Hard Knox Read online Riley Hart (Havenwood #3)

Categories Genre: M-M Romance, Romance Tags Authors: Series: Havenwood Series by Riley Hart
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Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
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Turning around, I went into my room, grabbed clothes, took a quick shower, added a little eyeliner, and then was on my way.

When I walked into Sunrise Café, it was even busier than it had been my first time there. Mom was seating someone—oh, it was Remington, Lawson’s boyfriend. He was at the last empty table in the restaurant. Mom turned and saw me. Her eyes lit up, and again, it made me feel guilty. I was there, in Havenwood, and we were living together, but we didn’t spend much time together.

Remington glanced up and noticed me, waved me over, then said something to Mom. She nodded, and I headed toward them as she met me halfway. “Remy says you can sit with him.”

Holy shit. It wasn’t every day a musician invited you to have breakfast with him at the small-town café your mom worked in and his boyfriend happened to own. Damn, Havenwood was a strange place.

“Great, thanks. Listen, about last night. I’m sorry I didn’t call. We were playing with Frankie Blue—the puppy Logan got—and then I helped Knox with dinner. Logan asked if I could play board games and watch a movie with them, and I just…I’m not used to living with my mom.”

“I’m glad you had a good time. Knox is a nice man, and you’re an adult. You don’t have to check in with me.”

“I know. But it’s still respectful, so I’ll try to do better, okay?”

Appreciation sparked in her eyes. It was so simple really, to make my mom happy. I wished my father had tried to do it more.

“Go join Remy. I’ll get you both some coffee.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied before heading to the table where the musician sat. His red hair was messy. I was fairly certain he hadn’t combed it today. He had on a wrinkled T-shirt, and a notebook sat beside him. “Are you sure you don’t mind if I join you?” It wasn’t as if we knew each other.

“Of course. Your mom is…well, she’s great. She made me feel welcome when I first came to Havenwood, so I’m following her example.”

I smiled, contentment settling in my chest. The people of Havenwood loved my mom, and I was so happy she had that. “Thanks.” I sat across from him in the booth.

“I don’t know that I’ll be the best company,” he said.

“Do you know you?” I teased. “You’re Remington Monroe. I can’t believe I’m even sitting here with you right now.” His eyes darted down, and a sting of regret hit me. “Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to make things awkward. I’m sure you want to feel comfortable while you’re at home and not have people fanboying all over you.”

He gave a soft chuckle. “It’s okay. Not your fault. I’m getting better at it. Anxiety stuff. And please, call me Remy.”

“Remy.” I nodded. Not gonna lie, I was freaking out a little inside.

Mom came over then with coffee and water for both of us. She and Remy teased each other for a moment. He ordered this skillet thing with meat, potatoes, and who the hell knew what else, while I got a veggie omelet and wheat toast.

“Mary Beth says you’re a nurse practitioner?” he asked when Mom left.

“Yeah, I’m working at the clinic. I have a small patient load right now, and I’m doing a lot of urgent-care stuff, but I like it. How’s…” The music business? Being famous? I had no idea what to even say. “Life.”

Remy snickered, obviously seeing my discomfort. “It’s good. I’m not performing right now. I’m mostly writing lots of new music.” He held up his notebook. “Just trying to keep myself steady, ya know? And enjoying being with Law.” He smiled, and it was clear as day, the love Remy had for Lawson. I could feel it in his stare, hear it in his voice and…shit, I wanted that. I wasn’t sure I’d ever really wanted it before. I was positive I never had that much emotion in my voice about my ex—hell, any of them. I’d cared about Stan a lot, but I knew we weren’t Lawson and Remy.

“That’s great,” I replied. “I came to Havenwood to get away from my ex. He apparently had a different understanding of we’re monogamous than me.”

“Oh. That’s hard. Sorry about that.”

I shrugged. “It is what it is. Maybe it was a good thing. I’m liking Havenwood.” Especially Knox and Logan. They were the highlight so far.

“It has a way with folks, that’s for sure.”

We chatted more about everyday things. Quirks of the town, their group of friends, where I moved from and stuff like that. The food came, and we ate together. Before long, I didn’t feel like I was eating breakfast with Remington Monroe. He was just Remy, and there was something endearing about him.

We had just finished eating when Remy said, “Mary Beth…she talks about you all the time. She’s real proud of you. Law says she told him I remind her of you. I don’t see it.” You could tell he hadn’t meant it in an offensive way. If anything, it was self-deprecating.


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