Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Chapter 5
Evie
The next day I’m at work when I see Greer again. After I took him to his place, I left his truck in the clinic’s parking lot for one of his brothers to pick up. I got my brothers from the hotel, and we took our things to the apartment. We ate the good kind of mac and cheese to celebrate our change in fortune before watching an action movie and falling asleep on an air mattress.
Greer is still wearing sunglasses, but the eyepatch is gone. He pulls them off and tucks them into the pocket of his shirt then presents me with a bouquet of daisies.
I stare at his outstretched hand. I know I should accept them, but I don’t want to lead him on. I don’t want him to think that anything is going to come from this. “Greer…”
“These are to thank you for yesterday. I appreciate you looking out for me,” he explains as he skirts around the desk and stands in front of me.
I relent and take the flowers, feeling like a schoolgirl who knows the cute boy likes her. His attention shouldn’t warm me so much, but it does. “Thank you.”
“You deserve flowers every day,” Greer says softly and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
I close my eyes as his fingertips brush my cheek. “What are you doing?”
His voice is filled with conviction, arousing and soothing me at the same time. “I’m stepping up my game. I told you yesterday I go after what I want.”
My heart skips a beat, the way it always does when this sexy man is near. “And what do you want?”
He leans close, his breath against my cheek when he says, “What I want are these curves pressed up against me every day for the rest of my life. I want all of your smiles. Your laughter and your tears. I want decades together. I want you wearing my ring and carrying my kids.”
I sway toward him, my resolve weakening. Maybe one date would be fine. That’s not too much to ask, right?
Before I can make up my mind, Martha opens the door behind me. I spring away from Greer like I was doing something wrong. I hold up the folder she asked for. “It’s right here. I was just…”
Greer tips his head toward Martha. “We were talking about how she’s going to marry me one of these days.”
Martha beams at him. She knows I haven’t even accepted a date with Greer. “Let her get back to work. Your mama is ready to go, Greer.”
He brushes a kiss to my forehead before giving me a wink. “See you at the altar, pretty girl.”
I watch him go and shake my head. The big, bossy cowboy is crazy.
“He’s just a flirt,” I repeat to myself as I set the flowers in a vase and put it on my desk.
Spencer never bought me flowers. He left another voice message on my phone last night. I listened to it a few minutes ago. He was belligerent in this latest one, demanding to know where I am so we can “talk things through”. That’s never going to happen.
I trace the delicate petals with my fingertips as I think of the cowboy with a kind gaze. It’s been hours since he was here to pick up his mom. Mrs. Maple has multiple sclerosis and uses a motorized wheelchair. She’s on experimental medication as part of a study, and she comes in every week for lab work. I haven’t had a chance to talk with her, but she and Martha love to gossip together.
Martha walks into the waiting room. “Evie, honey, are you busy? I need you to take this down to the candle shop.”
She holds up a brown satchel. I recognize it as Mrs. Maple’s. She must have left it here after her appointment.
I've never been to the candle shop in town. But that's not why I'm nervous. It's the thought of meeting Greer's mother. What if she doesn't like me?
I'm being ridiculous. It doesn't matter whether she likes me or not. I am not marrying that cowboy. I'm not even going on a date with him.
I push to my feet and stand, hoping that my nerves don't show on my face. "Sure. I'll be right back.”
“Bring me some of those snickerdoodles from Haley's place, since it’s on the way.”
I narrow my eyes. “That is what you really wanted me to do.”
She puts a hand to her chest, feigning innocence. “I would never waste the resources of this clinic like that."
Since it's a beautiful day outside, I walk to the candle shop. I love Main Street in Courage County. I love the little shops and the sidewalk with its cracks and dips and the trees that sway in the breeze. Spring is in the air, and I lift my head, enjoying the feel of sunshine on my face.