Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Second, this bra is not the same as a bikini. It’s sheer, sweetheart. I can see your gorgeous-as-fuck nipples. So no, you can’t wear this around anyone but me. Not to mention, it’s not safe to be this undressed while wood is splintering all over the fucking place.”
All the fight leaves her body, and she leans into me, taking a shuddering breath. It just about breaks my heart.
“I am so mad.”
My hands roam up and down her back, and I kiss the top of her head.
“I know. You should be mad, Jules. You were lied to and manipulated, and it’s so fucking unfair. You didn’t deserve that.”
We stand here for another minute, and then I hear the front door open.
“Hello?” Beckett calls out.
“In the kitchen,” I yell back. Jules hurries to pull her top over her head and then wipes her cheeks dry. “Are you okay, baby?”
“Yeah.” She sniffs and then smiles at Beck as he walks into the kitchen. He pauses, glances around, and then narrows his eyes at me.
“What the fuck did you do?” he demands.
“Gave her a hammer,” I reply. “And if you even hint at the idea that I would have hurt her in any way, I’ll tear your stomach out through your fucking belly button.”
“Wow, that’s descriptive,” Bridger says as he also walks in. “You guys okay?”
“We’re fine,” Jules says. “We’re not fighting. Honest. I’m going to let you guys handle this and head to the restaurant. They’ve been filling in for me this morning.”
“You can just go home, Jules.”
She shakes her head. “Nah. Staying busy is a good idea today. Have fun, boys.”
Jules crosses to me and boosts up on her toes, offering me her lips, which I immediately cover with my own.
“Call me if you need me,” I whisper. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” She pats my chest, then she’s gone. I can hear her talking to someone at the door, and then it closes, and Blake walks in.
Everyone’s here.
“Why does Jules look … unhinged?” Blake asks with a scowl. “Is she feeling okay?”
“We’re dealing with some stuff from her past,” I reply with a sigh, wondering how much to tell them. The prick she was married to isn’t my story to tell, but these three are my brothers, my best friends. “You know she was married?”
They all nod.
“The girls told us,” Bridger replies.
“He pulled some shady shit, and we had a meeting with an attorney this morning. Pissed us both off, and she needed to let off a little steam.” I spread my arms, gesturing to the impressive mess my wildfire made. “I don’t know if it helped, but she got to destroy some stuff.”
“That sucks,” Beckett says. “Let us know if you need anything.”
“I think it’s just going to take a little time and more patience than I normally have.”
“Are you kidding?” Blake smirks, shaking his head. “You’re the man who waited fifteen years for her. You have more patience than anyone I know.”
“You know what I mean.”
“It’s going well, though?” Bridger asks me. “Other than what you had to deal with this morning, things are good?”
“Better than I thought they could be.”
They grin at me, and I roll my eyes.
“Come on, assholes. I want to get this whole kitchen torn out today.”
“We can do more than that,” Blake says, looking around. “Jesus, people actually thought this wallpaper was a good idea?”
“How are we going to strip it off?” Bridger asks.
“We’re not. I don’t trust the electrical system since it hasn't been updated in about sixty years. We’re going to eventually take the whole house down to the studs and start over.”
“Fun.” Bridger grins and hefts the sledgehammer he brought with him. “Let’s tear some shit apart.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
JULIET
“These crackers are everything,” I say as I pop another one into my mouth, and Cassie grins across from me. I asked the personal chef to pop by today with some for the restaurant and to chat with me about a possible working relationship. “I think I’ll put together some cheese and cracker trays for the grab-and-go section.”
“That’s a great idea,” Cassie says. “I can bring you a fresh batch of crackers twice a week. Would that be enough?”
“I think so, for now anyway. We can adjust as we go, if that works for you.”
“Of course.” She makes a note in her phone. “What else can I help with?”
I take a sip of water and wave at Ava, who’s just walked into Sage & Citrus to grab something for lunch. Her order is already bagged up and ready to go.
“Hi, friend,” Ava says. “I won’t interrupt. See you at book club tomorrow night?”
“I’ll be there,” I reply with a nod.
“Cool. Hi, Cassie.”
“Hey, Ava.”
My friend smiles, and then she’s off, and I turn back to Cassie.
“Book club?” she asks.
“Spicy Girls Book Club,” I reply with a nod. “Do you like romance novels?”