Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Fishing out a twenty, I set it on the counter. “Keep the change.”
“You’re a sweetheart. Now, if you could just convince the rest of Brigs Ferry Bay to come buy gifts, I think we’ll get along just fine.”
I give her a nod as I take the wooden flower. “I’ll do my best.”
As soon as I exit the shop, I trot back across the street to find a woman standing near the door of the diner. Her dark hair keeps blowing into her face, hiding her features from me. But based on Mom’s description and the fact she’s waiting outside Comida’s, I’d say this must be my date.
I clear my throat once I reach her. “Are you waiting for me?”
Finally, she manages to push her dark strands from her face and regards me. I’m met with brilliant hazel eyes. Familiar ones. Goddammit, Mom. What did you do?
“Sheriff Bell?” She grins at me. “Michelle Kincaid. Everyone calls me Shelly.”
I take her offered hand and give it a shake. “Call me Jax. You haven’t been waiting long, have you, Shelly?”
Her eyes roam my features in a pleased way. “Just got here.”
“Let’s get you inside and out of the cold before you catch your death,” I say, reaching for the door to Comida’s. “Thanks for indulging my mother.”
Shelly laughs as we enter the restaurant. “Patricia is a doll. Lovely lady.”
I steer her over to a secluded booth and sit opposite of her. Greedily, I inspect her features, comparing them to her villainous brother. It’s obvious they’re related. She’s the softer, feminine version of him.
“Oh,” I grunt out, offering her the flower. “Picked this up across the street at Granger’s.”
Her eyes brighten as she takes the flower. “That’s awfully sweet of you.”
As she admires the craftsmanship of the flower, I try to convince myself I’d be better off dating someone like Shelly. Someone Mom approves of. Someone female. I bet we’d make gorgeous kids.
Too bad I’m gay.
And, knowing who her brother is, there’s no way in hell I’ll sleep with her in one of those sad attempts to convince myself I’m bisexual. Not only is that cruel to the poor woman, her supervillain brother would probably castrate me.
After we place our order, she begins chatting my ear off, telling me about Red Hake Bed & Breakfast she and Dante started. How they take care of their little brother, Callan. Her time spent in New York. I listen and nod where appropriate, but my gaze keeps drifting to the windows as people walk by. It isn’t until the waiter brings the check, I realize I’ve let this woman talk the entire time and haven’t uttered more than a few grunts.
Dropping a few bills down on the table, I offer her a warm smile. “Thanks for having dinner with me. It’s been great getting to know you.”
“Which is why,” she says, her smile widening, “the next dinner, you’ll do the talking so I can learn more about you.”
I inwardly cringe at having to go on another date, but I force a nod. “Sure, Shelly. Give me your number and I’ll call to set it up.”
“I’ve heard that line a time or two before,” she teases. “I’ll text you and set it up. Trust me, women are better at this sort of thing.”
I rattle off my digits and she texts me with a bunch of smiley emojis. She’s certainly the nicer of the Kincaid siblings, that’s for damn sure. Once we’re bundled up, I escort her back outside.
“We’ll do it again soon, Jax,” she promises, standing on her toes to brush a kiss on my cheek. “I have to run because I have an early morning with one of the contractors, Hans Lopez.”
Coincidentally, Hans’s older brother, Fernando, owns Comida’s. Everyone knows everyone in Brigs Ferry Bay. I almost mention it to her, but she’s already hurrying off to a white Lexus and then zooms away. As soon as she’s gone, I feel like I can breathe. And, like a heat seeking missile, I walk back across the street. I pass by Granger’s and then Belle’s Boutique, coming to stand at the corner in front of Blur & Focus.
The place, on a Wednesday night, is busy as hell.
Pride surges through me knowing Kian did what he set out to do. Let the world know exactly how spectacular he was. And, clearly, they adore him for it.
After the light signals I can cross, I trot across the road toward the glass doors. I don’t even make it to the steps before the door flings open and a familiar body flings itself at me.
“Rescue me, officer!”
I try to peel Cato’s already tipsy ass off my body, but he’s clinging like a koala bear. Playfully, he bites at my neck. With a quick smack to his leather-clad ass, I extract him from me. He wobbles slightly, grinning like an idiot.