Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 117506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
She finally broke the silence. “It’s getting late, and I need to get back to my car.”
With a nod, I asked, “Did you want a ride? It’s dark.”
“No, it’s right around the corner.” She started to walk backwards and away from me. “Tell your parents I said hello.”
“I will.”
And with that, she turned and quickly walked away.
“You know, if you hit that thing any harder, it’s going to fall out of the ceiling.”
I stopped hitting the punching bag and turned to face Brock. He was leaning against the doorjamb with a smile on his face.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, reaching for a towel to wipe off the sweat running down my face.
“Thought maybe my best friend wanted to head out for a beer tonight.”
I lifted a brow and stared at him. “What’s the real reason you’re here?”
He laughed. “Fine, Lincoln said she was going to kill me if I didn’t leave her be for a bit. Apparently, I’ve been home entirely too much since Hunter was born. Plus, she, Kaylee, and Timberlynn are planning the lunch for tomorrow after the christening.”
“No wonder you wanted out of the house,” I said with a chuckle.
“What do you say to that beer?”
I nodded. “It’s been awhile since we hit the Blue Moose alone. Give me a minute to shower and get dressed?”
“I’ll go bug your momma for a taste of the apple pie she just made.”
I laughed as I quickly made my way out of the workout room and headed to my own room. I could stay in the guesthouse, or even buy a place in town, but I enjoyed staying with my folks when I wasn’t on the road. My father liked tinkering on his old truck with me, and my mother loved baking for both of us—even though that meant I was working out twice as much to counteract all the sweets my mother fed me. But every damn bite was worth it.
Twenty minutes later, I headed down to the kitchen and came to a stop when I heard her voice.
Merit.
It had been a week since I’d seen her at the street dance.
“Kimberley, you’re going to spoil us if you keep making pies like this!” Merit said.
“Nonsense. I remembered how much you loved blueberry pie, and when I saw the fresh blueberries at the market, I had to get them and make it for you.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. I knew my mother, and she was playing a dangerous game.
“Brock, is the family excited about the christening tomorrow?” my mother asked.
“We are, and I hope you and Brad are still planning to come to the lunch after?”
“Of course, we are! You did invite the Edens, as well, correct?”
Brock laughed. “Of course, we did. Merit, you able to come?”
“Yes. We wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ve already let Lincoln know it will be me and Mom only. My mother is over-the-moon excited to see Hunter, as well as Blayze and Morgan.”
“Speaking of being over the moon—Dirk is excited about being Hunter’s godfather.”
“How long will Dirk be in town for?” Merit asked, a slight nervous edge to her voice.
Knowing that I had an effect on her made me smile.
“He’s going to be in town for at least another week, I believe,” my mother answered.
“Oh,” Merit whispered. I couldn’t tell if I heard disappointment in her voice or not.
“I do wish the two of you would make up already. You were such good friends,” my mother said with a wistfulness in her voice.
Brock cleared his throat, and I figured that was my cue to get the hell in there.
“Sorry it took me so long,” I said as I walked into the kitchen.
Merit jerked her body around and gave me a quick once-over before she plastered on a fake smile.
“Hey, Merit, I didn’t know you were here,” I said as I reached down and popped a blueberry into my mouth. I could feel Brock’s eyes on me, as well as my mother’s.
“Your mom called and said she made a blueberry pie for us, so I came to get it.” She faced my mother again. “Kimberley, will you let me pay you for the pie?”
“Pay me! Why, I should put you over my knee and spank you for even suggesting such a thing.”
I groaned internally as an image of Merit over my knee with my hand slapping her perfect ass appeared in my head.
“Whatever you’re thinking, stop,” Brock whispered as he walked by me.
“Shut up, dude.” Shaking the image away, I shot him a dirty look, which only made him laugh.
“Where are you boys off to?” my mother asked.
“The Blue Moose for a few beers.”
With a huge smile on her face, my mother said, “You should invite Merit!”
“What? No!” Merit said—or rather, shouted.
My mother frowned. “Why not? The two of you used to be thick as thieves.”