Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 78(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 52(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 78(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 52(@300wpm)
I’m still deciding whether I’m going to stop by the brewery for an early dinner or if maybe I should just wait a couple hours and head over to The Sterling Rope to see what all the hype is about.
My phone rings, interrupting my internal debate, and I see Giant’s name on the screen. I hit the Bluetooth button on my steering wheel. “What do you want?” I already told him I’m not interested in any side gigs right now, but that hasn’t stopped him from pestering the fuck out of me.
“I thought you might want to meet up for dinner.” There’s no doubt the big asshole is up to something. I can count on one finger the times we’ve had dinner together.
“I’m busy.” I am. I’m planning to spend the evening stalking my little speed demon.
“You can kill two birds with one stone if you have dinner with me.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Meet me at The Wild Peach Brewery and we can discuss it.” Now, I’m wondering if the big bastard reads minds, too?
“The Wild Peach Brewery?” I already know playing dumb is useless, but I need to see how much he already knows.
“Come on, don’t play coy. The notorious Silver Spoon Falls grapevine has been buzzing with gossip concerning you and a cute little redhead. Ninety percent of the town already knows you pulled over Calista Anderson Tuesday morning and didn’t give her a ticket.” Fucking hell. Ever since I moved to this crazy town, I’ve heard rumors about the fast-moving grapevine and the magical water that helps soulmates connect. “Then you’ve been doing damn near round-the-clock surveillance on her two places of employment. It’s time for you to stop the stalking shit and make a move on her.”
“Really?” I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. “You learned all that from a bunch of gossiping old ladies?”
“Let me give you two little bits of advice. First, don’t ever let those gossiping old ladies hear you call them that. We would probably never find your body. And second, don’t ever doubt the power of the grapevine.”
It suddenly hits me that I should take him up on his offer. My old friend might be able to help me out when it comes to winning my girl. After all, the giant asshole met and married his own soulmate within the blink of an eye. “What time do you want to meet?”
“I’m already here.” Of course, he is.
What could it hurt to hear him out? “And you’re paying since this is a business dinner?”
“Of course,” he growls a second before I hear him mutter, “Cheap asshole,” under his breath.
“I’ll be right in. Order me a beer.” I hang up before he’s able to respond.
I park next to my little speed demon’s car and walk around the front of the building. The rustic barn-style building has a huge wraparound front porch lined with wooden rocking chairs. There’s a large screen television tucked up under the inner wall with the latest sports news running on a constant loop.
I pull open one of the double doors and step into the brightly lit building. My eyes roam around the room, looking for my speed demon, but her bright red head is nowhere to be seen. Instead, I find Giant sitting at the last booth on the right side of the room.
As I slide into the booth across from him, a waitress stops by and places two beer mugs and two glasses of water on the table. “I ordered you the house special.” Giant points at the beer mug in front of me. “It’s probably too late for you, but I’d avoid the water unless you’re ready to put a ring on your girl’s finger and have a houseful of rugrats running around.”
“Not this shit about the fucking magical water in town.” I’ve been hearing this fairytale since I moved to Silver Spoon Falls. The locals all believe there’s something special about the town’s water that helps facilitate the crazy number of happy unions in town. “I stopped believing in make-believe when I was ten.” I take the icy glass of water off the table and down it in one gulp while a little spark of hope fires in my chest at the thought of making Calista mine forever.
“Another one bites the dust.” Giant shakes his head. “You might’ve had a chance of getting away, but that just sealed your fate.”
“Whatever. Stop fucking around and tell me what the fuck you want.”
“I have a job for you to do.”
I goddamn already knew it. “No.”
“You should listen to what I have to offer before you turn it down.”
“Fine.” It doesn’t hurt to listen, even though I know there isn’t anything he can offer that will change my mind. “Offer away.”
“Roman Sterling needs a little help at the club.” My ears perk up when he mentions the club where my speed demon works. “He has new members visiting tonight, and he’s been having trouble with newbies not following club rules. He needs the best security money can buy to keep an eye on things.”