Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
She turns in and presses a chaste kiss to my lips.
To his credit, Atlas only looks a little green around the gills when I address him. “All we’re asking you to do is to be respectful. You’re a good guy. I wouldn’t think of you as my brother if you weren’t, so suck it up and figure it out. I had a lot of misconceptions where Scarlet’s concerned, and I think you do, too.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Atlas shrugs, staring down into his empty glass.
A weighted silence falls over the table, but Clint appears with a tray full of drinks before anyone can say anything.
“Scarlet, I’m so glad you made it.” He places her drink in front of her with flourish. “I knew Cara was here already, so when I saw a creek water come through, I was hoping it was you.”
She lifts her shoulders and smiles. “It's me.”
I don’t fucking like her smiling at him. I don’t like him, period. I can’t put my finger on why—other than the obvious, he wants what’s mine—but that’s enough for me. But I’ll play nice. For now.
“I hope you brought your appetite. We got to sample everything yesterday and it was out of this world.”
“I’m really excited. It smelled so good coming in.”
I clear my throat, and Clint’s eyes snap to mine, and he finally passes me my beer, and goddamn if it isn’t all foam.
I push my pint glass away and stick out my hand. “Clint, right?”
“In the flesh,” he says proudly, sliding his hand against mine. “And you are?”
I know he damn well knows who I am, but whatever. Two can play this game. “I’m Scarlet’s.”
He drops my hand like it burned him. “Scarlet’s what?”
Smirking, I shrug before swooping down to kiss her neck.
“Well,” he says tightly, “I’ll send your server by to take your order.”
TWENTY-NINE
SCARLET
“Might as well of pissed a circle around her,” Atlas says after Clint storms off.
“Seriously,” Cara agrees. “Work’s gonna be awkward as a hell on Monday.”
“Ugh.” I cover my face with my hands. “I’ll go talk to him in a minute.”
“Or you could not,” Ellis says. “He’s a big boy. Surely he can handle a bout of rejection.”
“Oh my god, Sunshine.” I drag my fingers through the condensation on my glass and flick it at him. “Do you even hear yourself? No one was rejected. Clint’s my friend, that’s it.”
“Clint wants to fuck you,” he states plainly.
“Just because you want to fuck me, doesn’t mean every man wants to.” I turn toward the last person I ever expected to ask for back up. “Tell him, Atlas.”
“While I absolutely agree with you that not every man wants to fuck you, that one definitely does.”
“What the hell, y’all?” I ask, turning to the girls at the table for support.
Nora shrugs, but the pink blush staining her cheeks is answer enough.
“Surely you’re not this oblivious,” Sophie says. “No offense.”
“None taken,” I deadpan before tossing back the rest of my drink.
“Oh, no,” Cara says, “she’s absolutely that oblivious. I’ve only been trying to befriend her outside of work for two years now.”
“Agree to disagree.”
“That’s not…” Cara waves a hand in front of her face. “You know what? Never mind.”
“Yes, let’s change the subject, please.”
Cara snaps her fingers. “Oh, I know. What’s going on with your car?”
“What happened to your car?” Nora adds with wide eyes, alerting me to the fact that I never even told her about finding my car trashed at work.
“Long story short, someone slashed my tires and demolished my windshield this past Monday. Clint drove me home that day, but Ellis here has been my personal chauffeur since.”
“Damn straight, I have.” He pulls my hand into his lap, twining our fingers together. “Speaking of, your car should be ready to pick up Tuesday or Wednesday.”
“Oh.” I nod, and my hair falls into my face. “That’s great.”
“You know I’m happy to keep driving you, Princess.”
“Aw,” all of the ladies at the table swoon collectively.
“Enough about me.” Please, god, no more about me. “Nora, how are you doing being away from James?”
Atlas glares at me like he’s imagining feeding me to a pack of hungry wolves.
“Actually, I’m good.” She smiles brightly. “I was apprehensive at first, but Sydney has checked in regularly with texts and pics. Not to mention, it’s nice to have some adult conversation that’s not with my therapist or being graded.”
“The fuck, Pip?” Atlas gasps in faux outrage. “What am I, chopped liver?”
Nora grins up at him, all moony eyed. “You know what I mean.”
He grumbles under his breath, but it’s good naturedly. The man might be a bear, but he most definitely has a soft spot for his fiancée.
“Y’all ready to order?” The same server who took our drink orders appears seemingly out of thin air, her pen poised over her notebook.
“Yes, please.” I rub my hands together in anticipation. “It smells so good, I’m practically drooling.”