Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Big brown eyes stared up at him as she slowly realized she hadn’t hit the floor and likely come out of the whole escapade ruining her not-so-pristine uniform. “Sorry.”
She was even prettier up close. She had big eyes and brown and gold hair that looked wavy despite the fact she had it scooped up in a bun on top of her head. She looked at him for a long moment as though seeing him for the first time.
And then she was scrambling up. Grim had gotten out of his chair and picked up the notepad she’d dropped. He helped her find her balance, and she stared up at him, too. This was right where Josh wanted her. Small and soft and in between them.
“No need to apologize,” Josh said with his most charming smile. “We’re happy to help.”
Grim said nothing, simply handed her back her pad and watched her with hungry eyes.
Her breath hitched, and she smoothed down her skirt. “Thanks, again. I’ll go clean that up.”
She hustled away, and they both watched her.
“Yes, we need to worry about Olivia,” his mom said with a sardonic twist of her lips.
“Well, I’m not worried about her,” his pops countered. “Now Josh and Grim looking at the new girl like they could eat her up when she’s obviously a woman on the run, that’s something to worry about.”
If Pops had heard gossip, he wanted to know. He sat back down.
“Why would you say that?” Grim got to the point first. His plate was already empty. Sometimes Grim still ate like someone would take it away from him if he didn’t hurry.
Dad sighed. “Because we’ve seen it a time or two, and there are already some rumors about her. She talked Christa into giving her the job with only one reference, and convinced her to pay her wages in cash. She’s staying at the motel that rents by the week, and she pays cash for that, too.”
“Not everyone has a bank account. There are any number of reasons she doesn’t.” Josh didn’t judge a person. Hard times hit a lot of people and in different ways. He’d been lucky enough to not need money, but he had friends who did.
Grim nodded, obviously taking the cue. “Yeah, she could be down on her luck. It could be anything.”
“Or she’s on the run from something,” Pops said, putting an arm around Mom’s shoulders and leaning in. “Speaking of, darlin’, I think you’re in some trouble.”
Olivia made a gagging sound, but Josh liked that his parents were still all over each other.
Dad grinned and whispered something in Mom’s ear.
He wanted a similar situation for himself someday. For him and Grim. Oh, he likely wouldn’t get it from Nicole, but they could have a nice time.
And if he could help her out, he would do that, too. He glanced to his left, where she was walking into the kitchen.
She didn’t know it yet, but they were coming after her.
* * * *
Nora Holloway liked being Nicole Mason for the most part. Mostly because no one wanted to put Nicole in jail or in a grave to hide their secrets. Of course, Nora hadn’t spent her days and nights wearing a uniform that made her look like she was on a seventies sitcom and carrying trays of sloshing liquids through a moving obstacle course.
She’d started to think of herself as Nicole. There were times when Nora and her problems seemed so far away.
And then there were times when she was absolutely certain law enforcement was standing right behind her, ready to take her in for a crime she hadn’t committed.
“You okay, honey?” Christa Wade looked up from the deep fryer. They were light on staff this evening, so she was helping out in the back. Her current employer was an older woman with what seemed like endless energy and enthusiasm. And kindness. “I sent Lance out to clean up. I’ll have a talk with Sharla Simmons. Her son cannot use my condiments for impromptu art projects.”
It was so different from the cities she’d lived in. “The kids are feral here. They scare me.”
That got her boss smiling. “Oh, a lot of our children live a bit of a free-range experience.”
“Are they like wild animals? More afraid of me than I am of them.”
Christa’s head shook. “Nope. Country kids fear nothing except their momma’s wrath. You’ll get used to them. The good news is when they’re misbehaving, their parents will take care of it if you point it out. Now you didn’t answer my question. Are you okay? Milly said you slipped.”
Oh, yes, and she’d seen a broken bone in her future. Or at least a lot of humiliation.
And then all she’d seen were deep green eyes and a jaw made from granite. It wasn’t like she hadn’t noticed the gorgeous cowboy. He’d been in a couple of times, and it took a lot to not drool over him.