Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
I played on the sports teams, and everyone knew I had promise as a hockey player. It was too small a town for me to go unnoticed. But Willy’s experience was the opposite of mine. She didn’t fit in with a lot of the other girls in our class. She was strong willed, and she didn’t back down. It made her a great class president, but a lot of people were intimidated by her, and guys didn’t know how to handle her.
She’s gone through so much bullshit to get where she is, and it makes me love her even more. But I hate how much I used to be part of that bullshit.
The door to the cabin opens, and a very rumpled, groggy-looking Wills appears on the front porch. She’s still in her nightshirt, which skims the top of her thighs. Her nipples peak against the pale fabric. The front of her nightshirt boasts a cartoon of an angry coffee cup and lumps of sugar who appear terrified.
“Good morning, gorgeous.”
“That’s questionable.” She grimaces against the sunlight, but trudges across the porch and drops down next to me on the swing.
“Did you sleep okay?” I have the gift of being able to pass out within seconds of my head hitting the pillow. But I woke up about an hour after we went to bed with Wills draped across my body.
She grunts and lets her head fall back. “My head is killing me.”
“Let me get you something for that.”
“I need coffee or heads will roll,” she grumbles.
Despite the probability that she will retaliate by biting me, I lean over and kiss her forehead. “You are the most adorable gremlin in the morning.”
“Ugh. I hate you.” She groans. “But mostly because you’re being so fucking sweet, and I’m so damn salty.”
“Your saltiness is one of my favorite things about you.” I pat her bare thigh. “I’ll put the coffee on and bring you something for your head.”
I push out of the swing and head for the door.
“Thank you,” she mumbles as she stretches out, tucking a pillow behind her.
I set the kettle to boil and bring her a bottle of water and two painkillers.
“This view is incredible.” Wills holds out her hand, and I drop the medicine in her palm.
“Right? It’s why I love this little cabin and its tiny bed so much.”
“Your feet hang over the end.”
“They do. I’ll be back with coffee in a minute.” I disappear inside, use the single-cup press, and doctor her coffee the way I know she likes it. She starts to sit up, presumably to make room for me, but I raise a hand. “Hold right there.” I set the coffees on the table beside the swing and tuck myself in the corner, adjusting all the pillows so she can lean into them.
“Is this even comfortable for you?” she asks as I pass her a coffee mug.
“Absolutely.” I don’t care if the armrest is digging into my side. I’m more than happy to end up with a bruise if it means being this close to her.
She sips her coffee and sighs. “This is perfect.”
“Good. I’m glad.” I stretch my arm across the back of the swing and sip my coffee, enjoying the hell out of this moment. It’s probably only happening because she’s too hungover to fight me.
“After coffee we can go for breakfast at Two Guys and a Stove.”
“They have the best eggs benny,” Wills sighs.
“With peameal bacon,” I add.
“Yes times a million,” she agrees. “But we’ll probably run into people we know.”
“That’s inevitable. I won’t leave your side today, Wilhelmina. I won’t make the same mistake as last night.”
“I don’t need protecting,” she snaps.
“I know you don’t.” I kiss the top of her head. Mostly, it’s reflexive. “But sometimes it’s nice to know someone has your back.”
She gulps her coffee and pats me on the leg as she moves to stand. “I need a shower.”
I want to offer to give her a hand, but she’s turned me down twice now.
She disappears inside the cabin. I finish my coffee and hop into the outdoor shower. The cold water is a little hard to take, but I’ll survive. I’m already dressed and ready to go by the time she comes out of the bathroom, wearing another outfit I bought for her.
She frowns at my wet hair. “Did you go for a morning swim? The water would be frigid.”
“There’s an outdoor shower,” I explain.
“I bet the view is amazing.”
“It is.”
“Maybe I’ll try it tomorrow.”
“It’s cold water only, so that’s something to consider.”
Her eyes widen. “You had a cold shower?”
“This place has a small water heater, and I didn’t want you to run out. It’s not a big deal.”
She purses her lips. “Have you always been this sweet?”
I shrug. “You make it sound like that’s a bad thing.”
She blows out a breath. “You’re making it extremely difficult not to like you, Dallas.”