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)
“I am?” He gave her a startled look.
“Um yeah. Meeting you that night, the way you and Devon looked after me . . .” she shrugged. “I guess I’d never experienced anything like that before. And you guys were strangers. It felt so good to have someone care.”
“Oh, darlin’. I’d like to have a few words with your fuckhead father.”
“Ah, that’s impossible, unfortunately. He’s dead.”
Shaw narrowed his gaze with a nod.
“Are you all right, Shaw?” she asked, forcing the words out of her mouth.
If he told her to mind her own business . . . well, that would hurt. But she had to ask.
“I was a Navy Seal,” he said suddenly. “I got injured on the job and addicted to opioids. Dishonorably discharged and ended up on the streets of San Diego trying to escape my reality with a concoction of pills.”
“Oh, Shaw,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”
“Not your fault, darlin’. And I’m here now, trying to heal. It’s been . . . rough.”
She bet that was an understatement.
“Now, let’s talk about why you’re running from my brothers.”
She groaned and placed her hands over her face. Horse lay across her feet with a sigh as if he’d just realized he was going to be here for a while.
“I don’t want to talk about this. I don’t understand what’s going on. I mean, I don’t trust men.”
“Why not? Did someone hurt you? Your father?”
He sounded so stern that she glanced up at him in surprise. There was anger on his face.
“Who was it? Tell me.”
Arabella shook her head. “Don’t worry. Like I said, my father is dead and the other is living a truly miserable life.”
“You tell me if anyone else messes with you. Including my brothers.”
“You think they’d hurt me?” she asked in surprise.
“No, not physically. And they wouldn’t do anything on purpose. They’re good men.”
She nodded. “They seem like they are.”
“Then why are we hiding from them in here?”
“Because I’m a fool?”
Shaw snorted. “Yeah, you are.”
Rude.
She gasped, placing her hand on her chest. “Now, I’m hurt.”
He just grinned. “Stop procrastinating. What’s going on?”
“I just find it hard to trust my judgment when it comes to . . . well, to anyone. I trusted the wrong person once and he hurt me badly. Don’t worry, he’s truly miserable now.”
“Good.”
“It was the only decent thing that my father ever did for me. Anyway, it doesn’t matter what’s going on with your brothers, because at the end of the day, they don’t want me.”
“No?” Shaw asked.
“No. Kellan only talks to me when absolutely necessary. And Eli . . .”
“Eli what?”
“I don’t know. He’s just really bossy. And protective. I don’t want a bossy man. I don’t want any man. I just want to find a place to belong. To maybe make friends and be happy.”
“Fair enough, darlin’,” Shaw said gently. “I hope we can be friends. I could really use one.”
“Who is going to be friends?” the woman asked as she walked out the back.
Arabella stared at the door in worry.
“Don’t worry, they’re gone,” the other woman said with a smile. “I’m Laken Jones by the way. I’m married to Duncan.”
“He’s another Jones boy,” Shaw said. “Not as good looking as me and much, much fatter.”
“Shaw!” Laken slapped his shoulder with a giggle.
“Not nearly as intelligent either,” Shaw said in a mock whisper behind his hand.
Laken rolled her eyes but she was grinning as she sat with a sigh. “God, that’s good to get off my feet.”
“You’re doing too much,” Shaw told her. “Duncan needs to rein you in.”
“Rein me in?” Laken scoffed. “There’s a reason you’re single, Shaw Jones.”
“And there’s a reason your husband has a naughty notebook,” Shaw countered.
Laken grew red. “Shaw! You can’t say that sort of thing in front of my new friend, Arabella.”
She blinked, aware that she hadn’t told this gorgeous woman her name.
“Oh sorry. Small town and Duncan is a deputy sheriff. I kind of guessed that’s who you were.” Laken grimaced. “Have I put you off being friends with me? I promise I’m not a gossip.”
“All lies,” Shaw mock-whispered again.
“You are so annoying!” Laken told him.
“Hey, be nice to me. Besides, we need to talk about Arabella and her game of hide and seek with Eli and Kellan.”
“I’m not playing hide and seek,” Arabella said.
Are you sure about that?
Arabella rubbed the back of her neck. “Shoot. I am, aren’t I? I hide because I don’t know what to say and I’m attracted to them both and I really am not looking for any sort of relationship.”
Let alone a complicated one with two men.
“But at the same time . . .”
“You want them to bend you over the closest piece of furniture and fuck you hard?” Shaw guessed.
“Shaw!” both Laken and Arabella said at the same time.
“What?” He gave them an innocent look.
“I’m sorry about him,” Laken said to her. “Shaw and I had planned on coming to visit you with a Welcome to Haven basket. Is there anything you need? Want?”