped navy and green scarf protected his neck from the cold, the peacoat accentuating his broad shoulders and tapered waist.
Yesterday, I’d heard grumbling and groaning coming from the guest room and I’d ventured in to find him rearranging furniture. Under his T-shirt, the lean, hard muscles of his biceps popped along with his veins as he hauled the heavy wooden bed frame across the room.
Tingles awoke between my legs as I studied him down the beach, watching him scrub his long fingers through his hair as if frustrated by whomever he was talking to.
“Sarah, are you still there?”
“Oh.” I sucked in a breath, feeling guilty that I’d let my mind wander while talking to Jared. “Of course. Got a bit distracted by a cute dog that’s bounding in and out of the water.”
My cousin sighed. “I still worry about you being out there by yourself. Please tell me you’ve at least made some friends.”
I rolled my eyes at the question someone might ask a ten-year-old. Sometimes, between my shyness and how young I looked, people, even Jared, seemed to forget my age. “I’m here to write a book, not make friends.”
“I just … I worry about you being lonely.”
It was true that I didn’t have any close friends. I’d gone on nights out with some of the girls from work and I kept in contact with my closest friend from school, Allie, even though she lived in Aberdeen now. None of them knew about S. M. Brodie. I’d often longed for that kind of female friendship. Where I felt safe. To entrust my secrets, worries, and fears to another woman.
But I didn’t have enough time with my grandmother to undo the damage my mum inflicted. Her example made it very difficult for me to trust women. But I knew I needed to try harder.
“I’m fine,” I assured Jared. I was not at all lonely right now. But he didn’t know about Theo. He would … my cousin wouldn’t like the idea that I’d spent an entire month alone with an Ardnoch member. He wouldn’t understand. “I’m too busy with writing and this deadline to be lonely. Are you lonely?”
He chuckled. “I’m too busy with the farm to be lonely. So I get your point. I’ll lay off.”
“I know it’s just because you care.”
“You’ll call if you need me,” he said, as he did every time we spoke.
I was distracted for a second as Theo turned to look at me. It took a minute to remember what Jared had said.
“Oh … aye, you know I will. And I want you to call if you need me. I know it’s still early …” Our grief over losing Grandpa was still fresh.