Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
That question hit him hard. She sounded so confused.
Fuck.
He couldn’t blame her. He had been an asshole to her.
Several times.
And now he realized he needed to make things up to her. He should never have messaged Tex. And when he’d heard that her car had broken down and she’d been reduced to sleeping in it, well, he probably should have gone and checked on her. That would have been the decent thing to do.
Instead, he’d let himself get preoccupied with the ranch and Wyatt.
“Look, I owe you an apology for the way I acted the other day. Guess I was a bit of an asshole. But I didn’t know you, and you were acting oddly and giving my kid candy. I was . . . concerned about his safety.”
“He was by himself. In a public space. I could have just left him alone but I was worried about him.”
“I understand that now. Are you going to accept my apology?”
Chapter Eight
Accept his apology?
“I’m not sure you actually apologized,” she pointed out.
“Close to it.”
Was that the best she was going to get?
Nope. She didn’t think so.
“Apologize properly and I might consider it.”
He narrowed his gaze. “You’re a brat.”
Casey gasped even as she felt something stir inside her. Something that felt almost like desire or happiness.
But why would this man calling her a brat and carrying her around and fussing over her make her feel all warm and bubbly inside?
Ridiculous.
She didn’t like the feel of his arms around her. Or his very masculine scent. Or the way he took charge.
Nope.
And she definitely didn’t like him calling her a brat. She was not a brat.
She was a good girl. Just spirited, as her Granny used to say.
“I am not! And you’re terrible at apologies.”
His face twisted and he let out a noise of irritation. “Fine. I apologize for the other day. I was in a grouchy mood because I was worried about Wyatt. And I might have taken some of that out on you.”
“Apology accepted,” she said. “Even if you did call the cops on me and that asshole arrested me. He was gunning for me after you complained about me. Apparently, you’re the King of Oddity and I’m the loser pauper. Or something like that.”
“Don’t call yourself that.” He grasped hold of her chin, holding it firmly.
“Well, that’s basically the truth. I mean, I was sleeping in my car and got arrested. You can’t get much lower than that.”
“Why were you sleeping in your car?” he asked.
“It broke down and it was late at night.”
“Bob would have come out at night and towed you. And given you a ride to a motel.”
“Right. All with a hefty after-hours cost,” she said.
“Is your car fixed?” he asked.
“Not yet.”
“What’s wrong with it?” he asked.
“You ask a lot of questions,” she told him.
Jeb just stared down at her.
“I don’t owe you any answers.”
“But you’ll give them to me, won’t you?”
“Why would I do that?”
“So I can take care of them for you.”
The arrogance in that statement was kind of mind-blowing. But she wasn’t sure why she was so surprised. What did surprise her was the way she had to bite back the urge to cry.
What was wrong with her?
Hadn’t she set out on this adventure because she wanted to become more independent? From her family. Her father.
And here she was nearly in tears over the idea of someone wanting to take care of all her problems. It was ridiculous.
She was just so sick of everything feeling hard.
And it would be heaven to just let go and let someone else take care of and protect her. To let them take the burden.
Even if just for a day. Then maybe she could sleep better. Perhaps she’d be able to breathe.
However, she knew she couldn’t just give in and let this man take over.
For one, he was her nemesis. Although her hatred toward him seemed to be lessening. She was certain it wouldn’t be long until it came back, though.
“I don’t need you to take care of things for me,” she informed him.
He shot her a look of disbelief.
“I know it seems like I don’t have things together. But I’m a big girl. And I need to take care of myself.”
The look on his face didn’t change.
Great.
“I know you feel bad about the way you treated me at the playground. But I shouldn’t have given Wyatt candy. Or have tried to battle for the swing. A normal adult would have called the police and given him the swing. I just can’t seem to be normal.”
“Normal, huh?” he murmured.
Normal like him. Sure, he might be out-of-this-world gorgeous with his dark hair and that five-o’clock stubble over his firm jawline. But she bet his life wasn’t a chaotic whirlwind of highs and lows like hers was. More lows at the moment but hopefully that would change.