Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“It had to have been before I came to work for you, which was seven months ago, because I’ve never seen you do it,” Jenna says with a laugh.
I take an empty chair, rest my napkin on my lap, and shoot her a smirk. “Okay, truth be told… I don’t have girlfriends I hang out with.”
“I know you can’t be against friends,” Harlow muses. “You’re too nice. I’m going to guess you don’t have time.”
Nodding, I reach for my filled water goblet. “If any of you know how to find an extra five hours in the day, let me know. I’d pay top dollar for it.”
They laugh, and it makes me laugh.
My date with these ladies will go down as one of the best outings I’ve had in a very long time. They’re all just so… easy. Kind, funny, witty, and engaging, they make me feel like one of them and not someone who sits in an ivory tower bathing in my billions.
None of them seem intimidated by me, and that’s a gift more precious than gold.
“Tillie,” I say, looking across the table at the woman who got Coen Highsmith’s head out of his ass. A certified miracle worker, in my opinion. “I heard you’re heading back to Coudersport soon. I’m thinking maybe I should offer you a job here so you can keep Coen straight.”
She snickers and shakes her head. “I’m heading back tomorrow, but he’s doing fine on his own right now. Although there’s no doubt things would be a lot easier if I lived here.”
“You’re an artist, right?” I ask, pushing my empty plate away. I also don’t remember the last time I finished a meal as I’m usually working while eating, and sometimes I forget to eat altogether.
“Watercolors, mostly, but I dabble in other things.”
“Is there a reason you can’t move here with Coen? It seems like you could paint from anywhere.”
Tillie wipes her mouth with her napkin and drapes it across her plate. “I’ve just opened an art studio where I give free lessons, so I’ve committed to that. But I’ll come stay here as much as I can when Coen has home games. He’ll come to Coudersport when he can.”
“It’s truly amazing, the change in Coen.” I’ve got a lot of admiration for this woman. Until Coen, I’d never met anyone who’d been spiraling so badly I didn’t think there was a way to save him. “I know it’s going to be hard on you both.”
“Don’t you think it’s interesting,” Harlow drawls as she drums her fingers on the table, “we have four women here who caused the fall of four confirmed bachelors. We’re pretty badass.”
I agree.
Jenna shakes her head. “Speak for yourself, but Gage wasn’t a confirmed bachelor. He never liked playing the field.”
“Neither did Baden,” Sophie says.
Harlow snorts and looks at Tillie, who shrugs. “Well then, Tillie and I are badasses because Stone and Coen were definitely players both on and off the ice.”
“Word,” Tillie says and holds out her fist for Harlow to bump.
That right there… that easy interplay between them—and these ladies just met within the last two weeks.
I want that.
“Whether they were players or not,” Jenna says, drawing our gazes her way, “some men are just ready to fall. I’d say Coen and Stone were ready.”
“I’ll tell you someone who is not ready to fall,” says Sophie, leaning in and lowering her voice. “Drake McGinn. He’s been so burned by the league and his ex-wife, it worries me that he won’t be able to bond with the team.”
Now, that assertion perks me right up.
Sophie’s eyes are sad. “Baden says he’s a great guy who has had a lot of shitty things done to him.”
“I know the guys are putting extra effort his way,” Harlow adds. Hearing that is super sweet and not at all surprising—we have a great group of men. “But he’s being a bit reclusive. They’ve invited him to go out after every single game and even on some non-game nights, but he declines. Says he has other plans, but he doesn’t know anyone here, so I don’t think that’s it.”
I choke on my sip of water and tumble into a coughing fit. All four ladies stare at me with concern.
“Are you okay?” Jenna asks, patting me on the back as I bring my napkin to my mouth.
No, I’m not okay. Drake isn’t going out with his teammates because he is hooking up with me.
“Fine,” I wheeze as I nod. Waving my hand, I motion for them to continue talking.
“He’s probably got a lady friend already.” Harlow laughs. “Which means he’d much rather be doing that than hanging with the guys.”
“He’ll come around,” Sophie says. “Besides, all our guys fell. Drake just needs someone to wash away the bad taste his ex-wife left behind. He’ll learn to trust again.”