Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 105868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
The outage had affected half the town, and while the sky had cleared, the lines weren’t fixed yet. He watched her unlock the clinic door in his rearview mirror before pulling away, the sun catching in her hair and turning it almost white for a second. The woman looked like an angel.
Yeah, he was losing it. Seriously.
Mud clung stubbornly to the tires of his backup truck, the one he used for plowing during the difficult winters. The Alaskan state troopers still had his main truck, considering he’d handed it right over for them to search. At least they’d released his cabin back to him after not finding anything linking him to the death of that poor tourist. He should call Brock for an update on the case but figured if Brock had any news, he would’ve shared it.
Ace would rather think about May than murder. He kept one hand steady on the wheel as he hit the main road. The sky was a deep, impossible blue now. Clear. Clean. It was the kind of morning that made Alaska feel untouchable and attracted even more tourists to visit. The mountains rose powerful and immortal in the distance, snow still clinging high on the peaks. The air through his open window carried the scent of wet earth and spruce. It should’ve felt peaceful.
It didn’t.
His mind was still back in that shower. On May’s mouth. On the way she’d looked at him like maybe they had a future. Not just a present, and not just one night. But like there was something real between them.
God, he wanted that.
They hadn’t made it to the bed the night before until the fourth time, and it had been an exciting trip the entire time. The passion in that woman inspired him.
His phone buzzed again, and he clicked the speaker on, careful with the steering wheel as the truck pulled slightly left where the mud hadn’t quite worn off. “Osprey,” he answered.
“Hello, Ace. This is Flossy Veltinbelt. How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m very well, Flossy. What can I do for you?”
The sound of pots being put away came over the line. “Well, dear, Delores is busy with her family tomorrow, and Olly is swamped with FBI business, so we need a fourth for bridge. You’re not working yet, are you?”
“No, ma’am. I’m still not flying.”
“Oh, good. Then you’re not doing anything. Will you substitute in for bridge?”
He thought about his schedule. About the empty hours stretching in front of him. About the fact that he’d planned to check on a few repair jobs but nothing that couldn’t wait. “I’m free.”
“Well, I know, dear. You’re not working.”
He rolled his eyes, though she couldn’t see him. The truck rumbled beneath him as he shifted gears, the old engine steady and familiar. He’d rebuilt part of it himself last winter. “Flossy, I know what y’all are doing.”
Silence ticked over the line for a moment before she sighed. “Yes, we’re looking for someone who has nothing better to do during the day than to play bridge.”
“No, you’re trying to get me to go back to work.”
Flossy laughed, bright and unrepentant. “Oh, honey, if you don’t want to go back to flying, you don’t have to, though you should get some sort of job.” She hummed, cheerful as ever. “You know the Miller boys are getting awfully busy with their landscaping business and their touristy business. Maybe they could hire you. You wouldn’t mind working for a couple of seventeen-year-olds, would you?”
He fought back a laugh. The Miller boys were good kids. Hustlers. Probably making more than he was right now. “No, ma’am. I’d be proud to take any hard work to earn a living.”
“Oh, that’s such a refreshing thing to hear. One would think a grown man such as yourself would just hate to work for kids. I’m glad you have no pride, Ace.”
“Flossy,” he said, warningly, though a grin tugged at his mouth.
“Yes, dear?”
He couldn’t stay mad at her. Nobody in Knife’s Edge could. She’d fed half the town at one point or another and knew every secret worth knowing. “I’m going to kick your butt at bridge tomorrow.”
“You’re a big talker, Ace. I would say let’s put some money on it, but we both know you don’t have any.”
He gasped in mock outrage, playing his part with her. “Well, I never.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow at two.” She hummed softly. “In fact, I need a ride.”
He eased the truck around a bend where runoff had carved a shallow rut in the dirt. Sunlight flashed off the hood. “I’d be happy to pick you up. I’m assuming we’re playing out at Loretta’s house?”
“Yes, it’s her turn to host, and I know it’s a bit of a drive out to the Randsoms. You still do have a truck you can use, don’t you? I heard the troopers have your nice black one.”