Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 40128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
When I park and hop out, Connor smiles as he steps from the same door I’m about to head in. “What’s up, cousin?”
“Nothing. Is Max in there?”
“No. Only Chrissy is cutting today.”
“Fuck.”
“Come on. Relax. She’s pretty damn good at it.”
“Is that why you’re grinning from ear to ear?”
“Nope. Why do you look like shit today? Is it because Melanie’s gotten accepted to UNT?”
My mouth falls open, and all thoughts of a haircut slip from my mind. “What the fuck do you mean she got accepted to UNT—which UNT?”
“I don’t know. That’s what my mom said this morning.” There’s a huge difference between the one in College Station and the one in Dallas. Either way, both are from here, but I’d move to Dallas for her. Fuck. My head is pounding in my skull right now. “Before you go losing your shit, you should get cleaned up. Why do you look like shit, anyway?”
“I’ve been getting our house ready.”
“Wow, do you think talking to her before this would have helped?” He has a point, but I thought I made myself clear at Christmas when I let her know that I was serious and that I couldn’t just give in. Didn’t her father tell her that I had to stay away?
“Shut the fuck up. I told her what it was last year, and at Christmas. Everyone knows I’m a man of my word.”
“Well, then, you better figure out what is going to happen because she has other plans that don’t involve Steeleville and William Steele.” Even though he’s not wrong, I want to cold-cock my cousin in the face.
“You’re right. I’ll fix this, but first, I have to look presentable.” I push past him and enter the hair salon. “Chrissy, I’m next.”
“The chair’s waiting, Prez.” I climb into the small salon chair that makes me feel like it’s going to break, so I stretch out my long legs. I close my eyes, trying to figure out how I’m going to fix this with Melanie. There’s no way I can let her leave me. Yes, she can go to college and do shit, but we’re in this together.
“So, what do you need?” Chrissy asks, standing in front of me. I can feel she’s a little too close, but I suppose that’s how haircuts work. Normally I have Max do it, and he’s close, but he’s a guy and I don’t give a fuck that he’s standing in my personal space. However, Chrissy’s chest is practically in my face. Somehow that shit doesn’t seem right. I tilt my head and move up to give myself a bit of space.
“I want to look clean cut. Presentable.”
“For what? You’re hot just the way you are. Rugged, sexy as hell. This scruff and the long look would have any girl ready to be the next first lady around here,” she purrs, rubbing my face while her breasts are nearly kissing my throat.
“Just do it without the flirting. My dick belongs to someone else, Chrissy. Always has, always will.” I remove her hand from my face, doing my best to keep myself under control. My temper is already on edge. She backs up and finally gets to work. After that, she finishes my haircut and shave without any more flirting, which earns her a proper tip. I leave looking like the gentleman that I hope wins Melanie over—if that’s what she’s looking for because if not, I’ll have to fucking kidnap her sexy ass and tie her to my bed until she realizes that we’re meant to be together. Last year, she was worried I wouldn’t be hers by the time I came back. Now that I’m here, there’s no way in hell I’m letting her escape. I’ve waited too long for her to run scared.
It’s fine. There’s more than one reason I gave her that charm. It came with a tracker. She can try to run, but I’ll always know where to find my bride.
Chapter Six
Melanie
Tomorrow I turn eighteen, and I’m so excited for it. I’m hoping that’s why Will has ghosted me these past few weeks since he graduated, or has he changed his mind? We haven’t had more than a handful of texts after our kiss. I wished him a happy graduation, but all he said was thank you. Since then, all my messages have been left unread. Beth wanted to take a stroll through town before I had to work and we did a quick bit of shopping at the bookstore and grabbed a cup of coffee. It’s going to be a long day, but all I want to do is see him again.
I finish my coffee cup and stop to toss it in the trash can. “We really need to go into Dallas and hit up a real club,” Beth says, tossing the rest of her croissant and drink.