Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 168(@300wpm)
I can only hope that distance is because she thinks I’m engaged. Holy shit. I run my hand down my face. What if I tell her the truth and she gets mad? She was barely in the door, and we were lying to her. Would it even matter to her, though? My thoughts are all over the damn place.
My phone goes off with a call from Kindred. “You alone?” she asks when I answer.
“Yeah, I’m in the kitchen. I showed her to her room.”
“Did you pick the one next to yours?” There is a teasing tone to her question. I swear she can be like an annoying sister when not in work mode.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes, it matters!” She laughs. “It tells me so much if you picked that room.”
“Did you need something?”
“Ahh! So that’s a yes. Wow. Hollis is into a girl.”
“A girl that thinks I’m engaged.”
“Oh yeah, forgot about that. I thought I was doing you a solid.” I know she meant well, and I am the one really at fault.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Yes, she’s very pretty, and I can tell she’s sweet.” I nod in agreement, though Kindred can’t see me. “I can’t see her as a party planner, though. They have to be cutthroat at times and bossy. She doesn’t give me bossy vibes unless it’s over a kindergarten class she is teaching, and even then I bet it’s sugary sweet.”
"I think she's capable of being anything she wants," I say defensively.
"Ahh, you're in deep already. I love this so much." I can't help but smile. I am in deep. I can't explain it. Love at first sight is bullshit. That's not how the world works, but here I am crashing out hard.
"I'll talk to you later," I say when Gwen steps into the kitchen, ending the call with Kindred.
Gwen has removed her coat and hat, letting me see more of her. Her snowy-white blond hair is thicker and longer than I first thought, but I nailed the curves and flare of her hips. Even if she’s trying to hide them behind a baggy sweater. She’s a fucking vision, doesn’t matter what she’s wearing.
Her eyes curiously peek around, taking everything in. "You like it?" I ask.
"I do." Why did I want her to say that so badly? What is wrong with me? Suddenly, her approval is the only thing that matters to me.
“I love the room you gave me too. You did good with preserving the history while updating at the same time.”
“I can’t take a ton of credit. The crews that came in here and did the work should have it.” A smile lights up her face. I swear it makes my heart stop beating for a moment.
“A lot of people would have stolen the credit.”
“You don’t need to steal anyone's credit if you’ve got your own in life.”
“I like that.” She nods, running her hand along the edge of the kitchen island.
“Sit. I was going to start our dinner.”
“Can I help?” she offers.
“I got it. You traveled today. It can take it out of you.”
“It was easy.” She shrugs. “I took a bus, so I read on my Kindle.”
“A bus? Don’t hear that often anymore.” We have one bus stop in this town, and it’s not often the bus ever comes here. A ticket has to have been purchased, or they skip the town altogether.
“I guess I’m a city girl because I never learned to drive.”
“I can teach you,” I find myself offering. Then I could spend more time with her. I don’t want her riding the bus. So many things could happen. Maybe a driver would be best. One with a lot of experience and ready when she needs them.
“Maybe.” She slips into one of the chairs on the opposite side of the kitchen island. I grab a few things out of the fridge.
“I have a few pre-made things.”
“You’re a meal prepper? You’re full of surprises." She laughs.
“Nah, I can cook a few things, but Tyler comes over and preps them. I never know what I’m going to get, but I’m happy to let him try out his skills on me before he takes off for culinary school next year after graduation.”
“You sound like a really good man.” A man that’s been lying to you. I’m digging my own grave now.
“You’re not used to that?”
“I’ve been questioning a few things. It’s kind of why I’m here. I needed to get away.” I pause what I’m doing. Is she taking a break from a man? Was taking this job her way to escape for a while? Lots of thoughts filter through my mind.
“Are you hiding from someone?” I ask, my hackles starting to rise. I hadn’t thought about her having a partner.
I was too consumed with how the hell I was going to dig my way out of the fiancée hole that I created. It never occurred to me that she wasn’t single. I saw her and immediately thought she should be mine.