Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“I’ll take care of that.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. I want to... It’s nothing to it. I’ll get Smitty or one of the boys to drop it off. I just need the keys.”
“That would be great.” I reached into my purse and pulled out the keys, offering them to him. “You just keep saving the day.”
“It’s my job.” He gave me a wink. “I’ve got a shift at the casino tonight. Why don’t you swing by, and we can grab a bite to eat?”
“Sure. I’d love to.”
“You two are so cute I might barf,” Lila Kate whined.
I gave her a playful nudge. “We’re not that bad.”
“Oh, but you are.” She smiled. “And I love it.”
And just like that, standing in the middle of some no-name car lot with my sister and Luke, it felt like things in my life were finally clicking into place.
Sadly, it wasn’t a feeling that would last for very long.
I left the car lot and drove over to the jewelers.
I walked into the jeweler's feeling almost excited. It had killed me that I’d had to sell my grandmother’s ring, and I was looking forward to getting it back. I thought it would be a quick stop until I walked through the front door and came face-to-face with the jeweler.
He wouldn’t even meet my eyes when I walked up to the counter and said, “Hi, Mr. Pratt. I’m not sure if you remember me, but I came in a few days ago and sold my grandmother’s ring.”
“I remember.”
“Great. Well, I’m here to see about buying it back.”
“Oh, well…” He cleared his throat and grimaced when he said, “I’m sorry, but the ring’s already been sold.”
“What?” I gasped. “That’s not possible. You promised to hold it until the end of the month. You said you noted it on the account.”
“Yes, I know, and I did.” He let out a breath. “I was out sick yesterday, and my daughter sold it.”
“But that was my grandmother’s ring!”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” He sighed like this was just a simple inconvenience instead of my heart being broken. “It was a mistake. Things happen. It’s a risk you take when you sell a family heirloom like that.”
“You gave me your word.”
“I can offer you a store credit or help you find something similar.”
“It was my grandmother’s ring. It’s irreplaceable.”
“You should’ve thought about that before you sold it.”
There was no sympathy in his tone or compassion in his eyes. He didn’t feel bad about what had happened. Why would he? It was just more money in his pocket, and I was left with nothing. I felt completely defeated as I turned and walked out of the store.
By the time I reached the sidewalk, the tears were already burning my eyes. It was my fault. I knew the risk when I sold the ring. I knew there was a good chance that I wouldn’t get it back. That didn’t make it any easier. And to make matters worse, it wouldn’t be the only disappointment I faced that night.
There was more to come.
Much more.
19
GOOSE
“Have you ever tried your hand at the slots?”
“Never really had the opportunity.”
“Well, now you do.” I placed my hand at the small of her back, guiding her toward the middle of the slot machines. I pulled out a twenty and offered it to her as I said, “Give it a whirl.”
She hesitated, but eventually, she took the money and stepped over to one of the machines. “Seems a shame to just throw money away like this.”
“It’s not throwing it away. It’s taking a chance.”
She smiled, then pulled the lever.
The dials turned, and after spinning for what seemed like forever, the three rows stopped, one by one. And as luck would have it, none of them matched. She immediately shook her head. “I don’t think today’s my day.”
“Sure, it is. Give it another go.”
She nodded and pulled the lever again, and damn, if she didn’t look good doing it. But then again, she always looked good. She was one of those women who looked amazing without even trying, and tonight was no different.
She was wearing a soft pink sweater with jeans that fit like they were made for her, and her hair was straight and brushed away from her face. Looking at her made it hard to remember to breathe, let alone keep my hands to myself.
But I managed. Barely.
Besides, tonight wasn’t the night for my shenanigans. Over dinner, she’d mentioned what had happened with her grandmother’s ring. While she knew it was a risk, she was disappointed at how things had played out, and I was doing my best to lighten her mood.
I thought the slots would be a good place to start.
So far, no such luck.
“Okay,” she muttered, feeding another bill into the machine. “This one’s got to be it.”