Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“I’ve been trying to figure that out myself.”
There’s no guard in her eyes and no walls keeping her shoulders from relaxing. She pulls her long hair over one shoulder, but when she looks up at me again, there’s a sparkle, a light I haven’t seen in her pretty green eyes before. And for the briefest moment, I wonder if I put it there.
She tilts her head to the side. “Sure makes you wonder what happened back then to keep this rivalry alive.”
“Sure does.” I take another long drink of my beer before setting it down and turning the glass around on the circle of condensation puddled under it, suddenly worried this is going to end too soon. She could leave any minute because I haven’t given her a reason to stay. Fuck. Just talk to her, Greene. “So what’s next for—?”
“What are your plans—?” She laughs, making me smile as well that we’re both nervous like two teens talking at the same time. Looking down between us, she says, “You go.”
“I’d rather hear you speak.”
The sun set a bit ago, only leaving the dimly lit room to help me see her as well as I want. It’s not enough, but I’m not going to demand the brightest lights be turned on for my benefit. I swear I detect the faintest deepening color of her cheeks that even this light can’t hide from me.
She replies, “I was just going to ask if you had plans now that the game is over? I hear you like to travel.”
“I do. Did . . .” Not sure why the words stumble on my tongue. “I’ve been traveling a long time. I might stick around for a bit.”
“Yeah?”
The right side of my grin rises higher just from looking at her. “Yeah. It’s good to spend time with my family and help where I can. It’s nice to be a part of things again.”
“What do you think you’ll do while visiting?” There’s a shyness to her question that has her glancing away before standing behind it and staring up at me for a response.
This moment between us is different. The energy has shifted into something more mellow, as if the deal turned into a truce without requesting it. “Visiting?” I shake my head. “It’s weird to be a visitor in your own hometown, but I suppose I am these days.” Turning my back to the bar, I rest my elbows on the wood top and stare out over the thinning crowd. “Help my brother with some of his projects and,” I say, glancing at her, “my sister and brother-in-law out on the ranch. I’m not really sure other than to go where I’m needed.”
“I know a fabulous winery you can visit if you’re into that kind of thing.” Her smile is so genuine that she makes me wish I were into wine.
Swinging the bill of my hat back to the front, I say, “I heard it’s real nice out there.” Nudging her with my elbow, I laugh. “In Dover County.”
“It is. It’s a beautiful property. The views,” she says, raising her hands in the air in front of her as if she can picture it now, “are stunning.” Her breath catches, and she slowly exhales with her smile softening. “I’m sure you have similar views on the ranch. You own most of the county and some of the next from what I hear.”
“I only own a small share these days, but I still get to claim that it’s the most beautiful place on earth.”
Her elbow taps against mine this time. “Maybe that’s how the feud started. Dueling properties.”
“I have no doubt it involved property somehow.”
“Hey, Cricket?” Blake’s fiancée stands up next to him and waves her over. “You ready to go?”
My gaze slides to the woman next to me, kind of hoping she’ll stay . . . fine, there’s no kind of about it. I want her to.
Cricket whispers, “They’re my ride.”
“I can give you a ride,” I say before having time to think twice. Shit. The heat of rejection strikes fast, making me want to take it back. “No press—”
“That’s quite a detour out of your way.”
“I don’t mind.” I face her, watching her eyes for any reaction she’ll give me. But I see something steady that I can only identify as certainty.
“If you really don’t mind?”
I’m not sure what we’ve just gotten ourselves into, but I don’t want to untangle myself. “I promise I don’t mind.”
Her smile just about knocks me out. “Okay. I’ll go tell my cousin.” She walks off with a bounce to her steps, the ends of her hair swinging back and forth while cutting through the tables to reach her.
While they talk, I turn around. “Hey, Dad?”
My dad comes over with a rag in his hand, wiping the bar on approach. “Cricket Dover, huh?”