Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 138588 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138588 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Gemma was a lot. Sabrina liked her. She worked with Elisa and always had the best gossip.
“Nell and Henry have a whole lesson planned on recycling,” Del said, slipping behind her desk. “Don’t worry. I looked over it. It’s fun, not an hour-long lecture that will put the toddlers to sleep long before their naps.”
They had a toddler class and a kindergarten/first-grade class. There were also two kids in middle school and a fourth grader. It was a juggling act to make sure everyone got what they needed, but Sabrina had to admit this was the most fun she’d ever had working. There was a challenge here. Some of the kids in the area were still going to classes in Monte Vista, but a couple had already come around.
“Good.” Sabrina sat back, glancing at the clock. Another thirty minutes and then the chaos would begin.
Luckily she liked a little chaos. The fun kind.
“So how did it go at Trio last night?” Del asked, not looking up from her laptop.
Sabrina sighed. The night before had not gone the way she’d hoped it would. It was stupid and she was going to get over it, but she was still thinking about the man from the Christmas party. The asshole. Mr. Nope wasn’t going to ask her out, but she wanted the feeling she’d gotten when she’d seen him. She hadn’t gotten it the night before. “It was nice.”
Del looked up, a brow rising. “It was supposed to be hot. It was supposed to be a date.”
She’d let herself get set up by her sister, who thought she might like spending time with the two deputies who worked part time for Bliss County. Knox Miller and Marshall Lethe. They normally worked in Creede but handled some late shifts for the Bliss County Sheriff’s department. “They were nice.”
Del winced. “So no spark?”
Sabrina let her head fall back on a groan. “No. No spark.” She brought her head back up. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. They were nice, but I didn’t feel anything. I think maybe I can’t feel anything. Maybe the whole romantic thing isn’t for me.”
It was why she was fixated on Mr. Nope. He’d been the first time she’d felt something for a man in a long time. She’d buried that part of herself deep, and she was still trying to get out. It wasn’t like she believed Mr. Nope was something special. He was obviously not for her, but she wanted to feel a spark again.
“Of course it is. You simply haven’t found the right guys yet.”
Sabrina snorted at the thought. “The fact that you make guy plural is still so odd to me.”
Del shrugged. “My mom would be way happier if she had two guys to yell at. My dad would be happier if he had a friend he could hide behind when he screws up. It’s one of the reasons I decided to stay here instead of looking for a job in Alamosa or Colorado Springs after I finished my degree.”
“I thought it was Stef Talbot’s signing bonus.”
Del’s lips curled up. “Mine came from Seth Stark. And I got him to pay for my Internet for as long as I’m employed. It’s so great having competitive billionaires around. But part of the reason I wanted to stay is having the option to be in a Bliss kind of relationship. Not that I have time right now. Between this job and doing all the online work to get my master’s, I’m swamped. My mom thinks it’s ridiculous I’m doing post-grad work. She says it’s my rebellion. I think she would have been happier if I’d moved straight from high school right to a table beside her at Polly’s salon.”
“You didn’t want to be a nail tech. I think you being dedicated to higher education is great for everyone in this town. My mom wanted me to go into the Army,” Sabrina admitted. “She told me if it was good enough for my sister and her, it should be good enough for me. And that’s why I had to pay every dime of college myself. She did let me live in her garage apartment, though. I paid rent, and I like to think of listening to her complain about my life as extra rent. Speaking of rent, I have to go by Marie’s later today. I’ve got electrical issues, and I am not going to make my brother-in-law do the work for free. Marie is tight fisted, but I swear I’ll get a lawyer if I have to.”
She’d lived in Cassidy and Mel’s guest room through the summer but wanted to be closer to the school when it opened. So she’d rented a two-bedroom cabin in the valley. The sheriff and his wife and partner were her closest neighbors. She had the most peaceful view ever and faulty wiring. She’d asked in writing for someone to come out, but Marie had been ignoring her.