Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“There could be more where this one came from.” I take a bite.
“No eating in the library.”
“Oh, guess I’ll take my cookies and go.”
“Don’t move.” I hadn’t planned to. “Hudson is a sweetheart.” I narrow my eyes on her, but she ignores it. “This stays here. I want to stay out of it, but maybe a nudge is needed.”
“Okay.” Not a clue what she’s talking about, but I slip it to the back of my mind, wanting her to get on with the good stuff here.
“He said he didn’t have much experience in the romance department. Was curious.”
Why does he need romance experience?
“Probably wants to have a wife and kids like most people that settle into this town.” Crap, hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
“Well, he’s not very good at it if he’s trying. Girls are always coming on to him, and it doesn’t ever go anywhere.”
I noticed that too. “Here in the library?” I gasp.
“A few times.” She shrugs. Guess we’re back to shutting this place down. “I’d guess he just wasn’t interested in them. While Hudson might not be great in the romance department, I don’t take him as shy.” He sure as hell has no problem voicing his opinion when it comes to me.
I reach into my bag and pull the box of cookies out. “I didn’t only come for this.” I hop down off the counter. “Last-minute bachelorette party over at The Frosty Mug tonight.”
“Really?” Her question comes out skeptical, and I don’t blame her. There is a reason I’m doing this on foot and not sending out invites.
“Yep, but mum's the word.”
“So neither Hollis nor Hudson knows about this.” I’m not answering that.
“Where does ‘mum’s the word’ even come from?”
“It was an old style of hush. It became popular when Shakespeare used the phrase in Henry V. ‘Seal up your lips, and give no words but mum.’"
“There you go. Do as Shakespeare said.”
“Got it,” Shelly confirms, and I'm on my way to deliver the next invite. Candy doesn't know about the party either. I'll tell her at the last second. It's for the best. She's a terrible liar. Hollis and she both think we're having a girls' night.
I told her to dress up a little. I'm sure both she and Hollis think we're going to the Italian restaurant. There aren't a ton of restaurants in town, but there are a few. That is the only one you dress up a little for.
She may be pregnant, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get up to some things. It’s her last night of freedom, and I plan to make it memorable. I mean, within reason, that is. I might also be doing it to get a reaction out of Hudson. I never pass up an opportunity to do that.
I might even flirt with some tourists and let them buy me a few drinks. He’s been hanging out with his new sidekick. What if he brings her as a date? A small growl bubbles from me, and I clear my throat. What the hell was that?
He can’t date her. She’s prickly. You can’t have two prickly people together. Not sure if that’s true, but it sounds right. I pop into a few more places, getting my invites out. It's not all about poking at Hudson. Candy is still new to town and getting to know people. This will help her do that. I can tell how much she enjoys the closeness that everyone here has to each other.
I sneak over to the bar and check in with Travis that we’re a go and he’s pulling out that karaoke machine and holding several tables for us. It’s the busy time of year not only for tourists, but locals have families that come into town as well.
Travis gives me the keys to his truck so I can drive it to my place and not have to walk. I know Hudson said he’d take me home, but I need to get a few things for later.
“The hell?” I mutter when I pull up to my house to see that Hudson is there. I park on the curb. He turns toward me. The second he realizes I’m driving the truck, his eyes narrow, and he heads straight toward me.
Holy balls. The man is quick. He’s opening the driver’s side door before I can.
“Ha ha, sucker,” I say, staring down at Hudson for the first time ever. Travis’s truck is ridiculous. It’s got giant wheels and is lifted off the ground.
“What are you doing driving Travis’s truck?” Hudson asks, a little more pissed than usual. It’s as though he’s actually mad at me. Of all the shenanigans I pull when it comes to him, I can’t believe this is the one that has him so upset.
“He let me borrow it to run home. I’m taking it back.” Hudson shakes his head. “What’s the big deal?”