Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88889 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“Her name is Lick,” I answer, and not letting the moment slip through my fingers, I get up and walk closer to them.
“Good name.” She lets out a soft chuckle when Lick’s tongue takes another swipe at her hand. “You’re such a pretty girl,” Kelcie murmurs, clearly falling in love with my dog before she looks at me again. “She’s so well behaved.”
“Thanks.” I stop a few feet away from the table. “I’m Levi.”
Up close, she’s even more striking, and for the first time in a really long while, I feel a pull of attraction.
“Kelcie.” Her gaze gets stuck on my face for a moment, then a faint blush creeps up her neck. “I’m sorry for being such a bad neighbor. I should’ve introduced myself when you moved in.”
Her brown irises are dark with grief, and it makes something shift in my chest. Wanting to make her feel better, a rare smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “That’s okay. I should’ve made an effort to come over sooner.”
She shakes her head and turns her attention back to Lick. “How old is she?”
“She’s about four years old.”
“She’s beautiful.” Kelcie pets Lick, then mentions, “Her coat is nice and shiny. You take good care of her.”
“You know about dogs?” I ask.
“My brother dated a girl who wanted to become a veterinarian, and it’s the only thing she ever talked about. But she ended up opening a doggy parlor. I can give you her number if you want to take Lick to get groomed.”
“It’s okay. I like bathing her.”
Lick jumps up, and placing her front paws on Kelcie’s thigh, she tries to move closer. Instead of telling my dog to get down, Kelcie places her arms around Lick and gives her a hug.
I take a few steps to the side so my border collie will see me and gesture for her to stay before I say, “I’ll catch you later, Kelcie.”
When I walk away, she calls out, “What about Lick?”
“She can visit with you until it’s time for dinner.”
I don’t give her time to reply as I step into my house. Leaving the back door open, I watch her through the kitchen window. She climbs off the chair and sits down cross-legged on the lawn. It looks like she’s talking to Lick, and knowing my dog will do her more good than I ever could, I head to my office and take a seat at the desk.
It’s the one-year anniversary of the attack, and I assume Kelcie won’t be getting much sleep today, which means I won’t get any either. I might as well try to knock out some words.
I open my laptop and type in the password. I have two documents open, one with the meager plot I’ve managed to think up and the other for the manuscript, which only has eleven thousand, two hundred and thirty-six words.
At this deplorable pace, I’m never going to get the book done in time, and I doubt the publishers will give me another extension.
Luckily, I didn’t spend the advance they paid me, and I’ll be able to give it back should the worst happen and I’m unable to write.
I used to dream about being a successful writer. It was all that mattered to me, and I worked my ass off. But after the dust from the instant success settled, my life felt meaningless. I made millions from my royalties, but I can’t think of a single thing I’d like to spend it on.
I’d give every cent I have if it would erase the past year and give Kelcie and Jordan their parents and sister back.
If only money had that kind of power.
I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest while I try to focus on the book.
“Hello?” I hear Kelcie’s voice, followed by the sounds of Lick’s paws on the wooden floor.
It’s only then I realize I zoned out, and it’s dinnertime for Lick. Getting up, I hurry out of my office, but when I dart into the kitchen, Kelcie is already gone, and the back door is shut.
I yank it open, and when I take the steps down to the lawn, I see her walking toward her house.
“Kelcie,” I call out to get her attention.
She spins around, and I feel like shit when I see her eyes widen and a startled expression tighten her features. I need to tone down my assholishness around her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you,” she says.
“You didn’t.” I come to a stop a safe distance from her, and when she gives me a questioning look, my mind races to come up with a reason for why I stopped her.
Fuck. Think faster, Levi.
“Ahh . . .” I have zero brain activity while I stare at her like a creep.
Frustrated that I’m so antisocial, I rub my fingers over the week-old stubble on my jaw.