Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
The lumberjack leaned in again, as he was wont to do, apparently, when something sparked his interest. He clearly ignored the way the brunette leaned away from him and shifted uncomfortably on her stool. He put a familiar hand on her shoulder; she shrugged out from under his touch. It was obvious she wasn’t the least bit interested. The lumberjack had twice been denied beer, though, and it seemed broads were next on his to-do list.
The brunette rebuked him a third time, then got up off her stool to leave. She paid Maria, said something to Milo, and turned to head toward the front door. She didn’t look back to see that the lumberjack had waited a moment but was now trailing after her. She pushed open the door and disappeared outside. Caleb got up from his chair.
The dance floor was crowded, though, and he had trouble making his own way to the door. He had to take a few detours, which cost him some time. He finally reached the other side of the bar and shoved open the door. A quick glance to his right and he spotted the lumberjack, hard on the heels of the smaller, young woman. The lumberjack reached out and grabbed her by the shoulder. Caleb quickened his pace.
The brunette pushed his hand off her, but the man grabbed her by the back of the neck.
“Hey, I’m fucking talking to you!” he snarled.
Caleb’s boots pounded the gravel as he broke into a run. Before he could get there, the brunette half-turned and threw up an elbow. It smashed up into the lumberjack’s face. Blood sprayed. She raised her foot and swept his leg as he stumbled back from the blow. He lost his balance and crashed to the ground, smacking his head against the fender of a truck on the way down.
By then Caleb had closed the distance between them. He reached for her arm without thinking. The same elbow came out again, but having caught this show before, he blocked it with the palm of his right hand. He snaked his left arm around her torso.
“Hang on,” he ordered.
She lifted her boot again, this time slamming it down into his shin, just above his own boot where it could actually do some damage.
“Sonofabitch!” he snapped.
He put both arms around her and twisted their bodies so he had her pressed up against the truck. He felt her slender fingers glide along his hand and knew he was about to get his fingers broken.
“Hey, now,” he protested, pulling her tighter into him. Her back was pressed against his chest. “Hang on,” he repeated. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”
She paused with her fingers resting over his. “Milo’s friend,” she replied, recognizing his voice.
“Yeah,” he said, letting go of her with one hand and reaching around behind himself. She stiffened again and started going for his hand when he drew out his wallet and flipped it open. The gold shield flashed in the yellow fluorescent light.
She stilled and Caleb felt reasonably certain he had the little hellcat under control. She had moxy though, and moves he hadn’t seen in quite a while, which made him intrigued and suspicious. “You got ID?” he asked.
She surprised him by laughing. “Why yes, Officer,” she teased. “Why don’t you frisk me for it?”
Caleb smirked, set his own wallet on the hood of the truck, and ran his hand along her hip. She wiggled a little. He found her wallet and slid it out of her back pocket. With one hand he flipped it open. “Isabelle Boucher.”
“My friends call me Izzy,” she replied.
Caleb moved his mouth to her ear. “We’re not friends,” he told her.
“Really?” she asked, and wiggled again. It was then Caleb became aware of a number of things. One, he was cupping her breast with his left hand. Two, he had a raging hard-on and it was pressed snugly into her Levi’s. “That’s not what the rocket in your pocket says,” she teased.
“Damn it,” he whispered and let go of her. He swiped his wallet off the hood and stepped away. He tossed hers back at her. Damn she was hot. Another button had popped during their struggle and a hint of black lace flashed at him. She was a damn good fighter, too. He looked away and chalked his erection up to adrenaline. “Are you alright?” he asked her.
She smirked at him. “You didn’t leave a scratch,” she said sarcastically.
Caleb rolled his eyes. “I meant him.”
The lumberjack was lying sprawled on the ground, moaning.
Isabelle shrugged.
Caleb slid his cell phone out of his pocket and began dialing.
“Who are you calling?” she asked. Caleb noted with some disappointment that she was fixing the buttons on her shirt.
“A ride for him,” he replied, nodding at the lumberjack.
She sighed. “Make it yellow instead of black and white. I’m late for a very important date.”