Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Are you two out causing trouble?” She glances between Ryder and me.
“Nope.” Ryder flashes her a grin. “Just feeding our bellies. We’re growing boys, you know.”
Scarlett laughs at that, and I’m unable to look away from her. “What about you?” I ask once her laughter has died down.
“Oh, just out exploring. I’ve not spent a lot of time in Harris. I went to a cute bookstore that Alyssa was telling me about and did some shopping. Now, I’m going to order some food to take home.”
“You should join us,” Ryder offers before I get the chance to.
I’m relieved because I know my request would sound way too eager.
“I don’t want to impose.”
“Not at all,” Ryder says.
I move over, leaving room for her to sit next to me on my side of the booth. “No reason for you to eat alone when you can eat with us,” I tell her.
“Are you sure?” She directs the question to Ryder, and I have to bite down on my cheek to hide my smile. She knows I don’t mind her company.
“Yep. We’re used to having lots of people around. Trust me.”
Scarlett nods and slides into the booth next to me. “We haven’t ordered yet,” I tell her.
“Oh, I’ll eat anything. Well, except anchovies.” She shudders.
“Yeah, that’s not happening,” Ryder agrees.
We talk about what we’re getting and decide on meat lovers and breadsticks. The waitress comes to take our order, and Scarlett jumps in, starting the conversation.
“So, I feel as though I’m at a disadvantage. You all know me and what I do. What do you do?”
“I’m a lineman,” Ryder explains.
“Oh, so when my power goes out, you’re the guy to call?”
“Not exactly, but yeah, I’d be the one out in the field getting you back up.”
“Nice.” She grins and then turns to me. “What about you?”
I take a drink of my sweet tea. “I’m a mason. I lay brick and block for a living.”
“Nice. Explains the arm porn.”
“What?” Ryder sputters with laughter.
“Arm porn,” Scarlett repeats. “All of you have it in spades.”
Ryder looks at me for help. “Apparently it’s biceps.”
“And you know this how?” he asks, still laughing.
“Scarlett and I have already had this conversation.” I glance over at her, and she’s nodding.
“It’s a thing.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Ryder tells her.
Just like that, conversation flows. We each talk about our work, and Scarlett tells us about photography, and before we know it, we’ve devoured our pizza and breadsticks, and it’s time to head out. We all have to work tomorrow, much to our dismay. We say our goodbyes, and Scarlett drives off in her Subaru while Ryder and I head back to my place in his truck.
I’m grateful that he doesn’t mention my familiarity with Scarlett. I know he noticed, but he’s giving me a free pass tonight. I make a mental note to do the same for him when he needs it. It’s not often we give passes in our family. We’re a loud, nosy bunch, but I always know at the end of the day, my family will be there whenever I need them.
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Scarlett
“It only took us a month, but here we are.” Palmer raises her drink in her hand. “Here’s to girls’ night.” We all clink our glasses together, even Crosby and Ramsey, though theirs is club soda.
“Why did it take us so long to do this?” Alyssa asks.
“Because we have needy husbands and their adorable offspring to take care of.” Kennedy smiles.
“Their daddies are pretty damn adorable too.” A dreamy look appears in Jade’s eyes.
“Cheers to that.” Palmer holds her drink up again, and we all do the same.
“So, Scarlett, how are you liking Willow River?” Ramsey asks.
“Better than I expected,” I confess. “I’m a bit of a wanderer, so staying in one place usually grates on my nerves, but that hasn’t happened here.”
“How does your family feel about you traveling?” Piper asks. She’s Palmer and Deacon’s sister, and her little girl, Penelope, is an adorable little angel from the pictures she was showing earlier. I vaguely remember her and her husband from the wedding a couple of months ago.
“It’s just me.” I swallow a hefty drink of my beer. I hate this part. The part where I see pity in someone’s eyes when I confess that I’m all alone.
“Well…” Crosby leans forward so that she can see around Alyssa. “It’s a good thing you landed in Willow River. This place has a way of wrapping you in its embrace. The people aren’t too shabby either.”
Tension leaves my shoulders. They don’t pity me. If they do, they’re doing a great job at hiding it. I just want to be normal. I don’t want to be the adopted girl who got a family only to lose them and be alone again. My mind goes to the stack of letters my mother left for me. They have specific scenarios of when I can read them. That was her way of staying with me, but she’s always in my heart. She and my father both are. The first two people in my life who chose to love me.