Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
I melt into him. In this moment, I feel completely safe. “I trust you.”
I can’t see his face, but I feel him smile because his beard tickles my cheek. “I still want to take you on that date today. Are you up for it?”
Chapter 7
Missy
“I would love to go on a date with you,” I tell Griffin. It feels amazing to have his arms wrapped around me and Daisy. There’s a part of me that wants to stay like this forever, to shut out the real world and pretend it doesn’t exist.
His smile grows even bigger. I didn’t think it was possible. “I’ll pick you up at six. I have some errands to run.”
I nod my agreement, but before I can say anything more, my phone rings. Reluctantly, I leave his lap and cross the room to grab it from the nightstand. It’s Audrey calling. I had forgotten all about our afternoon plans for today.
As soon as I answer, she peppers me with questions. “What’s going on? Are you okay? I heard your place got broken into. It’s horrible. Do you need anything? How is Daisy? What can I do?”
The flood of questions puts a lump in my throat. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend I could rely on. The people of Courage County are becoming more than a community to me. They’re becoming my family.
“How do you know?” I ask the first question that pops into my mind.
Audrey chuckles and says, “This is life in a small town. You can’t swat a fly without everybody knowing about it. Do you still want to come over this afternoon? What can I do for you?”
I glance at him. He’s been listening to our conversation. He shakes his head. I’m disappointed, but I understand that right now his priority is keeping me and Daisy safe. So, I tell Audrey, “I can’t right now.”
She is quiet for a second, then she says, “I get it. He’s trying to protect you. Well, what if I bring some clothes over for you to try on? We can still make a girl’s day of it.”
I look at him again, and this time he gives me a thumbs up. I let her know it’s a go, and she says she’ll be over after lunch.
I hang up and let loose with a little squeal. “She’s coming over. I have a friend again.”
Something flickers on his face, maybe sadness and grief for me, but he covers it with a smile and says, “Yes, you do, sweet girl. Life is going to get a lot better from now on.”
He makes me breakfast, feeding me pancakes and eggs before he says he has to go meet up with Luke.
Even though he’s going, he tells me that Russell is still on the porch and that many of the ranch hands are patrolling the grounds. “We have a net set up. If anyone tries to slip through, we’ll know it. But if you think of anything I should know or you get scared, you can always call me.”
I give him my best brave smile and push on his chest, “Go and catch those cow-tipping teenagers.”
Then I lean up on my tiptoes and press a gentle kiss on his lips. After he leaves, I get a call from Lorna. I spend half an hour reassuring her that I’m fine before promising her that I will call her if I need anything.
The afternoon passes quickly. I alternate between playing with Daisy and watching daytime TV. I wanted to read the parenting book I’ve been reading, but my tablet is another thing I accidentally left behind at the rental.
Audrey arrives at noon. She’s brought food from Ernie’s Diner. She gives me a big hug, crushing me against her the moment she sees me. “I was so scared when I heard.”
“I’m OK now. Daisy is, too,” I reassure her.
“Logan called Griffin this morning. He and all of his brothers are willing to do whatever it takes to help you. You’re not alone anymore.”
I’m too overwhelmed to know what to say to that. I gesture to the bag of food. “Is there anything on the menu Lorna didn’t include?”
Audrey chuckles. “She did seem to put one of everything in here, including milkshakes.”
We eat lunch together, trading stories and gossip. Then Audrey shows me all of the clothes that she brought.
I try on nine different outfits until we settle on a vintage dress that’s blue-checked with a sweetheart neckline and puffy petal sleeves. It stops above my knees, and I love the way it swishes when I move my hips.
“I have the shoes for that,” Audrey tells me, producing white kitten heels. They’re open-toed, so our next activity is doing mani-pedis while we watch a raunchy rom-com that we both spend the entire time talking through.