Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“I wasn’t expecting either of you back so soon,” Jayda said.
I looked up as Luther made his way past Locke and toward me.
Maui’s tail slapped against the sofa cushions with excitement at his approach. It seemed that the puppy and I had something in common. We were both happy to see Luther.
“They’re still convening. I was just done with it,” Luther drawled.
He gave Maui the slightest nod of his head, and the dog jumped off the sofa and sat beside it.
Luther took his spot—well, almost. He didn’t sit as close to me as Maui had, but he did sit in the middle of the sofa instead of the other end of it. Maui watched Luther expectantly, and when Luther patted the top of his thigh, Maui laid his head down on it. Jayda had told me Maui belonged to Stevie, but one would think by watching them that he was Luther’s.
“You staying for the Houston game at Bane’s or going to Tampa for the Derby?” Luther asked, his gaze fixed on Locke.
Locke sighed and leaned back in his seat. “Staying to handle the betting for Oz so he can go,” he replied. “But Tampa is a waste of time. Garrett has a horse in that race.”
“Oz seems to think he’s got one that can beat it.”
Locke smirked. “Has he ever had one that has beat a Hughes?”
Luther shrugged. “Garrett isn’t always the winner.”
“No, but when he isn’t, his grandson is,” Locke replied.
Luther appeared to agree as he thought that over. I tried hard not to stare at him, but it was difficult. His chiseled jawline, peppered with dark golden hair stubble, was that of a character in a book. Almost too attractive. That, added with his effortless charm, made a fascinating combination. One I was growing fond of.
“Is Houston playing at home?” Luther asked as Jayda handed him a beer.
I hadn’t even noticed her get up; I’d been so wrapped up in Luther and my awkward gawking, which I had to stop doing. He took the bottle and winked at her before turning his attention back to Locke. Even his wink not being focused on me sent my heart into a flutter.
“Yeah,” Locke replied.
I tore my focus off Luther and looked in his direction instead. He was shooting Jayda an annoyed look. I assumed because she had gotten Luther a beer and not him.
“What about you, Lace?”
That was a jolt to my entire nervous system. The sound of Luther saying my name. I wanted to record it and put it on repeat.
“Ever been to Houston?”
I swung my gaze back to him to find his eyes on me this time. Slightly dazed by him in general, I blinked, confused. He’d asked me something.
Think, Lace. What was it?
Wait…he’d asked me if I’d been to Houston. Why was he asking me that? He knew I didn’t remember.
I shook my head. “I, uh, don’t know,” I stammered.
“Not a big fan of Texas myself,” he said. “You’re not missing much.”
Although his words seemed casual, it felt as if they were important. He was hiding something. Or masking it. I didn’t understand exactly. Maybe I’d just stared at him too long and thought I was seeing things in his eyes that weren’t there.
“I wouldn’t know,” I replied.
He took a drink of his beer and continued to watch me. I had to remind myself to breathe. When his gaze was focused on me, everything else faded away. He was all that mattered. What he said. What he did. It became my sole interest.
After a moment, his attention dropped to my mouth. “That accent isn’t strong, but I can hear the telling twang, all polished over with what I assume is wealth and breeding. What about Dallas? Fort Worth?” He paused. “Rodeos?”
At the word rodeos, an image of a white horse flashed in my head, and I sucked in a breath. It was nothing more but the singular picture; however, my chest was suddenly tight. That white horse was important. Mine. It was mine.
I had a horse?
“I-I—a white horse,” I told him, feeling anxious. “A quarter horse,” I corrected, surprising myself. “Griffin!” I blurted, my eyes going wide. His name was Griffin.
A slow, approving smile spread across his lips. “You had another memory.”
It wasn’t a question, more like a statement, but I nodded my head.
“Yes. I have a horse, and…and I think I’ve been to Texas,” I said, although I wasn’t sure why I thought that. I had no memory. Nothing more than an image of a horse and a name.
“I’d say you were raised in Texas, Ocean Eyes,” Luther replied, placing the bottle to his lips again.
A small thrill shot through me, and I shivered slightly. He’d called me Ocean Eyes. That was a compliment. At least, I thought it was. The idea that he might like my eyes enough to call me that made me want to grin like an idiot.