Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 43102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
“Of course, I don’t mind. I got some new books in, too. What are you in the mood for?”
I lick my lips. “Maybe some why choose romance.”
Billie’s eyes brighten at that. “So it went well, then?”
“It went very well.” I waggle my eyebrows and laugh with her, then spend a few minutes choosing some new books. I grab Trouble by Brittanée Nicole, Unstitch by Elodie Hart, and Give Me More by Sara Cate, all why choose romance, and I’m so excited to dive in.
“Trouble should be the next book club read,” Billie says with a grin. “I’ll put it on the schedule.”
“Love that idea. Okay, I’m going to go bury myself in work for a bit, but if you need anything, just tell me, okay?”
“I think that’s my line,” Billie replies.
“No way. You’re one of my best friends, and someone fucked with you. If you need me, I’ll be right over there.”
Billie swallows hard, then nods, and I go find a spot to work.
“Jesus, did the devil move to Bitterroot Valley?” I ask out loud as I climb the steps to my apartment. The ten-minute walk from the bookstore to my place was excruciating, and I’m a sweaty mess.
I go ahead and open some windows to at least get some air moving, then get into a cold shower, wash my hair, and change into some thin, super-short yoga shorts that I only wear around the house, and a loose tank top over a bralette, trying to stay as cool as possible.
I pile my wet hair on my head, and when I sit down at my desk with my water tumbler full of ice and fresh water, I already have a sheen of sweat on my skin.
Today is just going to suck ass.
And I can pretty much guarantee that I won’t be able to sleep tonight.
I set my fan on the desk, directed right at me, and get back to work. I’ve been at it for about an hour when there’s a knock on my door.
When I open the door, I smile up at Gabe, but his eyes narrow and his jaw hardens.
“Fuck no, Alex.”
Chapter Eleven
GABE
Her beautiful blue eyes widen as I push into Alex’s apartment and feel rage fill my veins. It’s so fucking hot in here, I can barely pull a breath into my lungs.
“What do you mean, no?” she asks.
“You’re not staying here for another fucking minute.” Jesus, the heat is oppressive. She’s sweaty, her cheeks are red, her eyes half closed from exhaustion, and she’s so fucking beautiful it takes my breath away in those little shorts and tank top.
But it’s clear she’s miserable.
And I won’t have that. Not for my girl.
“I live here—”
“Pack a bag.” I frame her sweet face in my hands and kiss her softly. I’ve been waiting to do that all day. “You’re coming home with me, Shorty.”
Alex sighs and grips my wrists in her hands, leaning into me. “I’ll be okay, you know.”
“You’ll be better with us. I don’t want you up here anymore, dammit. It can’t be safe for you, and we want you with us anyway. So be a good girl and pack that bag. Fuck, pack everything. You’re staying with us for the foreseeable future.”
Now her eyes narrow. “Are you telling me what to do, Gabe Blackwell?”
“Yeah, I fucking am, Alex Lexington.” I bite her lower lip. “Now, before I boost you against this wall and fuck you, giving us both a heatstroke up here, go get your things so I can take you home and fuck you where it’s much cooler.”
She laughs, then shrugs a shoulder. “I guess when you put it like that, how can I refuse you? It’ll take me about ten minutes.”
Twenty minutes later, I have her bags, including her computer and entire workstation, in the back seat of my truck and my girl in the passenger side.
“I thought you said you’re restoring a classic truck,” she says.
“I am.”
“This is brand new.”
“I also have this one,” I reply and wink over at her.
“Maybe I should have driven my car and followed you home,” she says. “Wait. Where is my car?”
“It’s still at the shop.” I reach over and take her hand. “I was stopping by to tell you that I need one more day with it. I had to overnight the part for your AC.”
“Oh, okay.”
“I have to stop at the store on our way home. It’s my turn to cook tonight, and I need to grab some things.”
“Good, because I do, too. My brother and Millie are hosting the family dinner tomorrow night, and I’m taking my famous baked beans.”
“Your baked beans are famous?” I smile over at her and rub my thumb over her knuckles. It feels damn good to have her with me.
“Well, it was my mom’s recipe. I found it after I grabbed her recipe box from our old house. Anyway, it’s a good one. Everyone seems to love it.”