Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
"Nick and Greg are on their honeymoon," I say.
"I know, that's why I'm here. I was about to come over and discuss moving the piece you made for tonight."
"Really?" He'd already thought about it, and even I hadn't until minutes ago.
"Yes, really."
"All right." I shrug one shoulder, taking a step back from Sawyer. "If you're not too busy. I know you have to get ready for the auction." I say the last part as more of a reminder to myself about who Sawyer is.
"I've got it handled." He grabs my hand before I can protest. "See you later, Rhodes," Sawyer calls over his shoulder as he leads me toward the front exit.
"Hey." I tug on my hand. "Maybe we should use the back exit."
"Don't think so." When we hit the sidewalk, of course there are people roaming about. "Afternoon," Sawyer greets one person after another. How can there be so many people to say hi to in such a short walk? If I didn't know any better, I'd say he planned it.
"You're really going to ramp up these rumors,” I say, and Sawyer smirks.
That one look lets me know this was exactly his plan all along.
Chapter Four
SAWYER
There’s part of my brain that knows I shouldn’t be staring at her ass, but most of the blood in my body has pumped straight to my dick. So that part of my brain is no longer working.
When Lane walks into Sofa King Cozy, I let her go a few steps ahead and enjoy the view. Her body is long and lean, but her ass is fat, and I remember exactly how it felt pushed against my cock.
“Something wrong?”
I look up and realize she’s caught me. Instead of making up an excuse, I shrug and give her my biggest grin. “Just remembering what it was like sleeping next to you.”
“Ugh.” She huffs, but I see the smile she’s trying to hide. “Are you sure you rode bulls and not pigs?”
“Give me a chance and I can ride anything, kitten.” My eyes move up and down her body, but she goes to the back, ignoring me.
She’s not in her usual playful mood. Well, I guess you could call it playful. Normally when I poke at her, she pokes back, which is my favorite. It’s one of the reasons I love her so damn much. Lane has never held back, and in a way, it’s kept me grounded. She’s quick to tell me what she’s thinking, but right now, something is off. She keeps bringing up the auction like she’s annoyed it’s happening.
When I push through the doors behind the counter, I step into her workspace. It’s where she spends all of her time, and it’s a beautiful studio. It’s flooded with light, especially this time of day. There are tools everywhere, workbenches covered in sawdust and wood shavings on the floor.
This is a place that’s lived in and well-loved, and I can see Lane in all corners of it. From the line of water bottles on the desk to the extra hair ties next to the chop saw. I can see her coveralls hanging on the hook by the door, and the cinnamon-flavored ChapStick she loves on the work bench beside her sander. It’s like walking into her heart, and every time I come in here, it feels like home.
“I don’t know if we can get this on our own. It’s not really heavy, just cumbersome.” She stands in front of a small china cabinet that is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. To be fair, I think that about everything she makes.
“Cumbersome is my middle name,” I tease, and she rolls her eyes. She does that a lot when I’m near her. I’ll take it as a good sign because she doesn’t seem to do it with anyone else.
“Please. We both know your middle name is Whitney because your mama loved The Bodyguard.”
I gasp. “Lane Thomas, you swore on your goldfish Mr. Fish Fisherman that you’d never mention that again. And I can’t believe you’d put his life in danger.”
That finally gets to her, and she snorts before she realizes she’s done it and claps a hand over her mouth.
“Look at you, murdering an innocent fish and now you’re laughing.” I shake my head in mock disappointment. “I shared my deepest, darkest secret with you, and you turned it against me the first chance you got.”
“First chance?” She’s grinning now, playfully poking back at me. “I’ve had ample opportunity to tell the world, and I’ve kept my mouth shut.”
“Yeah, right. Like you could have resisted telling Liv.” When she raises her chin defiantly, I blink at her. “Seriously? You never told her?”
“Nope.” She shrugs and then leans against the workbench. “I knew she wouldn’t be able to keep it.”
I think about that for a second then dismiss the thought. If Lane told Liv to keep it a secret, she would have. Liv loves to talk, but she wouldn’t break a promise to her sister. Not a real one.