Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
And I her.
My other half.
My beautiful angel who rescued my soul from loneliness.
I need to wrap this up, so I leave my office, heading toward the boardroom. I need to get out of this suit and go home.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
BILLIE
Simon walks into my bookshop, and I scowl at him.
“Did you seriously tattle on me?”
It doesn’t surprise me when he doesn’t smile.
“I like my job, Billie. I need you to help me keep it.” He assumes his position beside the front door, hands clasped in front of him, staring straight ahead.
“He looks like he could be the hero in one of the mafia books we read. All broad-shouldered and the obvious tattoos under that suit,” Emily says from beside me, not bothering to keep her voice down. “You know he’s muscled and can handle a gun. It’s kind of hot.”
Simon doesn’t even blink.
I swear, the man is made of stone.
“He’s not fiction. He’s a real-ass man, Em.” I roll my eyes and turn away from Simon. “Stop ogling my bodyguard.”
“Hey, not all of us have sexy billionaire boyfriends,” she reminds me with a smirk.
“Can we work now?” I ask dryly as I grab a bottle of my favorite water—which Connor always keeps stocked here—out of the small fridge behind the counter and unscrew the top. “I got an email from Catherine Cowles. She’s going to do a signing for us next month.”
Emily’s jaw drops in surprise, and then she hops up and down. “Holy shitballs! She’s my favorite, Bee. I’m going to make an absolute ass out of myself when I meet her. She’s going to think I’m a moron.”
“No, she won’t.” I laugh and take a sip of water. “She seems really kind. Plus, you’ll pull yourself together before then. I need to order some books, have graphics made for social media, and a whole bunch of other things to get ready.”
“We can do this,” Emily says, giving me a mock salute. “No worries, babe, we’re on the case.”
I smirk as she hurries off to help a customer. Grabbing my laptop, I sit in one of the comfy chairs to place my orders and get some other work done for the day.
Just after I email the amazing woman I use for graphics, the door opens and in walks Juliet.
“Hey!” I jump up and wrap her in a hug.
“Hey, bug,” she says with a smile. “How is every little thing?”
“Pretty damn good.” I laugh. “And you? How’s the new restaurant coming along?”
“Aside from plumbing issues in the building, a freezer on back order, and a whole shipment of plates arriving broken, things are good.”
“Oh no. I hope that doesn’t delay your opening.”
She shakes her head and pushes her pretty hair over her shoulder. “I’m determined to make it work. But I’m also trying to make myself relax in the evenings, and maybe some new reading material will help.”
“You left here with a dozen books not that long ago.”
She laughs and wraps her arm around my shoulders. “Honey, I’ve already read them.”
“Well, I have you covered. What are you in the mood for?”
“Sports romance,” she decides. “And maybe some billionaire romance, too.”
“Lauren Blakely and Helena Hunting both have some new hockey releases out that are fabulous,” I inform her, leading her to the sports romance section. “And billionaires? You can’t go wrong with Sadie Kincaid.”
“This is exactly what I need.” She grins and gets lost in reading the back cover blurbs, tucking the ones she wants in her arms.
“Have you talked to Brooks yet?” I ask, and her face falls. “Jules, you live in the same town. The same tiny town. You’re going to run into him sooner or later.”
“I know.” She sighs. “I’m just not ready for the rejection. I figured I’d get the restaurant up and going first, and then go grovel for forgiveness.”
It’s none of my business.
“Billie, I could use your help,” Emily says behind the counter, catching my attention.
“Go. I’m good here,” Juliet assures me with a grin. “I’m just going to shop for a while.”
The afternoon moves by swiftly, and before I know it, it’s time for me to close the store and head over to Skyla’s dance studio for Birdie’s dance recital.
“Let’s grab a quick dinner,” I say to Simon, who simply nods. “Hungry for anything special?”
“Nope.”
“Are you originally from New York?”
“Nope.”
“Are you at all interested in Emily?”
He pauses. “No.”
I raise an eyebrow as he opens the back door of the SUV for me. “Maybe a little?”
“Where to?”
I sigh and bite my lip. “Let’s just grab a pizza. I’ll call ahead. Do you like pepperoni?”
“Fine.” He nods and closes the door, and I place our order.
“You’re a man of few words, Simon.”
“It’s not my job to chat,” he replies, but his voice isn’t hard or angry. “I’m here to protect you.”
“What, exactly, does Connor think might harm me in Bitterroot Valley, Montana?”