Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
What in the world? Why would I say that?
My stupid nerves were making me blabber.
I released a horrified laugh.
“What do you mean?” Emery’s defined brows arched for the ceiling.
I inhaled and tried to clarify what never should have come out of my mouth in the first place. “The owner is a little…overprotective. He demanded to know where I was going when I left today. He somehow thinks just because he did me a favor, I’ve become his responsibility.”
And there I went again.
Flustered, I dropped my attention to the floor and scratched at my temple as if it might trigger my brain back into thinking properly.
Clearly, my people skills were lacking.
“I probably shouldn’t be unloading that on you, should I?”
A small giggle rolled from Emery, as if she didn’t think my word vomit was strange at all. “You can definitely unload it since I’m pretty sure you and I are going to be great friends. Just to be clear, you are talking about Theo?”
My head snapped up. “Yes. Theo Mallin. You know him?”
“Oh, I definitely know him.” Glee lit on her pretty face.
The man behind her let go of a wry chuckle, and his words dipped in dark amusement. “So, you’re Piper Whittman. Welcome to Moonlit Ridge.”
Alarm boiled in my blood. “You know my name?”
Easing forward, he set his hands on the counter and leaned in my direction. “Ah, well, Theo is basically family, and he might have mentioned you, your son, and grandmother are staying at The Sanctuary.”
A ball of razors lodged itself in my throat.
This was not going according to plan.
The last thing I needed was for them to share a connection with the one man in this town I needed to stay away from.
But I had a feeling that’s what staying in a town this size would be like.
I didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse.
“You have a son?” Emotion took to Emery’s face. “How old?”
I tried to swallow. “Two.”
She clasped her hands together at her chest. “Oh my gosh, that is amazing. This is my fiancé, Kane. We have a little girl who is almost five. I’m so happy you walked through my door. I feel like this is fate.”
“I…” I almost threw up a wall.
Told her I wasn’t staying permanently.
Told her never mind, and I suddenly didn’t need a job after all.
Nelly’s voice whispered in my ear. Take this time and live it like it’s the only thing you’ve got.
If I ran now, would I ever stop?
I gulped the reservations down and forced a thin smile. “That’s incredible. I’d love to meet her sometime.”
“We will absolutely make that happen. Maci is going to be so excited to have a new friend, the same as her cousin, Nolan. Wait until you meet everyone.”
“Oh, I…”
Emery rounded from behind the counter. She wore a fitted white blouse and pink jeans that perfectly fit the store. “So about the job—”
“I don’t really have any experience in retail. I mean, I attended a prestigious fashion design school in New York for two years when I was much younger, and I’ve always loved clothes, and I really think I have an eye for it, and I’m a really fast learner.”
There I went again, words flying out of my mouth.
I clamped my lips shut.
Emery laughed a gentle sound. “Well, it sounds like we need your expertise around here.”
Surprise gushed out of me. “Really?”
“Yeah. I think you’ll be a great fit.”
She extended both hands, warm blond curls bouncing around her shoulders, brown eyes filled with a kindness so rarely seen. I inched forward and accepted her hands.
It felt like the most monumental step I’d ever taken.
She squeezed my hands tight. “I think you and I are definitely going to be friends.”
The door jingled, and a rush of cold swept in. A second later, a voice gasped, “A new friend? Why didn’t you call me? I would have come running.”
I was still holding onto Emery’s hands as I shifted to look over my shoulder.
A woman was standing inside the door, holding a giant bouquet of pink, cream, and white flowers that matched the rest of the store.
Her lips were painted bright red and were curved in a smile.
Her black hair was in an intricate twist with a bunch of little flowers tucked into the knot.
Bold makeup lined her dark eyes.
Almost as dark as Theo’s, though they weren’t written in the same kind of torment or malice.
They brimmed with deep-seated joy.
“Um, that’s because I literally just met Piper five minutes ago.” Amusement danced through Emery’s words, and she playfully rolled her eyes as she released my hands. “Hold your horses, will you? We were just getting introduced.”
“Hold my horses? Never. You know I am full steam ahead, especially when it comes to a new bestie.”
New bestie?
Apprehension billowed.
The woman’s smile grew as she came closer. “I’m Raven. It’s so good to meet you, Piper. I do hope you came to put our dear Emery out of her misery because she has been freaking out for the last week that she hasn’t found anyone awesome enough to help her here at the store, and I have to say, I’m getting awesome vibes.”