Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
She hesitated again, shifting back and forth on her feet.
“If you want, you can follow me all the way to the last paved road, park at the pull-off, and—”
“No, no, that would be silly.” She brushed my words away. “I already online searched you anyway, I trust you.”
I barked a laugh, thinking how much things had changed since I’d last done this. “Good, I think?”
Her grin brightened, like she was going to force herself to enjoy this, before she tossed her apron in the back of her car and turned. “Well, let’s get on with this date, Knight.”
I shook my head, amused that I never could tell what might come out of that mouth of hers.
“I’ve got a few extra sweatshirts in the back if it gets chilly.” I helped her into my truck before taking off around to the other side. I was totally winging this second date of ours, but for some reason I got the sense that a little peace was what she needed, not another noisy restaurant.
Or maybe that was just me, wanting to dig a little deeper under Daphne’s skin.
“Call me crazy”—I turned the key on my truck—“but I was thinking we can stop at the market on the edge of town and get some stuff for a picnic.”
Surprise etched her features before she nodded. “That sounds perfect, actually.”
“It’s weird how comfortable I am around you.” She sipped more of the strawberry sparkling water out of her very fancy disposable champagne flute.
“I'm a talented guy.” I shrugged, thinking how well I’d pulled off this spontaneous date. The small clearing near a lake where I’d done some fishing as a kid proved to be a surprisingly romantic spot.
“Yeah, but really. Where did you come from, Arkin Broderick?” She sipped more of the drink. “And why did it take you so long to get here?”
I laughed. “Where’s here, exactly?”
“With me,” she said, shrugging. “It’s like, just when I need you, there you are, flying in like a superhero to save my day.”
I nodded, thinking that was a pretty good approximation of how the last few meetings with her had been. “My Spidey sense is on point.”
“I work with so many people at the coffee shop, it’s a revolving door of personalities,” she whispered thoughtfully, eyes bouncing around the constellations above our head. “I’ve gotten pretty good at reading people.”
“What’s your read on me, then?” I lay back at her side, arms behind my head. Her profile was silhouetted against the creamy moonlight.
“Kind.” She turned, eyes meeting mine. “Proud.” She leaned back, mimicking my pose, shoulder to shoulder.
“Bossy.” Amusement tickled her voice. “Maybe a little dark.”
“Dark, huh?” I considered her words, never realizing before now that maybe I was projecting a moody bastard sort of vibe without even realizing it.
“Remember I did an Internet search. I know about the arrest.” She gazed at the ground as she spoke, and my heart stood still. My whole body stiffened. That arrest was years ago, after everything happened. I was a hurt and angry kid, barely twenty-two. I didn’t regret what I did—I never would. Because of what I did, another girl didn’t get hurt.
“It’s okay. The bastard deserved it. Do you make it a habit of rescuing women?” she asked while taking another sip of her drink. Her eyes were on me intently, as if trying to get an answer without making me say a word.
“Someone I love got brutally raped and killed. It triggered something. I guess I'm working through it, and I guess that makes me too dark for some people.” I looked at her, trying to see if I was a monster in her eyes, but all I saw was the color of the ocean staring back at me, wild and beautiful.
“Not for me,” she breathed, “because you’re also fun-loving.” She softened, her tone shifting from serious to teasing. She was giving me an out, and I took it. Our shoulders and hips brushed, her skin sizzling against mine even through the cotton of our clothes. “And so protective.”
“That’s probably a pretty accurate reading. I’ll be sure to tip extra.”
She rolled over, one hand buried in her waves of hair as she propped herself on her side to nail me with her intense eyes. “If the company is good, no tip is required.”
She grinned mischievously before popping up from her place on the brand-new picnic blanket, pushing her arms at both sides and twirling softly. The wind picked up around us, and her smile widened. The vision of her twirling under the stars like that was sweet enough to hold me over for the rest of my life.
A slow classic love song wafted out of the speakers of my truck, and without thinking, I rose to my feet, crossing the distance that separated us.
I was drawn to her like a firefly in darkness.