Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
She took a long breath as though she needed a minute to calm down from the hilarity.
Garrett’s jaw went tight. “That was rude. He’s not joking. I’m not joking.”
“It’s irony.” She wiped tears from her eyes and held up a hand which brought the flight attendant forth. “Sherri, could you get me a couple of fingers of whiskey? The good stuff. I know my dad hides it, but he would understand.”
“Of course, Olivia. I think Mr. Barnes only put that rule in because Josh and Grim drank and entire fifth of twenty-five-year-old Scotch during their bachelor party. I told him it was the only wild thing they did. They went to Vegas and from what they said on the way back they played some cards and mostly missed Nicole.”
Olivia’s lips turned up in a bittersweet smile. “That sounds like my brothers.”
The flight attendant turned his way. “And for the gentlemen?”
Garrett frowned. “I’m not sure we’re staying.”
Oh, he was going to be so dramatic. “I’d like a beer, please. Whatever you have is fine.”
Garrett leaned in. “I’m not going to let her talk to you that way.”
Olivia’s brow rose again. “I think the counselor will have a Scotch, too. The cowboy prefers beer. And maybe some snacks. Thank you so much, Sherri.”
“Of course. We’ll be taking off shortly,” the flight attendant said and walked to the galley.
“I’m serious. She was mean,” Garrett insisted.
“And you take everything seriously, Counselor. I was laughing because your story sounds very much like my dads. They met in foster care after their families blew up.”
Keane couldn’t quite process that information. He’d met Mr. Barnes and Mr. Fleetwood several times. While they were down to earth and friendly, they both knew how to move in a wealthy world. He knew they hadn’t always been wealthy, but he expected they had normal childhoods. “They were foster kids?”
She nodded and sobered. “Yes, they were, and it was bad. My dad… That’s what I call Jack Barnes. He’s dad and Sam is papa. At some point my brother started calling him Pops because he thought Papa made him sound like a kid. My dad was in from a young age. His mom died and his biological dad had no use for a bastard kid, so he had no one and went into the system. Papa was older when his parents and brother died in a car accident. I don’t suppose the two of you…” She hesitated and then seemed to find the courage to go on. “I don’t suppose the two of you play together.”
“Of course we do,” Garrett replied. “We top subs together.”
But Keane knew what she was asking. “We’ve never had sex together. Garrett is straight.”
Her lips curled up in the sexiest smile. “But you aren’t.”
Keane said nothing, simply stared at her.
Garrett sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. “Olivia, could you please put us out of our misery? Are you firing us? Could you do it before the plane takes off? I don’t want to get stuck in Willow Fork with no way to get home.”
She wasn’t going to fire them. She was going to put them through the hell of being near her and not being able to touch her. She was going to show them exactly what they lost. What they never actually had.
“My Uncle Lucas adores you, and Aidan does, too. I would never piss my sister off that way. Your jobs are secure, but unfortunately I’m going to have to ask you to find a motel. Or rather check into the only one we have in town. I’m sure Keane could stay in the bunkhouse, but I don’t think a lawyer would fit in there.”
“I thought we were staying in the big house,” Garrett said.
She shrugged. “The big house is being renovated because my parents are now empty nesters and want to put the kink back in their marriage. My mother asked me to host you at my place, but obviously I wouldn’t want Keane to have to stay with such a common woman and Garrett can’t possibly live with a ball-busting bitch.”
“I never used that word,” Garrett said quietly. “I wouldn’t call you that. We’ve got a lot to get through. I’ll stay at the motel and Keane can have a place in the bunkhouse if I can’t stay there. He needs to be close. Aren’t there some heifers calving soon?”
“According to the meticulous notes Grim left, yes. So I do need to be close.” Keane watched her. If she didn’t toss them out, they might have a chance. Might.
She shrugged as the flight attendant returned and handed her a crystal tumbler with some amber liquid in it. Sherri passed Garrett its twin and handed Keane a beer. “You can stay in the bunkhouse if you like. I think there are a few beds open right now. Look, let’s get through this as quickly as possible so we can be done with each other.”