Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
By the time he finished expressing his disappointment in me, he stood directly over me. His stance was one of power as he crossed his arms over his chest. My guy had stopped shaving about a week ago. Now he could easily combine his intensity and all that hair to create the sexy devilish appearance.
I liked the start of that beard. I’d be able to grab on to it, force him wherever I wanted him to go. My sac tingled in appreciation of my naughty thoughts.
My gaze lowered to my lap, back to my phone, seemingly ignoring his outburst.
I worked the screen again, opening my mom’s message. A warmth spread over me. I didn’t glance up as I shared the news with Slade. “Lori had the baby. It’s a girl. What’re we gonna do with a baby girl? Her brothers are little monsters. How will she survive them?”
I lifted the screen for Slade to see a pic of the newborn. I wasn’t sure he could see the photo in the blazing sunlight, but he reached for the phone, cupping a hand over the top. The bluster left in seconds when his eyes landed on the baby girl. At least that was what I envisioned if I could see past his dark sunglasses. She was a pretty little thing with a swarth of chestnut-colored hair and bright blue eyes, of course he’d like her.
“She looks like you,” Slade murmured, proving my point. He stared at her for several long seconds before he dropped down to sit beside me. Kitt had assured me that Whiskey was whistle trained. Since Slade was there, I decided to test the theory, letting go of the reins, giving Whiskey room to wander.
Slade’s finger slid down the screen, going through all the photos. “Your mom also agreed with your new schedule at the bar. Max needs extra work. They want you to train him. Did you see that?” Slade passed the phone back to me.
No, I hadn’t seen that message. My new hours for the fall and winter were Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Four in the afternoon to close, which would leave me free to monitor the design and construction happening on both my land and Slade’s.
“They’ll be ten to twelve hour days,” Slade said.
I nodded at his good math skills, and said, “Yeah, it’ll be thirty-six hours a week. My nephews are startin’ to play sports, and their games are on Saturday. I’ll probably be asked to take those daytime hours too. It frees my parents up to go watch them play. My income will take a hit. My checkin’ account isn’t gonna be happy with me.”
“Whatever income lapse you have can be covered,” he said. Finally, he showed signs of his normal personality. He used his hands against the ground to help scoot closer to me.
“Whatever I’m bein’ paid and all my tips are goin’ into the sanctuary. I’m not takin’ money that can help animals. I’ve already told you that I won’t take your money. We’ve been together for a couple of months. I’m not your responsibility. I’ll figure it out,” I explained, casting a quick side-eye at my guy, wondering if that was finally the time he’d hear my words.
Slade circled an arm around his bent knee to give me a better glare as if I was the dumbest person on the planet. “First, time has nothing compared to the bond we’ve built. Why do I have to keep explaining that to you? You say I’m frustrating? That’s you, guy.”
“I don’t deny that. Lori’s made my stubbornness an issue for most of my life, but it doesn’t change anything. I’m not a dependent. You need to get that through your thick skull.” I reinforced my side of the argument that he and I had for the last couple of weeks. “If you pay me, I become your employee…” I shook my head in a hard no. “Not gonna happen.”
“You own the sanctuary. Not me. And being a good doer doesn’t mean you don’t have bills to pay. Every start-up needs financial help. It’s how the economy works.”
That part about the economy got me every time. I might not understand the business world, but I understood the roots my parents placed for me. I paid my own way. That was final.
“I’ve stayed in your house, eaten your food, used your air conditioning, flushed the toilets. We’re equal. Take the salary you want to give me and pay for my stay at your place.”
Slade took my hand. A grip I fought but ended with me clasping his hand anyway. The tension between us eased.
“Come with me,” Slade said like he’d done countless times over the last few weeks. “Don’t make me leave here without you. It’s killing me that you aren’t coming with me.”
“Why’re we havin’ this conversation again?” I stated. “We can’t be a couple out in the world. I’ll be stuck inside your house, hidin’. I can’t live that life, all closed up like that. It’d drive me crazy while you’re workin’ twelve hour days. Besides, I know your head’s gonna screw on right when you leave. I’m a burden to you.”