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)
“Honey, I’m really great. Who won the game?”
The concern on his face turns triumphant. “Who do you think?”
“Oh, shit, this means Robbie and Finn are out for redemption. Why can’t any game just be fun?” Ember asks.
“Because they’re big, bad Marines, and competition is in their blood.” Presley plops down on one of the barstools with an exasperated expression. “Finn is sullen and demanding a rematch. Good thing I brought pajamas for the kids because we may be here all night.”
“It won’t take all night for us to whip their asses again,” Talon boasts proudly.
“That’s enough, it’s girl time!” Shayla claps her hands and throws one arm toward the firepit and the other to the grill. “Time for you cavemen to fix our dinners. We slaved all day over the rest. The least you can do is handle the meat.”
“Shayla, you didn’t do anything,” Harley calls her out.
“Excuse me, preggo, I have been concocting masterpieces and serving drinks.”
Another thing I learned is Shayla is a jack of all trades. She works two part-time jobs between Rowan and Ember’s businesses. She also works some nights at Tom’s.
“Damn good drinks, too.” Presley toasts her glass in the air. “I needed this.”
“This is why we need girl time. We need to know why Presley is sucking down martinis and get to know Willow and Bex.”
“Shayla—”
I press a finger to his lips. “Go. I am fine.”
Collin closes back in on Shayla. “Play nice, my love.”
I swoon in my chair and Talon’s lips purse under my touch.
“Suck it up, we all swoon when he talks.” Jewls bats her eyelashes.
Talon bites the end of my fingertip and gives me a heated gaze.
I may have swooned over Collin’s accent, but everything in my body liquifies at the hunger in Talon’s eyes.
He winks, knowing what he’s done before kissing my head and leaving with Collin.
“Finally, who needs a drink?”
“Three tequila sunrises.” Ronnie steps into Ember’s space and plucks Dylan out of her hold.
“I’ll have what Willow’s having.”
All heads swing Ember’s way.
“What? I pumped oodles before leaving today. It’s a special occasion tonight, and I’m celebrating in style.” She flashes me her gorgeous smile.
Warmth coasts through me as Bex squeezes my hand.
When Shayla’s done doling out drinks, all side conversations come to a halt, and she leans on the bar top, scrutinizing me.
“It’s been bothering me since yesterday and I’ve racked my brain. You look familiar. Have we seen each other before?”
“I don’t think so.”
She studies the drink in my hand with great interest, her eyes popping as she snaps. “Peach-infused vodka! You ever been to Tom’s?”
Her question takes me off-guard and I squeak under my breath.
Bex coughs uncomfortably.
I recover enough to nod slightly.
“Did you come to my bar?”
“No, we sat at a table.”
“That’s the night she met Talon. I introduced them.” Bex perks up.
“Really?” Harley’s eyes are wide and curious. “When?”
“The night of the softball game. I finally convinced Wills to come out. Since she doesn’t know how to deflect, she was being hit on by some total goofball. I took matters into my hands…” She goes on to tell the story of how Talon came to my rescue.
By the time she gets to the part about him kissing me before I ran off, my face is burning with awkwardness.
“You had your first kiss at Tom’s? And then you ran away?” Rowan’s interest is alarming. I know how close she and Talon are, so the last thing I need is for her to think my running away is regular.
“It’s like history repeating itself.” Jewls has a wisp to her tone.
Confusion crowds my brain. Did Talon make a habit of kissing women in Tom’s?
“It was a little odd and I’m not in the habit of making out with strangers.”
“Ford and I had our first kiss in Tom’s. Then I ran away.” Rowan clears my confusion.
“I didn’t exactly run. I excused myself to go home.”
“Rowan ran, ditched us all with a stupid excuse,” Shayla pipes in.
“Well, I was mortified and didn’t exactly want to say I’d made the first move and got shot down!”
It’s my turn to be shocked. “You made the first move and were shot down?”
“It’s a long story, but Ford had some hang-up about my mental state after the first kidnapping.”
No one seems fazed by this remark except Bex. She sucks in an audible breath. “First kidnapping? How many have there been?”
Outside of my quick explanation of my overreaction on Wednesday morning, I haven’t shared much with her.
“Two,” Jewls, Harley, and Ember answer in unison.
“You’ve been kidnapped twice? How?”
“I had a crazy ex, but he’s dead now.” Rowan says it so nonchalantly I have to wonder if she’s a bit of a badass herself.
“Oh my….”
“I’ll tell you the stories another time when we’re alone. Ford and the guys go a little insane when it’s mentioned. Back to Willow and Talon. So, you technically met in a bar and then he became your patient? How does that even happen?”