Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88463 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“We’ll make it happen,” Ry says, and those four words make me fall in love with him even more. I didn’t think that was possible. “Now, tell me about the girl you were with the night before you first came out here. The night school got out.”
Aiden’s quiet for a heartbeat. “She’s not important.”
“Important enough for you to have your hands on her.”
I cringe. I do not want to think about that.
“I liked her. Her name is Hilary. She’s cool, but she moved to Texas after we got out of school for the summer, so I probably won’t ever see her again.”
My kid has had so much going on, and I knew nothing.
That breaks my heart.
I walk into the kitchen and force a smile onto my lips before I stop by and kiss Aiden’s cheek, making him cringe.
“How’s it going out there today?”
“It’s hot,” Aiden says.
I saunter up to Ryker, who’s sweating like crazy, and carefully kiss his cheek as well.
“And how are you?” he asks me.
“I’m great. I called the real estate agent, so Operation Sell My House is underway.”
“Thank God,” Aiden mutters. “You can just toss my stuff. I have everything I need here.”
“That’s not how it works, buddy. We’ll be going back to pack up, and you’ll be going with us. I need your strong muscles to move all my heavy stuff.”
He scrunches up his nose and then shrugs. “I guess it’s worth it.”
Ryker’s phone rings, and he scowls at the display. “It’s fucking Andy. Again.”
“You should answer it.”
The man has been calling Ry every day for the past couple of days since we took our afternoon trip to Missoula, and Ryker always sends him to voicemail.
“This is Ryker,” Ry says as he puts the phone on speaker and sets it on the counter.
“Hey, man, how are you doing up there in the boonies?”
I feel my brows pull together. Why is Andy calling like he and Ryker are besties?
Aiden opens a bag of Cheetos and starts crunching away.
“What’s up, Andy?” Ryker asks.
“I’ve been trying to get ahold of you,” Andy says, and there’s an edge to his voice now that I don’t like.
“You didn’t leave any messages,” Ry replies.
“No, I’d rather just talk to you. I might have some appearances lined up for you, if you’re interested.”
Ryker shakes his head. “I made it clear that you’re no longer my agent. I’ll have my attorney send a cease and desist if I have to. Stop trying to line shit up for me.”
“Fine. I didn’t know how convinced you were of that decision.”
Aiden and I share a look.
“Listen, Ry, I could use some help. Just a loan, only a hundred eighty thousand, that I’ll pay back as soon as I’m able to. There are some guys who said they’d, well, hurt me—”
“You have lost your motherfucking mind,” Ryker replies. His voice is cold and hard, and it’s full of fury.
Andy is a stupid, stupid man.
“If you’d take the jobs I have lined up for you, I wouldn’t need the loan—”
“Stop talking,” Ryker barks. “I’m going to make myself perfectly fucking clear. I don’t owe you shit. I will not loan you money today or any other day. You no longer work for me. I want nothing to do with you ever again. Lose my goddamn number, Andy. If you keep calling me, I’ll sue you for harassment.”
“Sue me?”
“That’s right. Go. The fuck. Away.”
He hangs up on the man, and Aiden shakes his head. “You need to block his number.”
“Good idea,” Ryker says, tapping the screen. “There. Done.”
“We got a donkey,” Aiden says, cool as a cucumber, as if Ryker didn’t just threaten his former agent.
“Yeah? Is it here already?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Out with the herd now,” Ryker confirms, blowing out an agitated breath. “We named her Molly.”
“She’s gonna kick some coyote ass,” Aiden informs me before popping more Cheetos in his mouth.
“Let’s hope she just scares them off,” I reply. “I’m going to take a quick walk before I go back to work. I need some air.”
“It’s damn hot out,” Ry reminds me and reaches out to drag his fingertip down my bare arm. “Don’t get sunburned.”
“I won’t go far.” I boost up on my toes, and he leans down to kiss me.
“Here, take this sandwich with you.” Ryker passes me a turkey sandwich.
“Were you making that for me?”
“No, I was making it for me, but I can make another. Eat while you walk, Trouble.”
“Why do you call her Trouble?” Aiden wants to know.
“Because from the moment I met her, I knew that she’d get us all in a whole lot of it,” Ryker answers him with a smirk. His dark eyes find mine, and they’re full of humor and memories. “And I was right.”
“Hey, most of the trouble we got in was not my fault.” I take a bite of my sandwich and saunter out of the kitchen. “See you later!”