Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 73192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
I walked up to the bartender and ordered three pitchers of beer and one margarita since all of the other ladies had been drinking the beer.
Once the bartender nodded and got to work on my drinks, I turned my attention to the POS—piece of shit—who was now glaring at me.
“She’s mine.”
I laughed. “That’s funny, because when I had her on my kitchen table yesterday and ate her for breakfast, she wasn’t screaming your name. She was screaming mine.”
Dusty stiffened.
“And when I came inside of her and watched it spill out of her body, she definitely looked like she was mine,” I continued to push.
If it were possible, Dusty stiffened even more.
“She’s mine,” I affirmed. “You can’t have her back. So, you and your stalkerish ways best be getting the fuck out of my town. Now.”
“This town isn’t yours,” he said. “You can’t tell me to leave.”
I smiled. “I can understand how you might think that, but I’m the chief of police here. This town is about as much mine as it can be. These people, including Reagan, are mine to keep safe. But that’s not why Reagan’s in my bed. She’s in my bed because I want her there. Her dog’s in my yard. Her plants are in my yard. Nothing says ‘mine’ like her making my place her own.”
“You’re lying.” He stood up.
“Afraid not, man.” I reached for my pitcher of beer. “So please, do us all a favor and get out of here. Stop stalking my woman. Be a man and accept that you’ve lost the best thing to ever happen to you. But do it knowing that I’m taking very good care of her.”
It was plain as day what I was trying to imply and he growled.
When he went to step up on me, I laughed and turned, making my way back to the table.
He wouldn’t hit me. He was a coward and there were too many of my allies in this bar for him to take that step.
But I would have to keep an eye out for him.
I had a feeling that this wouldn’t be the last time I’d see him.
***
“What?” she squeaked. “No.”
“You’re renting a tiny cabin that has zero security. I have an extra bedroom—that you won’t be using—and your dog is already at my house. It makes sense for you to just stay over…indefinitely.”
This wasn’t a good idea.
Not even a little bit, but the words were rushing out of my mouth before I could even stop myself from saying them.
“I didn’t really ask, sweetie,” I told her. “I’ve got a funny feeling and the three times I ignored that funny feeling I got shot so… I’m sorry, but you’re not staying at your place. You’re staying at mine.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’ve been dealing with this shit with him for forever. He’s been doing this on and off since we broke up four years ago. He’ll get bored and go away, I promise.”
I narrowed my eyes, but I realized rather quickly that she wasn’t going to go for it.
Son of a bitch.
“Fine,” I said, something heavy settling in my gut at the knowledge that she’d rather stay at her place than mine when her crazy stalker ex was in town. “But you’ll lock up. You’ll stay aware. You’ll call me if anything happens that you think is weird. Oh, and if you see him, you’ll call me.”
She rolled her eyes and held up her hand in the Vulcan sign. “I promise.”
I sighed and walked her to my truck. “Come on. We’ll get your car tomorrow.”
She shrugged. “I won’t need it anyway. I’m heading out on the lake tomorrow to study a new area where more hydrilla has popped up with the game warden.”
This time I felt something tighten in my chest, but I refused to acknowledge that it was anger at her spending time with the very unattached Theo.
Theo, whom I knew well and who had a very busy life and no time to spend with a girl.
Theo, who probably figured I had something going on with this half-pint-sized woman based solely on my reaction to the two losers who had threatened her when we gave them every fine in the book for taking plant life from the lake.
“How do you know Theo?” I asked as I walked around to the passenger side of the truck and held the door open for her.
She gave me a look full of scorn. “I’m not that drunk. I can get my own door.”
I shrugged. “Too damn bad. I open the door for my female passengers. Always have, always will. I learned it from my dad.”
“Well your dad is old-fashioned,” she muttered.
I snorted. “My dad is dead.”
Reagan blinked at me wide-eyed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
I shrugged. “It happened a long time ago.”
A really, really long time ago.