Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 69266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
We were perfectly within our rights to say no to whoever we wanted. And I hadn’t even said no. I’d smiled and looked pleasant. I might have been a wallflower with boys, but I wasn’t going to be pushed around by the woman who had hurt me. Not at work, where I was in my element.
“We’re certainly not refusing you service,” I told her calmly. “However, you’re not entitled to a wedding here, and I don’t think we’d be a good fit.”
“Nora, come on,” Tamara said, reaching for fake tears. I knew that trick all too well. “You’re my best friend. I miss you so much. I hoped this would bring us back together.”
“That’s lovely for you.” I blinked at her and said nothing else.
Tamara’s jaw set. She wanted me to say more. To feed into her ego and give her ammunition to use against me. But I’d cried enough tears at the loss of this friendship. If she had come back in those first few months when I was a broken mess, I might have even relented. Been the trampled dog she’d created all those years ago.
But I’d found out that I could survive on my own. I still missed having her around. I missed our stupid inside jokes and sleepovers and parties. That wasn’t enough to fix this.
Tamara stomped her foot like a child when they didn’t get their way. “Nora, how dare you! This is ridiculous! You’re supposed to be providing a service.”
I opened my mouth to reach for those customer service instincts. Because all I wanted was to tell my ex-bestie to fuck off and never see her face on the property again. Except I couldn’t do that at work.
A knock at the door saved me from saying anything I’d regret.
I turned to welcome the new guest and stilled.
Everything seemed to go into slow motion at the sight of Weston Wright filling up my doorframe.
“West?” I gasped.
He slung a hand up onto the top of the frame and leaned forward through the door. He smirked, revealing the hidden dimple in his right cheek. “Hey, Nor.”
The way he rolled over my name sent a thrill through my stomach. I hadn’t seen my roommate in six months, when he’d left for LA with my brother to record his next album. The house was a temporary fix to the Tamara and August problem. I’d stay until he got back, and then I’d find another place.
Now, he was here.
Right here in front of me and looking somehow even more attractive than he had six months ago. He must have been working out because muscle bulked out from his towering frame. His already-broad shoulders were somehow bigger. The sharp lines of him were evident in the peak of muscle from his heather-gray T-shirt. It hung loose to his tapered waist. In contrast to the fitted black jeans that hugged his powerful thighs. But it all came back to that perfect face. The bright baby blues and razor-sharp jawline with a five o’clock shadow and that damn dimple.
I remembered the first time I’d met Weston. He’d driven into town to see his half-brothers, Jordan and Julian, who owned the winery with Hollin. I’d stumbled upon him with his hair all long and shaggy, blue eyes shining with uncertainty. He looked about as uncomfortable in dusty Wild West, West Texas as anyone I’d ever seen.
I’d been taken in, even then. Friends. We were friends. That was all we’d ever be. Because Weston Wright might be my roommate, but with the help of my brother, he was on the up-and-up in the music industry. There was no way he was staying in Lubbock with all the opportunities open to him now. I would just keep reminding myself of that as I tried not to drool over him.
“West!” I cried as it sank in that he was really here.
I practically tripped over my feet to rush past Tamara and crash into Weston. His arms came around me as he laughed a deep rumble.
“You’re home.”
He released me with another smile. “Yep. Came straight here from the airport. Dropped Campbell off at Blaire’s. He’s been an uptight mess. He needs to get laid so bad.”
I put my hands to my ears. “La, la, la. Do not need to know about my brother’s sex life.”
Weston ran a hand back through his hair, which was nearly back to the longish mess it had been that first day I saw him. He’d cut it super short when he first moved to Lubbock. He’d probably cut off the inch of curl at the ends any day now. “Sorry ’bout that.”
“I know he’s your best friend, but ew.”
A throat cleared behind us. We both turned to find Tamara still standing there.
Her eyes took in Weston like a tasty snack. “Who’s this, Nora?”
“Uh, this is my roommate.”