Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“Oh no, I’m so sorry, Beth.” Jazz looked gorgeous in a hunter green V-cut tank top and white denim shorts. A litany of scars covered her arms and chest from a past trauma. Back in the day, Jazz would wear full-length sleeves no matter the temperature or time of year. Having two men worship her for the goddess she was helped her overcome any insecurities she had regarding her appearance, and now she wore whatever the fuck she wanted, and she looked fantastic.
“No. God, don’t apologize. I’d much rather know she’s an evil bitch now.”
“Tell you what,” Screw said. “You should open your own salon. Put that monster out of business. There’s a need for it. She has a terrible reputation, but is the only game in town. She’s only been open a few weeks too. Before that, we had to drive almost an hour for a good groomer.”
“Yeah, I’d love to have my own place.” She shrugged. “Maybe someday. I don’t have the capital for that right now.” Her parents had offered to help, of course, but she wanted to do it without their assistance.
“Huh.” Screw rubbed at the stubble on his chin.
A grin broke out across Gumby’s face. “Uh-oh, you’ve got him thinking, Beth.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s been talking about investing in a local business for months, but hasn’t found one that speaks to him,” Jazz said with a smile. “You might have just given him the perfect idea.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Wait, really?”
“Want to talk about going into business together, Beth?”
“For real?” Holy shit. Was he serious? Could this possibly be real? She’d kill to own a salon and to be in business with one of her favorite people.
Hell yes.
He nodded. “Yeah, I think this would be perfect. Let’s get together this week and talk details.”
Fuck the details. Where did she sign?
She squealed and threw herself at Screw, who managed to unwind his arm from Jazz in time to catch her. “Thank you!” she whispered as she hugged him tightly.
He squeezed her until she worried she’d pop. “I’m as excited as you are.”
Over his shoulder, she caught sight of Saint leaning against the clubhouse with his arms folded over his chest and a scowl on his face. He watched her every move with hawk-like intensity.
“I’ll come by this afternoon to fix up Miss Mary Lou, that work?” she asked as she released him.
“Perfect.” Screw hugged her one last time. “Love you, kiddo.”
Saint’s eye twitched.
Rolling her eyes, Beth moved to hug Jazz next. “Long time since I’ve been a kiddo.”
That had Jazz laughing. “You could be fifty, and he’ll still call you that,” she said as she and Beth embraced. “Better tell your guard dog to be careful,” she whispered in Beth’s ear. “He’s shit at masking his feelings.”
“I don’t… I mean…”
“I fully approve,” Jazz whispered. “And I’m here if you need me.”
She nearly cried right there on the spot. What had she done to deserve such incredible women in her life?
As they drew back from the hug, Jazz winked. “Love you.”
“Love you too.”
She bid goodbye to Mary Lou and Gumby as well. The trio took off. Screw stuck Mary Lou in a doggie backpack for the bike trip while Jazz climbed on behind Gumby.
As soon as they left, she turned and walked toward Saint, whose irked expression hadn’t changed. “He’s like an uncle,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“I know.”
“And yet you have a problem with him hugging me?”
“I have a problem with anyone touching you who isn’t me.”
His gruff voice sent a shiver down her spine. “I probably shouldn’t like that so much, but I do. It makes me want to get back in bed with you so you can show me just how much you hated him hugging me.”
“Fuck.” His eyes flared with instant lust. After a glance left and right, he grabbed the back of her neck and yanked her in for a bruising kiss that weakened her knees instantly.
It ended before it started, but was no less brutally core-shaking.
“You’ll make an incredible business owner,” he whispered as she tried to find her footing.
“Oh, thank you.” Excitement surged. “I can’t believe Screw wants to open a grooming salon with me.”
Saint tilted his head, studying her. “I can. You’re fucking amazing. I’ll follow you to his place later so you can fix that rat dog.”
“Hey! Be nice. She’s a sweetie.”
He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Then afterward, maybe we can go back to my place, and I’ll show you what happens when you let another man touch you, platonic or not.”
Her knees wobbled. Her thighs clenched.
He kissed the side of her head, then strode away as though he hadn’t lit a fire between her legs.
They had to talk.
Really talk about what the hell they were doing, but for now, she preferred to bask in the glow of all the good fortune finally coming her way.