Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 138588 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138588 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
What the hell?
Sawyer threw back his head and laughed.
But Wyatt got into her space, putting his hands on her shoulders and barely stopping himself from shaking some sense into her. “This is not a joke.”
Her hands came up, and the minute she touched his face he wanted to hug her. Warmth seemed to spill from her into him, a calm sense telling him they could handle anything. “I know. I’m so sorry he came back into your life. But he was always going to, and you’re not alone now. You have Sawyer and you have me and you have this town.”
The town he was coming to love? He knew he’d made this very argument to Sawyer, but now that the actual threat was here, all he could think about was how nice they all were to him. How they had kids and futures, and his brother could take it all from them. Maybe they would win, but if Wayne wanted a war, he could do a shit ton of damage before they took him down.
He could hurt the kids Sabrina taught. The ones she loved and centered her world around.
He could definitely hurt Sabrina.
“Don’t,” Sabrina said, her chin coming up and showing the stubborn expression on her face. “Don’t you sit there and pretend like I matter when you’re willing to leave me. If you care about me, you should be willing to let me stand beside you. I’m not some meaningless sex toy. I’m not some doll you hug for comfort. I’m a whole real human being who could be part of your life if you allow me to be.”
“He could kill you.”
“I could get hit by a car tomorrow,” she argued, tears welling in her pretty eyes. “I could have a heart attack. I could get cancer like my sister did. The truth of the matter is I’m going to die someday, and there’s nothing you can do about it. But you can choose to live whatever life I have with me. Be brave, Wyatt. Don’t let them take your whole life from you.”
Every word drove into his soul. Was he doing what she’d accused him of? Was he treating her like a toy and not the brave, resourceful woman she was? But how could he put her in danger? How would he ever live with himself?
“Wyatt, it’s done,” Sawyer said, moving in closer, his arms over his chest. “She’s on their radar, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it except spank her ass red and take out all of your tension on her pretty pussy. And her mouth. And maybe her asshole, if she’s ready.”
Sawyer wasn’t helping. “You’re supposed to be the voice of reason. You’re literally the person who told me this was a bad idea.”
“It is, and we’re going to have to deal with it, but my grandfather always told me when fate walks in, there’s not a hell of a lot you can do.” Sawyer stared at her, his hand coming out to stroke her hair. She leaned into his touch. “The night I saw her for the first time, you showed up on my doorstep. I don’t think I ever had a choice. I think you two might be my fate. And that sucks for you. I thought I could help you avoid it, but you’re both stubborn assholes, and you might be stuck with me now.”
“Not if I leave tonight,” Wyatt vowed.
“With what?” Sabrina asked, her eyes wide and guileless as she looked up at him.
Sawyer snorted. “I knew you were up to something. What did you do, brat?”
Wyatt wasn’t sure what she could have done. Until he remembered how she’d brushed up against him as the sheriff and his deputies had hauled off his brother’s enforcers. He stepped back and felt for his wallet. His back pocket was completely empty. And he didn’t have the keys to his bike. Shock flashed through him. His sweet schoolteacher had rolled him? “Where is my wallet, Sabrina?”
“You can have it and your keys back when you’re willing to be reasonable and not make emotional decisions that could harm all the people you care about.” She went back to her tequila as though she hadn’t taken almost everything he owned. “Until then consider yourself in time-out.”
The idea of spanking her held a lot of appeal. “I can hotwire the bike, Sabrina.”
“Maybe, but what are you going to do about the tires?” Sabrina asked. “I asked Lark to let the air out of them. While y’all were cleaning up, Lark and I decided you shouldn’t make big decisions right now. Apparently Lark has been going to a textile arts class with Callie and she’s heard the whole story about how Callie trashed Zane’s bike so he couldn’t sacrifice himself in a burst of male drama.”