Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
I step out of the cell, shoving my hat back onto my head, and then pause. "How much did she pay to bail me out?"
"Five hundred," he says. "Debit card."
"Goddammit." I pinch the bridge of my nose. "You couldn't have told her no?"
"Motherfucker, do I look like I make a habit of telling women in this town no?" he asks, shooting me a look. "I'm not that stupid. You assholes stress me out enough. I'm not trying to have every woman in town on my ass, too. If one wants to bail one of you out, I just smile and agree. Not my woman, not my problem. You have fun sorting that out."
"Chickenshit."
He just laughs in response to the insult, smirking at me. "Sticks and stones, Jessup. Sticks and stones."
I step around him to leave, but he halts me with a hand on my arm.
"I meant what I said," he says, his voice pitched low. "I'll deal with Palmer. You stay out of it, all right?"
"Happy to," I agree. "Just so long as he stays the fuck away from Harlow."
"Well, we can actually make that happen," he says with a grin. "There's a No Contact Order on account of you breaking his nose. The order goes both ways. If he violates it, he goes to jail just like you do if you violate it. So keep her close to you, and your problem is solved."
That…actually, that might work. Palmer is a prick, but he's also a fucking coward. He won't risk jail time just to piss me off.
"Thanks," I mutter, relaxing for the first time since Dillon's deputy slapped cuffs on me hours ago.
"No problem."
Irelax further when I step into the lobby to find Harlow pacing a hole in the floor, her hands clasped in front of her. She looks worried as hell.
The sight of her loosens knots all over my body.
"Hey, beautiful," I murmur.
She whips her head up, her steps faltering. I know she's happy to see me the moment our eyes meet. The way she looks at me…fuck. I want her to keep looking at me just like that, forever.
"Wade!" she cries, practically flying across the tiled floor to me. She hits my chest like a meteor, knocking me back a step. "I was so worried!"
I catch her, hauling her up against my chest to bury my face in her throat. Christ, she smells better than the cell. So much fucking better. I inhale deeply, my lips brushing her throat. "I'm all good, baby."
I'm an asshole for loving that she was worried about me; I know I am. But I love it anyway. It means she cares. Even if she doesn't realize it yet, she's falling for me. It's why she bailed me out. It's why she stayed. It's why she's worried.
God, please let her be falling for me. I'm not a man who needs much. I'm not one who asks for much, either. But I need this woman to fall for me. I need her to let herself love me.
I need her, every beautiful, fragile, fiery, perfect piece of her.
"Can we go home now?" she asks, clinging to my shoulders.
"Yeah, we can go home now."
She sighs softly, tensing like she's going to step back. I scoop her up into my arms instead, not ready to let her go just yet.
"W-what are you doing?" she whispers, her eyes wide in her pale face.
"Carrying you," I murmur, already striding toward the doors.
"Oh. Okay."
She settles against my chest, one arm around my shoulder, her body relaxed, and I love everything about that. Little by little, she's learning to trust me. She's letting herself surrender to what's between us.
I'm not surprised when I see my truck in the parking lot, since I gave her the keys before they arrested me, but I can't help but chuckle at the way she parked across two spaces like she was afraid she'd scratch it.
"How far up did you move the seat?" I ask, glancing down at her.
"All the way." Her brows furrow. "I still couldn't see over the stupid dashboard."
"Poor baby." I nuzzle her throat. "I'll make it up to you."
Her breath hitches, her hand spasming against my shoulder. I barely bite back a groan, hurrying my steps. Somehow, I manage to juggle her and open the door at the same time before depositing her in the passenger seat.
Once she's buckled in, I cup her face, tilting it back until her eyes lock with mine. "Thank you," I murmur, brushing my lips across hers.
"For what?"
"For being you."
Her entire face goes soft.
"I'm not finished," I warn when she opens her mouth to say something. She immediately snaps it closed, nodding. "What happened today had nothing to do with you, and you didn't have to bail me out, Harlow. Your money is your money. You don't spend it on me, not a dime, okay?"