Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 19919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
The gorgeous blonde turns, arching an eyebrow at me as Winston gives me a warning little growl. “What?”
“Who are you?” I repeat, pointing at the little poodle dancing around her feet. “That’s my neighbor’s dog. Why are you walking Winston?”
“Because he needed a walk,” she snaps back, not missing a beat, and my heart shudders in my chest while my cock turns to stone in my pants. Fuck. She’s too goddamn young for me, but that doesn’t seem to matter to my fucking heart or body. She explains, rolling her eyes, “I’m Remi Mora. Jasper is my uncle.”
Fucking hell. The world tilts on its axis. There’s no way in hell this gorgeous goddess can be Jasper’s spinster niece.
I blink several times, trying to get my brain circuits to fire. “Well, I didn’t know Winston had a social life,” I shoot back, hoping to lighten the tension swirling in the air around us. “He’s a lucky little furball to have such a beautiful woman walking him.”
She huffs out a breath, and I catch a glimpse of amusement mixed with shyness flickering behind her initial annoyance. “He’s very popular,” she says, crouching down to give Winston a scratch behind the ears. The little rascal takes the opportunity to tilt his head back, looking positively smug as he gives her hand a little lick.
“I can see that,” I reply, swallowing down the confusion flowing through me. “I’m Piers Pratt, by the way.”
She stands back up, brushing off her jeans as if my presence is annoying her more than the dust. “Nice to meet you.” But the words falling from her lips don’t match the expression on her stunning face. She’s short, definitely not more than five feet tall. There’s something about that heart-shaped face with its adorable sprinkling of freckles across her nose that makes my chest tighten. It’s like she just walked off a Hollywood set and right into the center of my world. Fuck, now I sound like a goddamn greeting card.
Chapter 2
Remi
Holy mother of all that is good, he’s gorgeous. Dark hair that looks like it’s perfectly tousled and deep, soulful eyes that catch the light just right. And dimples in both his freaking cheeks. I can hardly breathe. He looks like he could have just stepped off a movie set—seriously, the kind of guy who can melt you with just a look.
Winston gives a little bark, probably sensing the shift in my focus. Good boy. I give him an appreciative pat, but my thoughts are all over this man. He appears to be in his late thirties, and while I can’t see all of him since he’s sitting in that beast of a truck, I can tell he has a confident aura. This guy radiates hotness.
“You too.” He smiles, glancing down at me with eyes that seem to sparkle even from a distance. The sun is shining just right, casting a halo-like glow around him.
Winston decides this is the perfect moment to flop down into a bit of shadow, panting happily as if he’s just completed a marathon. I can’t blame him. This is definitely more entertaining than my morning routine back home.
“So, how’s the transition to small-town life treating you?” he asks, genuinely curious. It catches me off guard because, honestly, most people have looked at me like I’m some kind of fish out of water since I got here.
“It’s definitely an upgrade from the city hustle,” I admit, trying to keep my tone light while my heart pounds away in my chest.
“Would you and Winston like a ride home?” he asks, and I’m tempted, but there’s no way I’m getting in the truck with him right now. No freaking way. It’s going to take the entire walk back to Uncle Jasper’s house to get my unruly heart and hussy girly parts under control.
“Thank you, but I think Winston needs to walk a little more.” And I need the time to come to grips with the feelings my uncle’s neighbor has caused deep in my soul.
“Then I guess I’ll see you at the barbecue on Saturday.” Fudgemuffin. He’s going to be at my uncle’s little “get-together” this weekend. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get myself under control by the time I have to deal with him again.
“See you then,” I tell him and give a little wave before turning to finish my walk.
I end up carrying the spoiled pooch the last few blocks back to Uncle Jasper’s house. Seriously, that little fluffball has more energy than a toddler on a sugar high until he decides his walk is over. At that point, he gives up and lays down, stubbornly ignoring my efforts to entice him to finish the walk. After running in circles, barking at every squirrel and leaf, and managing to trip me at least twice, he refused to move another step.