Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Bex grabs his leash. “Where are we headed?”
“Water break.” Talon starts walking.
“Wait, give me my dog.”
“He’s thirsty.”
“I have water in the car.”
“This is a better idea.”
“What is?”
He continues to ignore me while Bex chatters on behind us with Ford and Ace.
When we hit the split in the trail, he deviates to the field area. Two men wave our way, one of them crouching and clapping.
“Aggghhhhh!” Bex yells as Pepper drags her forward toward them.
“Guess I know who Pepper belongs to.”
“Prepare, Cruz and Alex think of Pepper as their child.”
“I can relate.”
“Alex usually runs him a few times a week, but he’s having knee issues. I offered to help him out.”
“That was nice of you.”
“I’m a nice guy.”
A chuckle sounds behind us.
All the dogs pull forward, getting more and more excited. It’s then I spot the large basket of toys next to a full water station set up.
“Let those fur babies go,” the man standing instructs, bracing as they run to surround him.
When we get close enough, he scans over me, his bright blue eyes widening. After a few seconds, I resist squirming under his obvious examination.
“Cruz, that’s enough,” Talon grouses.
“I can’t help it. How do you guys do it?”
The man with Pepper stands. “Hi, I’m Alex and this is my partner, Cruz.”
“I’m Willow.”
His smile tells me he knows exactly who I am.
Cruz continues to ogle until Alex elbows him.
“Girl, I never thought I’d see anyone look good in the coral cream, but you wear that Lulu like it was made for you.”
I glance down at my leggings and feel a sense of relief. “Thanks, they were a splurge.”
“Liar,” Bex makes a choking sound, covering her mouth.
My obsession with Lululemon is borderline addiction.
Cruz waves down my body. “Gorgeous, stylish, and rocking neon. Girl, own that shit, not many can pull it off.”
I could argue that coral cream isn’t technically neon, but his compliment glides through me.
“Thank you,” I reply shyly, all eyes on us.
“You do know the words,” Talon teases.
“Alright, pups, let’s hydrate.” Cruz lays down four bowls, filling them with water.
“Wait, how do you have a bowl for Wolf?”
“I brought it,” Talon answers casually.
“But you didn’t know we’d run into each other.”
“I knew.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Babe, you were in this park, I’d find you.”
“Thank God you showed. Another lap around that trail was boring as fuck,” Ford throws out as he passes.
“How many laps did you do?”
Talon shrugs. “Three or four.”
“That’s like… five miles.”
“Sounds about right.”
“Those poor dogs.”
“They’re used to it. Well, Mack is used to it. We’re working on Pepper and Rowdy.”
“Wolf would make it about halfway and plop down.”
He drops his chin, smiling down at me. “I’ll remember that for next time.”
Next time… The words sink in.
My stomach does a topsy-turvy move. He’s so close, the woodsy aroma of his body wash mixed with a scent that is all him surrounds me. My gaze moves over his face, noting his stubble is thicker than Thursday. An unfamiliar need to run my fingers through the scruff rushes through me, remembering the way it felt against my skin the night we kissed. I pull my bottom lip through my teeth, his eyes heating at the motion.
“Honey, you keep looking at me like that, in about thirty seconds, your ass will be in my truck.”
“Your truck?”
“The closest we can get away from these prying eyes.”
I snap back to the moment, shaking out of my stupor. “Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.
His arm hooks around my waist, tugging me close. His voice is husky and low when he says, “Have dinner with me tonight.”
Yes! Yes! Yes! My brain screams until the little reminder rears up.
“I can’t.”
“Willow, this hang-up you have—”
“No.” I place my hand on his chest. “I have plans already.”
His heated eyes grow stormy and my heart races. “I’m having dinner with my dad. We’ve been having some, umm… family issues. Well, the issues aren’t new, but Dad and I haven’t seen each other in a while. He’s worried about me.”
His stormy orbs deepen to a scary shade. “Does he have a reason to worry about you?”
“No!” I squeak, slamming my mouth shut.
“Willow?”
“No,” I repeat a lot quieter. “He’s my dad and worrying is in his job description. I’m actually worried about him, too. He’s made some major changes, leaving my mom and moving out. This is the first time I’ll see him since. My grandparents planned a family dinner. Well, family including Bex, who is like family. It will be good for Dad. He’ll be in a safe space to talk if he wants, or not. Who knows? Wyatt always provides a lot of entertainment and…. ”
I’m so caught up in my babbling, I miss the storm subsiding and his eyes taking on concern. “Your parents are splitting?”
“Seems like it.”
“It tearing you up?”
“Not at all,” I answer honestly and catch the flicker of surprise.