Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 153946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
“Reverse harem?” August sounded scandalized. “How do you even know that term?”
Good question.
The two guys paused on the front porch, looking August over with interest. I crossed my arms to keep from dragging her behind me and glared at them, but they were already moving toward the front door.
“I’m not starting a harem, reverse or otherwise,” she informed them loudly.
Damn right, she wasn’t.
“Too bad,” one of them said to the other as they crossed the threshold. “I’m a great team player and rent is fucking brutal lately.”
Bernie buried her face in August’s shoulder as they both started laughing hysterically.
“Want to let me in on the joke?”
The girls spun around in surprise, laughing harder when they saw me standing there with my arms crossed over my chest.
“Big brother has arrived,” Bernie wheezed. “We’re in trouble now.”
“Tell him Chick did it,” August ordered while fighting to catch her breath. “I’m fine throwing him under the bus since he bought furniture without asking for permission first.”
I frowned. “Weren’t you planning to put the queen in there until you could take him mattress shopping?”
August nodded adamantly, finally getting a handle on her giggles, though her eyes still gleamed with humor. “He knew that, and trust me, I gave him an earful when I called him about it. He said letting him do this was a favor for him, since he wouldn’t be able to sleep on the queen and I’d feel guilty about sending him to the chiropractor’s office. I’m not sure why an entire bedroom set was necessary though. I’ll have to pay him back for that.”
She wasn’t talking revenge—she would actually pay him back the cost of what looked to be top-of-the-line furniture. If he didn’t accept it, she would slip it into his wallet as he slept. I spoke from experience. Any time I’d purchased a tool or supplies for one of our projects, she’d insisted on reimbursing me one way or another.
I couldn’t blame the man for not wanting to sleep on that bed, but he had to know she wouldn’t like this, and he sure as hell wasn’t winning any points from me with the naked delivery guys.
“Miss Sunshine, ma’am? We have a placement question.”
Her smile dropped and she looked at Bernie. “Did he call me ma’am?”
“Go on, Miss Sunshine,” Bernie said, pushing her toward the house. “I’ll fill Wade in and then I have a few classes to run, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
August hugged her tight and my mood temporarily lightened at the sight.
“Thank you for today,” she said fervently.
“I hope you’re still saying that tomorrow when your muscles start aching.”
“Too late. But I’ll take a bath tonight.” August sent me a suggestive look before following another half-naked gym rat into her house. Without me.
“Fill me in on what? Did something happen you didn’t tell me about?”
Bernie shrugged. “She had to deal with some cocky teen drivers, but she handled it. Her skills are fine too; she just needs to get over her nerves. You don’t have to worry.”
“Who’s worried?” I watched two of the shirtless dude-bros strut outside in time to the music. They caught me glaring this time and gave me a wide berth to get to their truck.
Bernie put her hand on my arm. “You don’t have to worry about them either. These boys are pure himbo goodness, and not after your girl. They’re not her speed, anyway. She likes grumpy old men covered in dirt, for some reason.”
I looked down at myself and grimaced. I’d washed my hands and face before I left, but as usual, my shirt and pants needed degreaser and a run through a car wash before I got close to anyone. Compared to these kids, with their shaved chests and oiled-up eight packs, I wasn’t winning any beauty contests.
“By the way,” Bernie said, “Chick told her he changed his flight and he’s coming in tomorrow so he won’t miss the Lemons meeting. If you hadn’t come home early, I would have called to give you a heads-up. You’re about to be invaded.”
Damn it. Tomorrow night was supposed to be my time with August, our last night together before she had company for an extended visit and everything kicked into high gear with the race. Once the meeting was done and the VW was the team’s official vehicle, I’d be starting six weeks of extended hours at the garage to get the car ready, my sister would be teaching August everything she needed to know behind the wheel in her free time, and Gene would be micromanaging everything in his. I wouldn’t be surprised if the three amigos became regulars in her backyard after they agreed to her terms, at least until the race was over.
And where exactly would Chick fit into this chaotic picture? Sam had mentioned him multiple times in her newsletter, but all I really knew about him was that August talked to him daily, he wrote movies I didn’t want to like, and he’d already offered her a room at his beach house in San Diego.