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)
Deputy Stone, on the other hand, places his arm around her shoulders. “I beg to differ.”
Not wanting to miss a single second, Waverly and I lean forward.
“You can beg all you want,” Jill snaps at him.
His expression fills with a look of warning. “Is that so?”
“Yep.”
Before the word is even cold on her lips, he tips her backward and plants a searingly hot kiss on her mouth.
“Ooooh!” Waverly starts hitting my shoulder again until I grab hold of her hand, then we cling to each other as we watch the deputy kiss the living daylights out of Jill.
When he ends the kiss and rights her on her feet, Waverly gives him two thumbs up. “Five stars, Deputy Stone. Your next coffee is free.”
“All my coffees are free anyway,” he says, a smirk on his face.
He steers a stunned Jill out of the diner and takes her to his cruiser. Suddenly, she slaps him on the chest, and I can’t hear what she’s saying, but it’s clear she’s laying into him until he silences her with another kiss.
“Jill’s lunchtime is at eleven thirty every day. Be here tomorrow so we can get all the juicy tidbits about what’s going on between her and one of Verona’s most eligible bachelors.”
“The things you must see in this diner,” I say as I turn to face the counter again.
“Every other day, a new drama unfolds right before me. Just last week, Patrick and Ellie were in here. She caught him chatting up some woman who lives two towns over.” She points at the corner. “Right in that booth, Ellie let him have it, and he ended up shouting, for everyone to hear, that he has been sleeping with the woman and wants a divorce before storming out of here. Poor Ellie was devastated.”
“Oh no,” I gasp. “That’s awful.”
How’s that piece of news not the talk of the town? Instead, people are still harping on Levi.
“Yep. It’s splitsville for those two.”
Pushing my empty mug across the counter, I ask, “How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing. I asked you to come in.” Her features soften. “This was fun, Kelcie. I hope we’ll get to spend more time together.”
Smiling at her as I slip off the stool, I say, “I’ll be here tomorrow at eleven thirty sharp to get Jill’s juicy news.”
“Oh, right! See ya.”
When I leave the diner, I pull my coat tighter around myself and cross my arms to keep the wind from getting inside.
Chapter 17
Kelcie
As I turn up my street, my phone rings, and I pull off my glove before digging it out of my pocket.
I swipe over the screen to accept the call, then pinning the device between my ear and shoulder, I put the glove back on. “Hi, Jordan.”
“Hey. I know we spoke yesterday, but Natalie wants to know whether you’re coming to us for Christmas.”
When he called, we didn’t get to talk for long because Natalie’s parents arrived and Jordan had to go.
“Natalie or you?” I tease him.
“Fine,” he grumbles. “Me.” I chuckle while he continues to say, “I want you here for the holidays. I need my sister because I’m always outnumbered by Natalie’s family.”
“I’ll come, and I’ll bring Levi as well, so you’ll have two people on your team.”
“I didn’t get to ask. How are things between the two of you?”
“Very good.” I probably have a ridiculously happy grin plastered to my face. “I’m really happy, Jordan.”
“Then I’m happy,” my big brother replies. “That’s all I want for you.”
“I know.”
“If you’re going to drive here for Christmas, you need to have your car checked. And put on snow tires.”
“Don’t worry about my car. We’ll probably take Levi’s.”
I still haven’t replaced the battery, but I should get it done before the snow gets worse. I won’t be able to walk around town for much longer.
“Thank God,” Jordan sighs with relief. “Then it’s settled. We’ll see you and Levi on the twenty-third of December.”
“That’s two whole days before Christmas.”
“I know. Pack a bag and visit for a week. It will be nice.”
“I’ll talk to Levi and ask what he wants to do.”
“Tell him he’ll score brownie points with your older brother, whose blessing he’ll need if he ever wants to marry you.”
I laugh at Jordan while shaking my head. “Oh, you’re resorting to blackmail now?”
“Of course. Anyway, let me get back to work.”
“Have a great day.”
“You too,” Jordan replies before we end the call.
When I walk past Levi’s house, I glance at it and wonder if he’s sleeping or writing.
“Kelcie.”
Hearing Colby’s voice, my head snaps toward his parents’ place, and seeing him jog across the road, I shake my head and quickly rush up Levi’s driveway.
“Go away, Colby. I’m done talking to you and your family.”
“Wait up. I’m sorry my mom slapped you. She shouldn’t have done that.”
I quickly ring Levi’s doorbell repeatedly, praying he isn’t sleeping.