Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“And I’m pretty sure this is none of your fucking business,” he growled and put his hand on my shoulder.
I grabbed his wrist and twisted until I had his arm behind his back, which was easy enough since I had about five inches on him. “Now I’m making it my business.” I pushed him against the bar, drawing a shocked expression from the bartender. “You have a tab to pay?”
“Five beers,” the bartender answered.
“Pay the fucking tab. Now.” I twisted his arm until he cried out.
“Okay, man, jeez. She’s not even worth all this.”
“Good. Then this is the last you’ll see of her, or I will make it my mission to ruin you. Got me?”
He pulled a few bills from his wallet and angrily tossed them on the bar. “Whatever.”
I twisted his arm again. “That’s not an answer. Do you understand?”
“Yeah, I got it. Don’t worry, man. I am out of here.” He glared at Sela. “Never to return.”
I dragged him to the door and tossed him out. “Good. Remember that.”
He fell to his knees before he got up and took off at a full run.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Sela’s voice was soft at my side. “But thank you.”
I turned to face her and felt my breath catch in my throat. “Anytime, Sela.”
She let out a sharp laugh. “Let’s hope I don’t need you to do that more than once.” She grabbed my bicep and squeezed. “Have a good night.”
I wanted to say more. Hell, what I really wanted was to grab her arm and yank those curves against my body before devouring her mouth until she moaned and begged for more than a kiss. But I didn’t. I smiled, squeezed her shoulder, and walked out into the cool night air.
Distance. That’s what I needed. Distance from Sela.
And a long, cold shower.
Chapter 5
Sela
“Would you like a reusable bag to hold all of your crafts? Just one dollar, and it’s for a good cause.” I flashed a friendly smile as if this was the first time I’d said those words instead of the thousandth. It wasn’t a glamorous job, selling the bags made by the women and children at the shelter that sat between Holiday Grove and the town of Adventure, but it was for a good cause.
The Craft Fair was in full swing by the time noon rolled around. I moved from aisle to aisle, starting with the food vendors, where people sold artisan jellies and jams, butter, bread, and even cheese from a local goat farm. Later, I moved to the section where blankets and rugs, clothes, and even shoes were sold by local artisans. The craft jewelry section took up two full aisles and had the most foot traffic. After I sold out of the bags for the third time in an hour, I moved on.
“Sela!” The voice was slightly familiar but too far away to recognize. “Sela, wait up!”
I turned to see Krista rushing toward me in her neat pink wool coat and tidy jeans. Her cheeks were flushed, but her smile was wide. “Hey, Krista. What’s up?”
She held up one finger while she caught her breath, still smiling as she took in my appearance. “You look lovely today.”
“Thank you,” I replied sincerely. I hadn’t put much thought into my outfit today, other than staying warm against the windy chill in the air, but the pumpkin hoodie dress was adorable—at least, I’d thought so when I bought it on clearance last Christmas.
“I just wanted to thank you for sending Brock my way. He’s handsome and single, you know.” There was a sparkle in her eyes, that matchmaking twinkle I’d seen for years. “He’s been divorced for a long time, and he’s moving here, Sela.”
My lips twitched at her overt matchmaking attempt. “Thanks for the biography. He said he was looking for a place in town, and I just gave him your number.”
“And I’m glad you did. He’s got money to burn, and I’m excited to get into it.” She wiggled her brows for emphasis. “But he is really hot and rich. Very rich.”
“Thanks, Krista.” It was best not to engage when the matchmaking started, or else they’d think you were on board with it. For once, I wasn’t. Brock’s relationship status was irrelevant to me. Like I told him, he was heartbreak, and I’d already surpassed my limit for lifetime heartbreak.
Krista wasn’t deterred by my lack of interest. She just kept her smile in place. “Talk soon, Sela. Enjoy the Fair.”
I turned back to my volunteer task and happily chatted with the people of Holiday Grove, the regulars who just wanted to check in and thank me for pitching in. “It’s so nice to see young people staying involved,” the mayor had offered with a kind smile. I offered up tidbits of history for the tourists who wanted a bag as a souvenir for their time in my quirky hometown.