Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Driving me wild with her antics.
Making me prouder of her again the more I see her coming out of her shell now we’re alone.
“And I’ll get driving!” I reply, trying to mimic her tone. Making us both laugh when I fail miserably.
The city’s home and work for me, so getting out of it is like getting out of myself and my routines.
Bridget doesn’t blink or even ask when I head straight for the interstate. But I let her know that the old general store in the town nearest the farm is where I always shop come farm time.
“I don’t plan on needing much,” she says cryptically, giving me another one of her sultry looks.
All the hesitation she had in her parents’ house has vanished.
And I couldn’t be happier.
I might have my work cut out for me here. But no, I’m sure I can keep up with Bridget.
I can already see how badly she needs what I have to give her.
We can both feel it, and getting out in the fresh country air only seems to stimulate our minds and physical appetites with every mile.
What used to feel like a chore, going out this way, feels like an adventure now that Bridget’s with me.
I can feel her own interest as well as excitement about seeing the place on top of her other newfound hobby.
Me.
She has a million questions, too, and I try to field as many as I can, “You’ll see,” is all I can tell her about most things, though. Hoping she won’t be too disappointed when she finally does see the place.
The small-town general store has been out here longer than the farm, which is over a hundred years old.
But like I tell Bridget, they’ve kept up with the times and have everything we need or ever could.
Unlike the city, if a man my size and age is walking around with a girl half his age, country folk don’t make assumptions.
And the ancient storekeeper, who must be as old as the farm we’re heading to, is the first to remind me of that.
“Hiya, Ash!” he greets me warmly once we enter the store.
He casts an eye over Bridget and smiles knowingly to himself.
“Nice to see you’ve got some company this time, too. It gets awfully lonely out there,” he says in a friendly tone.
Bridget looks to me for how she should react, and slipping her hand into mine I squeeze it gently.
You’re safe out here, Bridget. Folks look out for one another, sure. But they also know how to mind their own business.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Bridget
I don’t tell Ash about the texts I get from my parents. Mom’s told Dad I’m sick in bed, so he’s pinging me like crazy, asking if there’s anything I need.
They mean well, but being left to my own devices isn’t something they like. If I’m not at work, they like to know exactly where I am and what I’m doing.
All the time.
So once the signal drops as we get further out of the city, I breathe a sigh of relief. But I know there’s gonna be hell to pay once they find out what’s happened.
I figure Ash knows, too. A man of his experience and maturity, but he doesn’t seem bothered by the idea of taking off with me like this.
Far from it.
I noticed the looks we got at the burger bar, but Ash is a huge guy. That’s bound to draw some attention.
Most people look at him and then me, maybe assuming I’m his daughter or something. While a few give us both strange looks.
Judging looks, I know Ash can see as plainly as I can, but he lets it slide.
It’s all about us from now on, so when we reach the general store near his farm, I expect more of the same from people looking at us.
I’m surprised when Ash takes my hand in his, showing me and whoever might look that we’re a team now. And whatever else we do is none of their damned business.
He asks the storekeeper, who I hear him call Hank for his usual supplies, times two. On account of me, I guess. But Ash seems to want to do a little of his own shopping, encouraging me to do the same.
“Take a look around. Grab whatever you want, Bridget. Whatever you want,” he says again with a face more relaxed than I’ve seen from him so far.
I don’t mind if he doesn’t want to be glued to me every second we’re together. Plus, Ash being so much taller than the shelves or anything else in the store, he can keep his eyes on me the whole time and vice-versa.
It’s perfect, really, because I decided that I’d like to buy him something special on the way up here.
Something decent and practical, but mostly to say thank you for all he’s done for me so far.