Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
So what was going on?
Then she made the best noise he thought he had ever heard in his life.
She laughed.
He’d barely seen her smile. There was an air of sadness around her that could have something to do with her father’s death. But it felt like more than that. As though she’d been sad for years with no light in sight.
And here she was giggling. And then another miracle happened. Shaw joined in. His brother grinned, then he let out a single huff of laughter. It might sound like very little to someone else.
But it was like a miracle to Eli’s ears and he felt his shoulders slump as he let out a relieved sigh.
Maybe Shaw was on the path to feeling better.
And it was due to her.
Something sparked inside him. Growing hotter. Becoming bigger.
It was more than gratitude or appreciation.
It was . . . affection?
Nope. That made no sense. He barely knew her.
Carrie walked up. “Hi all, what can I get you?” Then her gaze zeroed in on Shaw.
Eli tensed and Kellan shifted so he was covering their younger brother from her sight.
“Shaw Jones? Is that you?” she asked, smacking her gum. “How are you? Jeez, you’re looking a bit tired. Been partying too hard, huh?”
“Something like that.” Shaw hunched his shoulders.
Arabella tensed next to him and Eli was about to shield her, although he had no idea why when she spoke up.
“Actually, it’s my fault,” she said quietly.
Carrie’s gaze shot to her. “Oh. I didn’t see you there.”
Eli scowled at the younger woman. That was rude and uncalled for.
“Shaw and I went on a safari in Africa and while we were there, Shaw contracted campylobacter. I don’t need to tell you how bad it is to be that sick while on a safari where you have to dig your own toilet. It sucked. I mean, the stories I could tell you. As you can see, he’s lost weight and sleep.” She shook her head as the whole table stared at her.
What was she doing?
There was no way that Carrie would believe that bullshit.
“Oh my God! Africa? Really? I’ve always wanted to go there. I love hippos,” Carrie said.
“Very smart animals. Deadly, though,” Arabella said seriously.
“I bet.” Carrie nodded. “I’d love to see any photos if you have them.”
“Absolutely,” Arabella replied without missing a beat. “I’ll get that organized for another day. But Shaw needs to eat. The doctor said he can’t wait too long between meals.”
“Of course, of course. Urgh, that camplo-thing isn’t contagious, right?”
“No,” Kellan said. “You can only get it by eating something contaminated with feces.”
“W-what?” Carrie said.
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Shaw said.
“Nobody said you did,” Kellan replied. “Why would you?”
“Well, monkeys often do,” Arabella said. “Gorillas too.”
“Luckily, I’m not a monkey or a gorilla,” Shaw said dryly.
“Indeed.” Arabella gave him a regal nod.
“Um, right,” Carrie said. “Can I, um, take your order?” She was staring at them all like she thought they were about to ask for some poop on a plate.
Eli shook his head while he watched Arabella hide her smile behind her menu.
The minx.
She was trouble. They all ordered, even Shaw, and then turned to her.
“I cannot believe you told her I ate poop,” Shaw said with a groan. “I went to school with her older brother. That’s going to go around the town.”
Arabella’s face closed down. All the amusement drained out of her face until she seemed like a shadow of the person she’d been before.
Fuck.
Eli couldn’t help but level a glare at Shaw. He needed to bring that smile back. He didn’t like that she’d shut down.
“I’m so sorry,” Arabella said in that formal tone he was starting to dislike.
Ease up.
Remember that you only just met her.
How can you hate a tone of voice when you barely know her?
“Would you like me to go and tell her that I made that up?” she asked, trying to stand. “Excuse me, please.”
“No,” Eli replied.
“What?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, did you not hear me? I said, no.”
“Please move so I can go and talk to our server.”
“No.”
“Eli Jones, move.”
“Nope.” He knew it was wrong, but it was a relief to hear the flash of temper in her voice. At least it meant that cold demeanor was cracking and her real feelings were slipping through.
Why had she learned to mask her feelings, though? What or who had taught her to do that?
Kellan masked his emotions because of their asshole of a father. Was that the same for her?
Not your business.
Except he felt like he had a vested interest in her care.
Maybe that was it. Perhaps having helped her, he simply wanted to ensure she thrived. Plus, in this town, it was his duty to help any female who lived here and needed it.
He conveniently ignored the fact that he didn’t actually live here anymore. So that rule didn’t apply to him.