Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry, my whole life for the past couple of years has been this place. Mom nearly ran it into the ground because she refused to understand computers. She handed it to me, when it was close to be taken away.” She sighed. “I know she meant well, in her own way, but I’ve not really had time to date, and no one has been knocking at my door hoping to snatch me up. Why? Have you been asked on a date?”
She could lie, but Tillie hated to lie.
“Yes.”
Kate gasped and walked over to her. “Oh, my, you have. That is amazing. Who has asked you?”
“Jaxson Riggs,” she said.
Kate’s mouth dropped open as there was real surprise there. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow,” she said, trying not to wince.
“That is amazing.”
“But you’re shocked,” Tillie said.
“Well, just because he is so gruff, and, well, you know, and yeah, I’m, uh...” she petered off and didn’t quite finish.
Tillie groaned. “You think this is a bad idea.”
“No, I don’t. I don’t think that at all. Far from it. Jaxson’s an ... interesting man.”
“Why do you keep hesitating?” Tillie asked.
“Because you know his reputation, right? He has been with a lot of women, and he’s always so mean.”
“Mean?”
“Yeah, he doesn’t have any time for anyone, and he’s not the nicest guy. I’m just a little shocked.”
“I like him.”
“And that is all that counts. You shouldn’t listen to me. I’ve never been on a date and I don’t know what I’m talking about.” Kate reached over and put her hands on hers. “Come on, does he give you butterflies?”
“Yes.”
“And do you look forward to seeing him when he’s not around?”
“Yes.”
“And are you excited about this date?”
“Yes, I am.”
“So, there you go. You don’t have to keep overthinking it, and don’t take my initial reaction to mean anything. People change. Other people can bring the absolute best out in each other, and another person can bring out the worst, so don’t go thinking about me and my reaction. Mine means nothing.” She smiled at her.
“I’m nervous. I don’t know what to wear. I don’t know what to do.”
“Just be yourself, Tillie. You’re an amazing person. Honestly, you’ve helped me out with this place so much. You got me on my feet, and I was able to make this place work.” Kate reached over the counter and hugged her. “You deserve so much happiness.”
Her friend kissed her cheek.
Belle perked up, lifting her head.
“This heat is crazy, though, right?” Kate asked. “I had to put the AC on. I had this horrible feeling that if I didn’t, my fabric was going to catch fire.”
“It has been hot.”
They got to talking about some of the gossip around town. Neither of them spoke about Jaxson.
Talking with Kate didn’t exactly calm her nerves, in fact, it did the complete opposite. She knew the reputation Jaxson had, but that was before the two of them started ... what? They weren’t exactly dating. They hung out a couple of times, and now she had sex with him. She wasn’t keeping her virginity for a special occasion. She’d been so focused on her work, and after losing her parents, she didn’t want to date. No one had asked, either.
Maybe she was overthinking everything, or, this was about to become a total disaster.
Chapter Six
Jaxson didn’t want people whispering behind their backs, or for it to be obvious that people might be talking about them. So, instead, he decided to roll up his sleeves and get to cooking himself.
Everything was set up in his place, and he lived in a small house just outside of town. It was a nice street, tended to have a lot of kids playing outside. Most of the neighbors ignored him, just as he ignored them. They only talked to him when they needed something and that was the way he liked it.
So, he had all the work prepared in his backyard, everything was set, and now he needed to go and pick up his date. He never put any effort into anyone else. He certainly didn’t cancel appointments and cook for them. Tillie wasn’t just any other woman. She was special to him.
So, he spent the whole afternoon cooking, and he didn’t even like to cook. He preferred to order takeout, or just bring home a pizza, or he’d go to his parents’ house for dinner, or eat the frozen meals Tillie cooked for him.
Climbing into his truck, he gave a thumbs-up to the two boys playing in the street. They were friends and tended to come and chat with him, trying to ask him everything he knew about girls. Their mothers had been worried, but he served them some soda, talked to them like friends, and it seemed to settle their parents down.
He wasn’t going to run down all the things he’d done with women, with a couple of fifteen-year-old boys. That shit would not happen. He also wasn’t going to make them angry little boys either. That was unnecessary. So, he talked to them, showed them some respect, and in return they did the same. He spoke to them the way he liked to be spoken to growing up.