Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“There are two more in the back.”
“I’ll grab ‘em.”
I reached over the side and grabbed the duffels, slinging them over my shoulder. When I turned back, Presley reached out and placed her hand on my arm. “It’s really nice of you to let Davis stay here like this.”
“He’s my brother.”
“I know, but still.” She let out a breath. “You didn’t have to do it, and I hope Davis remembers that.”
“I’m sure he will.”
She studied me for a moment, and I mean, really studied me. After a beat, her brows furrowed and she announced, “You’ve changed.”
“You think?”
“Most definitely.”
“How so?”
“I don’t know. It’s hard to put my finger on it.” She shrugged. “I guess you’ve grown up.”
“Yeah, but I’m still me.”
“That you are,” she laughed, then followed me up to the door. As we started inside, she asked, “You still play the guitar?”
I couldn’t help but smile as I asked, “You knew I played?”
“Are you kidding?” She rolled her eyes. “Every girl in town knew. Those bonfire parties at the boat ramp wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
“Ah, the good old days.” I gave her a wink. “That was back when you went through the short skirts and cowboy boots phase. I liked that phase. You walked around like you were ten feet tall and untouchable.”
“Yeah, I guess I did. I didn’t think you noticed.”
“Oh, I noticed.” I leaned toward her with a smirk. “Hell, every man in a fifty-mile radius noticed.”
A light blush crept across her cheeks as she giggled, “And there’s the Luke I remember.”
I held her gaze a second longer than I should. “Never really went anywhere. Just learned to bite my tongue.”
“Duly noted,” she giggled, continuing down the hall. “You didn’t answer.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you still play?”
“Oh, yeah. Now and then.” I chuckled. “Whenever the mood strikes or a party runs long.”
“That’s great. You were really good.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.” She kept glancing down the hallway where Memphis and Davis had disappeared into, and there was no missing the worry that was looming over her. Something was going on. I just had no idea what it could be, so I asked, “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“I don’t know.” I studied her for a moment. “Just a feeling.”
Before she could say anything more, Davis stuck his head in the hall and said, “There you two are.”
“Went on and grabbed the rest of your stuff.” I stepped into the room and dropped the bags with a thud. “That should get ya.”
“Good deal.”
“So, what’s your plan for the rest of the day?”
“I’m pretty open.”
That threw me a bit, and I didn’t bother hiding it. “Open? You aren’t working today?”
“Nah. Took the day off.” He shrugged like it was no big thing. “Figured I’d take the day, get my stuff moved and settled in.”
“But didn’t you just start this job?”
“It’s factory work, man. They can live without me for a day.”
I nodded, but I couldn’t help but notice Memphis looking at me. Not a smile. Not a warning. Just a reminder that if I wasn’t careful, this whole thing could blow up in my face. Memphis turned on his heel as he announced, “I’ve gotta get to the casino.”
“Yeah, me, too.” I glanced back over at Davis as I said, “I’m sorry. I just figured you’d be working, too.”
“That’s no problem. I’ll just tag along with you… I mean, if that’s cool with you.”
Before I could answer, Presley stepped forward. “But what about me? I have to get to the salon.”
“What for?”
“I have to work. I told you that.”
Davis’s mouth tightened. It was clear he wasn’t pleased with her response. I wasn’t sure if it was because she’d put a ripple in his plans or the fact that she wasn’t going to be where he wanted her. His brows furrowed. “Call in.”
“I can’t. I have a client coming in. I have to be there,” she pushed.
“It’s okay. I can drop her off on the way.”
“You don’t mind?” Presley asked with concern.
“Nah, I don’t mind at all.” I reached over and gave Davis a pat on the shoulder. “You sure you’re up for a night at the Crown? It’ll be busy. Lotta noise. Lotta moving.”
“Sounds like my kind of place.”
“Then, let’s do this.”
“Hell, yeah.”
Presley lagged behind as Davis and I made our way down the hall and outside. They both piled into my SUV, and Davis was yammering away the whole time. He was playing it cool and lighthearted, but something was off.
But that’s how it was with Davis. The man came with too many red flags to count. Hell, they were sewn into his damn shadow. It wasn’t that I didn’t care. I did, but I was tired of being forgotten.
I was tired of being angry and hurt.
I needed to know I’d tried, really tried, to make things right between us. And it seemed to be working. He’d been treating me like I fucking mattered to him.