Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
The dogs can’t see it, but it looks great in pictures on social media. It’s one of the things I bank on for marketing—it draws people in. Along with the fact that I’m all happy and sunny. People love me. I’m a great time. Well, I don’t think Riggs thinks that. I think he thinks I’m annoying, and while I’d be highly efficient at doing this job for him, he’d rather just take the dogs with him. Don’t blame him. I’d want to do the same.
I notice Phill, our grounds keeper, making sure the electric fence that keeps bears out is sound, and I remind myself to thank him later. He has been such a huge part of my business. He has been working for my peepaw for as long as I’ve been living with him, and when Phill offered to help me build the resort, I jumped at the opportunity. He is a man of few words, works to the bone, and doesn’t complain. A huge part of my income goes to his salary, and I don’t even bat an eye at it. He’s worth every penny.
He waves at us, and we wave back with smiles on our faces. When I look at Elliot, she’s watching me. “What?” I ask, reaching over to rub her belly. It cracks me up that she thought she could hide this pregnancy from me. I was the first to know. Elliot doesn’t gain weight in her stomach, and when I noticed it, I knew she was either bingeing on cheese or she was knocked up. I kept my mouth shut, waiting for her. Especially when I realized she’d stopped taking her anxiety meds. Elliot does things on her own time. No one can rush her or force anything from her. Well, maybe Alex can.
I rub her belly, in awe of the fact that she’s growing my nephew. For the longest time, she had a little bit of a pooch, but now, my nephew is showing his presence. It’s almost as if he was waiting for his daddy to come back. He hid to help his momma keep him a secret, but now, he wants everyone to know.
Oh, I love him so.
She covers my hands with hers. “Be careful.”
I bring in my brows. “Huh? Am I hurting you?”
Elliot waves me off, rubbing my hands with hers. “No, not that.” My brows furrow more in confusion. “About Coach.”
“What about him?”
“You’re smitten,” she accuses, and I shrug. “And from what Alex says, Coach is dead inside.”
“Dead inside?” I ask, confused. “Why does he say that?”
“He went through a nasty divorce and is jaded.”
“El, be real. I’m not trying to marry him,” I say with a laugh, even though my heart does skip through a little trippy feeling that I don’t really understand. I love that he’s dead inside, that he’s jaded. That means I can breathe life into him. Whoa? Why do I want to breathe life into him? I don’t even know him. Am I really that desperate for some ass? The answer is no, so I don’t know what my mind is doing right now. “I’m just watching his dogs,” I say, more to myself than her.
She sets me with that older sister look that I hate. “I know your smile when you get excited about something, and you’re not excited about those dogs.”
I feign hurt. “I’m always excited for dogs!”
“But you’re more excited for a grumpy, bearded coach who, I hear, hates everyone. You’re too vibrant for someone like him. Don’t waste your time.”
I can’t help the grin that pulls at my lips or how my cheeks fill with color. I lean over, cupping her belly. “My sweet nephew, tell Momma not to worry about me and to worry about you.” My nephew kicks me, and I grin up at her. “He agrees.”
She scoffs, giving me a pointed look. “You’re going to do what you want, but I hope you protect yourself. I’ve got my hands full.”
“Relax,” I tell her, holding her gaze. As if I’d burden her with my affairs. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. But Elliot being Elliot, my older and closest sister, she still has that need to protect me.
“I’m not kidding. I’ll take him out like I did Coleson.”
I snort. “Man, I wish I had been there for that.”
She grins. “Eliza was so pissed.”
“Right? So funny. But really, sis, it’s unnecessary. Nothing will happen.”
Though, let Coach Riggs McCoy come on to me. Let me get even an inkling he wants me.
And I’ll be fine with the fact that I just lied to my sister.
CHAPTER 5
Riggs
I left the office right away to head home and clean. I’m in no way messy; I was raised by my ma to keep my space clean, and that hasn’t changed over the years. Still, I wanted to make sure my place was tip-top for Clara. Since she’ll be staying here most nights, I want her to feel safe and at ease. I’m already nervous she won’t like it because it’s so secluded. I chose my cabin primarily because it’s hidden in the deep woods. I’m not saying I don’t like people, but I’d rather they not be in my backyard or bringing me shit every day. If I lived in town, that’s how it would be. This way, no one knows where I am.