Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“I’m about to get all in your business, Emma.” He shifted into gear, still looking at her, determination all over his face.
“No need,” she said, wishing her voice sounded more like a confident woman and not a woman who wanted to lie back and hand her panties over to him.
His left eyebrow joined his right and for a brief moment she wondered if her last thought had been spoken out loud.
“There’s a big need. I have nothing but respect for single parents and I know you’re doing all you can for Greer. Everything you do is for her and you constantly put yourself last to make sure she doesn’t want for anything.”
“That’s right, you lost your mom.”
His lips twitched and she was positive it wasn’t a smile.
“You could call it that. But my dad did for me like you do for Greer.”
His attention moved from her to the window and when he waved a hand, she figured it was to Tully. An assumption that proved to be true when the Acadia moved in front of the truck and left the lot.
Linc started driving and she thought he would let it go at that. Foolishly.
“You need a job that isn’t dependent on whether you’re willing to give it up for the boss or not. You have enough stress to deal with and shouldn’t have to worry if your boss is going to fire you because he’s having a bad day and you said no.”
If anyone could understand, it was a man who’d not been born into the wealth he enjoyed but had worked hard for it. Even so, her face flushed as she thought about how dire her situation actually was.
“You heard him,” she said, lifting her chin. “No one will hire a high school dropout single mom.”
His long fingers, ones she’d thought about in more ways than was probably acceptable, flexed on the wheel. He gripped it so tight his darker skin paled.
“That’s bullshit.”
She angled toward him, leaning forward until the seat belt dug into her shoulder, stopping her. “No, it’s not. Do you really think I would’ve stayed at that job if I had offers to be somewhere else? Somewhere steady with better pay?”
Her chest heaved as she tried to control her anger. Apparently, she’d been wrong about him understanding. How dare he judge her choices? She’d just go and tell Mr. Perry that Linc had spoken out of turn. Surely he would give her the job back. After all, she was pretty much the only one who did anything at that diner.
“Because I know the world you live in is lined with nothing but roses and willing women waiting to pull their clothes off for you,” Emma continued, “let me tell you my reality. I have a roof over my head because my father left it to me in his will. Not because he loved me, no, but because it was a hassle to change anything. I’m sure if he’d been able to pry his head out of a bottle long enough, he would have changed that. I look for jobs. I’m trying to improve my daughter’s life. To make sure she doesn’t have to go through what I did at school. So don’t you dare fucking sit there and tell me that I’m not trying to do something better.”
Chapter Three
Linc took several deep breaths before he opened his mouth and shoved his foot in it again. Emma had every reason to be pissed and insulted by his phrasing and his father would beat his ass with a switch for saying them.
But, Christ, he was still livid from the thought of that fucker holding her job over her head in such a manner.
“I’m sorry,” he said, looking at her when they were paused at a light.
Her jaw was set, and her pale skin was flushed with the fire of her anger, yet he witnessed a hint of vulnerability. He wanted to comfort her.
She crossed her arms as she stared out the window.
“You’re right, Emma.” God, he loved how her name fell from his lips. “I’m not in a position to judge and make assumptions about what you’re doing. However,” he said as she relaxed a fraction, “I am in a position to do something about it.”
“I don’t take charity and I’m not fucking you for money.”
Wow.
When she went there, she really went there.
“Wasn’t offering charity and I’m glad we got that out of the way. I’m not fucking you for money either. And now I’ve said that, if I were to fuck you,” he reached across the interior and turned her toward him so he could see her eyes, “it would be for nothing but both of our mutual pleasure.”
That pulse of hers kicked up and invited him to nip it before he laved away the sting.
“I’m sure you don’t need to lower yourself to sleeping with a frumpy single mother.”