Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“She didn’t say that she comes into the shop all the time,” Andrew said.
Harlow chuckled. “Why would she, if she’s not allowed in here? So, you’re wanting to get her a birthday gift?”
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
Harlow grabbed a small basket. “For Erin, it’s no trouble at all. She is always helping me with orders and pointing at the products I need to remember. I happen to know a few of her favorites, if you would like me to show you?” she asked.
“Yeah, totally, yes.”
She glanced over at Hailey who pressed her hands together and started to give silent air kisses. Shaking her head, she took him over to the products, and talked him through each one.
“It is kind of freaky right now. I feel like I’m actually talking to Erin.”
She chuckled. “Your niece has taught me a lot.”
“She really is something.”
Harlow agreed. “I guess she would have to be if she helped to tame your brother.”
“Yeah, she did. He is devoted to that little girl.”
There was silence and Harlow looked at Andrew as he stared at the shelves. She already had a lot of products in the basket.
“You know, Erin doesn’t talk about her mother a whole lot,” Harlow said.
“Her mother’s not around.”
“She’s not?”
“No. When Erin was about three years old, she took off. Left Alan to raise her. She never looked back and has never been in touch.”
“Oh, wow.”
“See what I mean, Erin changed my brother completely. He works hard and he’s built a life for the two of them. My parents help as well. We all adore Erin. She’s a little firecracker.”
“Where does your brother work?” Harlow asked.
She never kept up to date with Big Dick’s friends, not after he joined the Hell’s Bastards MC.
“He works at the sewage place. It pays him well, and he’s able to be home for Erin.”
Harlow nodded. “I better ring this up for you. I should warn you, makeup is expensive.”
She moved toward the register and began to ring everything up. Hailey had insisted on doing her nails, and Harlow was quite liking the manicure on her fingers. It made her feel feminine and delicate, a rather nice combination.
Ringing up the bill, Harlow winced at the price.
“Just tell me.”
She gave him a figure and he groaned.
“You know what, to see her face light up, I’ll do it,” Andrew said.
Harlow packaged everything up for him, in one of Hailey’s special designed boxes she’d been working on. Once everything was nicely wrapped, she handed him his change.
“Thank you for stopping by. Erin is going to love everything, I promise.”
“Would you like to go out with me?” Andrew asked.
Harlow was so taken aback by the question that she didn’t respond at first. She looked at him.
“I know it’s been years since we last hung out and I’m sorry for blurting this out of the blue, but … if you would like to go out some time…”
“She would love to,” Hailey said. “In fact, she’s not doing anything Friday night. I can vouch for that seeing as I am her best friend.”
Harlow was going to kill her boss. Maybe not kill, because she wanted a job and a house, and killing her wouldn’t accomplish anything. Forcing a smile to her lips, she looked at Andrew.
“I … ugh, I don’t know.”
“Just for drinks and maybe some food?” Andrew asked.
“She is vegan,” Hailey said. “So, her choices are quite limited.”
“I’m vegan as well.” Andrew chuckled.
“You are?” Harlow said.
“Yeah, I kind of have a thing about not hurting animals.”
“Wow.”
“She will see you Friday. If you pick her up from here, then you two will be good to go. I promise I’ll get her ready for you.”
Andrew left and Hailey seemed way too excited.
“What are you doing?” Harlow asked.
“Helping you,” Hailey said. “He is a vegan and he’s totally into you, and that is a good thing.”
Harlow shook her head. “I don’t think this is a good thing.”
Hailey handed her a bag of cold fries. “You don’t think anything is a good thing now. You hate watching romantic movies. You hate everything in life, and don’t think I haven’t noticed that about you. It is not good for the soul to hate so much stuff.”
“I don’t hate anything.”
“Then what do you call it?” Hailey asked.
“I put a realistic perspective on everything.” She might have spoiled a couple of movies by calling it all bullshit and giving a different ending, that is ten or twenty years down the line. In most instances, the man leaves and the woman can’t move on. Not a good prediction of the future.
“You’re in a rut, and I care enough about you to help you out of it.”
“You’re helping me out of a rut?”
“Yes, I am.” Hailey rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe how much of a pain you can be. I know he hurt you, and I know you’re going through a lot and I’m not trying to demean what happened, but … Andrew seems like a nice guy.”