Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“Yeah, I heard something about that.”
“You’re going, right?”
“Suppose so. You?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Without saying anything more, we both got back to work, and it wasn’t long before we’d removed all the wiring from the top floor. Knowing there was still lots of work to be done, we headed downstairs to help Rooster and Chains. They were working on removing the old drywall, and as expected, they were both busting their asses to get it done and get it done right.
They’d both patched in a couple of years prior and had never failed to give one hundred percent—no matter what they were doing. Rooster was an ex-Marine. He was a good-looking guy in his early thirties with dark hair, blue eyes, muscles of steel, and a heart of gold. I thought a lot of him. We all did. He’d proven time and time again that there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for the brothers, and we felt the same about him.
Chains was a bit older, quieter, and a little rougher around the edges. He’d also spent some time in the military, but it hadn’t done him any favors. He’d seen things and done things that changed him, rattled him to the core, and there were times when his PTSD got the best of him. Thankfully, he had us to help him stay on track.
As soon as Rooster spotted us coming in their direction, he shook his head and grumbled, “It’s about time. Hell, I thought you slackers were gonna spend all morning fucking around up there.”
“We weren’t fucking around, asshat. We were working.”
“You’ve been up there pulling wire for over an hour.”
“Yeah, well, when we do something, we do it right. Even if it takes some time.”
“Um-hmm.” Rooster lifted his sledgehammer and slammed it into the old drywall, then said, “Stick around. Chains and I will show you how it oughta be done.”
“Yeah, right. You can bite the big one, brother.”
“I would if your new girl was around.”
Rooster’s smile widened as he brought his hands up to his chest and cupped them like he was holding two large breasts. I could tell by the mischievous look in his eyes that he was about to say something he’d regret, so I warned, “Watch it, brother. You’re about to cross a line you don’t want to cross.”
“See. I told ya.” Chains nodded in my direction as he said, “He likes her.”
“Too bad she doesn’t like him,” Rooster goaded.
I was done getting a hard time from my brothers, so I gave them both a scowl and growled, “Don’t you two have work to do?”
“Yeah,” Rooster glanced over at the wall they’d been working on. “Unfortunately, we do. Lots of it.”
“We’ll give you a hand.” I stopped and gave him a warning look as I added, “As long as you stop with the bs about the girl. I don’t wanna hear it.”
“Ah, hell yeah. You got yourself a deal.”
“That was easy.”
“Didn’t have much choice in the matter.” Rooster toyed with his sledgehammer as he continued, “Cotton wants us to make a run to Tacoma to pick up a shipment after work, and the way things are going, we’ll be lucky to get out of here before dark.”
I’d made the same run to Tacoma many times. It was well over two hours away, and while the scenery was pleasant, some of the back roads were in bad shape and made for a rough ride. They were both in for a long night, so it was easy to see why they were so willing to put an end to their pestering over Jules. I was in no position to look a gift horse in the mouth, so I grabbed a spare sledgehammer and got to work.
The guys were pretty quiet, just a few grumbles here and there, so I had a lot of time to think as I helped tear down the old drywall. I tried to keep my mind busy by thinking about all the things I needed to get done at my place—from chopping some firewood to winterizing my ATV, but it wasn’t long before I started thinking about her—the beautiful blonde who’d had me wound up tighter than a two-dollar watch.
I couldn’t understand why she hated me like she did. I was a stranger to her—just some guy who thought she was hot and wanted a chance to get to know her. Trying to figure it out, I spent the next few hours thinking about our encounters. I mulled over every word that was spoken, every look that was exchanged, but no matter how I twisted it, I couldn’t figure it out.
“Hey, Q,” Chains called out, pulling me from my thoughts. “You okay over there?”
“Yeah. I’m good.” I tossed the last of the drywall into the pile as I replied, “Just ready to get out of here.”