Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57499 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57499 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
I gave it until tomorrow or the next day before we were taken over, if it proved to be true. I could only imagine what the publicity was going to do to our little out of the way haven. The feds will be crawling all over the place looking for answers if it turned out he was one of their own.
I had no problem with that. I'm not a glory hound, and besides, if it had been one of my guys, I would want it too. It didn't much matter to me about ego and grand standing, that's never been my style.
All I'm interested in is finding justice for the poor soul we'd dragged from the drink, regardless of who he was and who got it for him.
I'm thinking my magnanimous attitude might also have something to do with the fact that my woman was home, and progress had been made in my plan to finally tie her to me.
Not even this, I'm sorry to say, was going to deter me from my course. It might also open a dialogue that we needed to have before long.
I’m not exactly a caveman per- se, but I have certain beliefs and ideals when it comes to the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. To say Shania’s lifestyle was the complete opposite, was putting it mildly.
I filed my report to hand off to the captain and was ready to go by five. That gave me two hours to get myself presentable for my girl.
I'm taking her to the best restaurant in town, not only was it the best, it was also owned by one of the two biggest gossips in the Cove, with the owner of the flower shop being the other. So I was pretty sure that within ten minutes of us being seated, the phones in the Cove would be going crazy.
Knowing my men's penchant for gossip, they probably started the ball rolling already anyway.
I knew exactly what I was doing of course; I'm staking my claim loud and clear. Until I put a ring on her finger, I'm going to be trotting her out to be seen together every chance I get. Let any asshole out there who thought he had a shot know that there was no way in hell.
I was early picking her up, because I knew although I'd lucked out this afternoon by avoiding her brothers, there was no way my luck was gonna hold that long.
It was as if they were waiting for me when I showed up. If they’d wanted to play the intimidating big brothers, they fell a little short of the mark; between the lot of them, they couldn’t keep the stupid grins off their faces.
"Well if it isn't Casanova."
"Shut up Jus."
"You bring my chocolate?"
I held the box of Godiva I had behind my back out of reach.
"Get your own damn chocolates boy, let the man in the door."
"Yeah right dad, you just wanna get your hands on them first."
"Come on in here son. Let's have a little chat."
Oh shit!
"Go easy on him dad, he's looking a little yellow already."
"Thanks Matt, appreciate it." I sneered at him sarcastically as I tried to fight him off of the chocolate next.
I walked into the den where the guys had been watching some sports show on TV. Betty wasn't here, probably upstairs with my girl.
"Chief."
"Chase."
He tried giving me a stern, raised brow look. I knew he was only half joking though, this guy would do me some serious damage if I messed with his little girl. Too bad they’d already let it slip that they were in my corner.
"So, where ya going tonight?"
"Martha's." This wasn't so bad; I felt my shoulders relax a little.
"Staking your claim are you?" He laughed at the look of surprise on my face.
"Boy, everybody who's anybody heads to that place if they want to be seen. It doesn't hurt that Martha and her sister Ava are the two biggest gossips in this town. I'd already heard all about you buying out the flower shop within five minutes of you placing the order.
But listen here boy, could you tune it down a little? I don't have time to be running around buying flowers and candy and shit, I did that mess over thirty years ago. Now my wife is all dreamy eyed and eyeballing me like I'm not doing my part."
"Sir, sorry to hear that sir." Of course his idiot sons were snickering, jerks.
"Well then, no need to be sorry, just for the love of Pete take it easy on the rest of us poor saps. I know she's my baby girl and all, but you don't want to go spoiling her now do you? Because the first time you slack off, she'll let you have it with both barrels, they're contrary that way."