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)
It’s as if I blinked, and it’s already the last week of October. I have five more months with her, and that’s not enough time. There will never be enough time where Scarlett is concerned.
I thought I had a handle on my feelings. I enjoyed spending time with her. I never get tired of being around her. In fact, I want to be around her more. I’ve come close to asking her to move in with me. At first, I was convinced it was a terrible idea, that I’d grow too attached.
It’s too late.
I’m already too attached.
It’s still probably a terrible idea, but there is no way I’m walking away from the time I have left with her. I’m in this. We’re in this, and we both plan to see it through until the end.
Her contract is up in five months, and then she’s on to her next big adventure. I want that for her, but I want her to stay here with me even more. My heart is torn in two directions, and I struggle with that every damn day. No matter how badly I want her to stay here and start a life with me, I know she’s destined for great things. She just doesn’t know that she’s going to be carrying my heart with her on her journey.
My heart screams at me to beg her to stay, but I won’t do that. I can’t. I knew the score when I got involved with her, and I know my Scarlett; she’s going to be hurting when she leaves, and me begging her to stay would just make it tougher on her. I won’t do that to her. No matter how hard I have to bite my tongue and fight the urge to drop to my knees and offer her the world, my world, and my heart and soul to stay.
Fuck, I’m going to miss her.
I pull into her driveway for our date tonight, just the two of us. I love my brothers and sisters-in-law, but I just needed some time with her. She loves haunted houses, and there are a few in our area, and that’s what we’re doing tonight. We’re going to hit as many of them as we can. Before I can get out of the truck and knock on her door, she comes barreling down the front steps. She’s wearing black leggings that make her ass look incredible. Whoever invented those damn things, I thank them. She’s got on a long sweater and boots that come up just underneath her knees. Her hair hangs in loose curls down her back, and her smile lights up her face. She pulls open the door and climbs inside my truck.
“This is a date,” I say once her door is shut.
“I know.” She reaches for her seat belt and straps herself in.
I point to the bouquet of flowers I picked up for her sitting on the corner console. “I was coming to your door to get you and give you these.” I hand her the flowers.
“Aw, Popeye, no one has ever bought me flowers before.” She brings them to her nose to smell them, then turns and carefully lays them on the back floorboard of the truck. “It’s cold enough outside. They should be fine there for the night.”
“How am I supposed to be romantic when you steal my thunder?” I ask.
“Archer! It’s the last week of October. I’ve been waiting all month for this night. We don’t have time for romance. We’ve got things to do.”
I chuckle at her exuberance for the season. “Fine, but next time stay put until I can knock like a real man.”
“You’re all man, handsome. Trust me on that one.”
This. Fucking. Woman.
I lean over the console and slide my hand behind her neck, pulling her into a kiss. She may be in a hurry, but I need a taste before we go. “Missed you,” I say, giving her another soft peck before settling back in my seat.
“You saw me last night.”
“But you went home.”
“Because I don’t live with you.”
“You should. Then I’d see you more.”
“Archer—” she starts, but I shake my head, stopping her.
“I’m allowed to miss my girl.”
“I missed you too,” she confesses.
I let it go. “You ready?”
“I was born ready. I love Halloween.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Um, we’re going to have to hit a drive-thru, Kincaid. We cannot waste precious time at a restaurant. The lines will be long because this is the last weekend.”
“Fair enough.” I laugh. “Our first stop is Harris. Be thinking about what you want to eat, and we’ll hit the drive-thru.”
“Perfect.” She settles back in her seat. “Oh, how’s Crosby and baby Caden?” she asks.
“They’re both good. Rush is already driving her crazy with his overprotectiveness.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from him or any of your brothers, actually.”
“Even me?”