Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“What are you up to?” I ask him.
“I ran into Millie,” he says. “She told me that she spent a mint in here today because you have the best clothes in western Montana, and she couldn’t say no to anything.”
“Ha.” I smile with satisfaction. “I think I love your sister.”
He laughs and reaches out to drag his finger down the edge of my jawline, waking up my nerve endings. “Congratulations, Polly. Sounds like it was a good day.”
“It was a great day,” I confirm. “I already have to reorder some stock. I hope my suppliers aren’t sold out.”
“Not a bad problem to have.” He nods at Katie, who walks out of the back with a few items on hangers. “You must be Katie.”
“Hi,” she says with a bright smile. She’s been here all day, but she’s still as bright and fresh as she was this morning. “How can I help?”
“I don’t need anything,” Ryan replies easily, smiling to put her at ease. “I’ve just heard good things about you.”
Katie glances my way. “Aww, that’s sweet. Polly’s the best. What else do you need today, Poll?”
“That’s good for now. You can go on home, Katie. Thank you. You killed it.”
“We killed it,” Katie says with a happy grin before clocking herself out on the computer and then grabbing her stuff to go. “Have a good night! See you Thursday!”
“Bye, Katie.”
When she’s gone, I grin at Ryan. “See? She’s pretty great.”
“I like her,” he says quietly. “You’re beautiful, and I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but you look tired.”
“I am tired, but in a good way.” I lock the front door, flip the sign to closed, and walk back to him. “It was a successful day.”
“Good. I know our date isn’t until tomorrow night, but I think we should celebrate.”
“What do you have in mind?”
CHAPTER FOUR
RYAN
I’d intended to take her out to dinner since I was already in town, and I had heard from Millie that today was a huge success for Polly.
But she does look so fucking tired, so I’ve had a change of plans.
“Let’s get you home,” I suggest, and I know it’s the right decision when she practically sags in relief. “I’ll order something in. Or, if you’d rather not have company, I can wait until tomorrow night to hear about it all.”
“You’re welcome to join me,” she says as she gathers her designer handbag and slings it across her body. “I was just going to have a glass of wine on the patio.”
“That sounds really nice.”
It really does. I’m curious to see Polly’s home, and I’m itching to spend some time alone with her. Sure, a big part of me wants to get her naked again, but it’s more than the incredible sex with her. I want to talk with her, learn her better.
Polly Allen intrigues me.
I follow her out the front of the shop and wait for her to lock the door. She pauses and takes in a deep breath of summer air.
Grinning, I can’t help but reach out and slide the tip of my finger down her cheek, and then down her jawline, where her skin is smooth as silk. “Where are you parked?”
“Oh, I walked.”
“Come on.” I take her hand and lead her to my truck. “I’ll give you a lift. You’re dead on your feet.”
“I guess I underestimated how exhausted I’d be tonight. I think the whole past week just caught up with me.”
“I get it.” I hold the door for her, and when she’s settled in the seat, I buckle the belt for her, then cross around to the driver’s side. “You’ll have to give me directions.”
“That’s right, you’ve never been to my house.” She grins. “I’m over on 4th Street. Not too far from the high school.”
With a nod, I put the truck in gear and head off that way. Nothing in Bitterroot Valley is very far away because we’re such a small town, and the high school is about eight blocks away.
The sun is still high in the sky, and will be late into the night. We’re at that time of year when the days are long and about to get hot.
“I’m the little green house,” she says, pointing to the right. “You can park in the driveway. My car is in the garage.”
With a nod, I pull in and cut the engine. She’s not kidding when she says small. The lawn is the size of a postage stamp and has recently been mowed. The yard is actually really cute and well-maintained. “This is cute.”
“It’s a project,” she says with a shrug. “But it looks like my neighbor kid came to mow the grass today. I love that kid.”
Polly pushes out of the truck, and I follow her to the door. Close up, I can see that the screen door has seen better days, and I don’t like that she doesn’t have any kind of security at all, aside from the deadbolt.