Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 155037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 517(@300wpm)
“No, wait!” As she attempted to get off the couch, he turned, pinning her with a look.
Yikes.
If she had more energy, maybe she would have matched him look for look . . . or at least that’s what she told herself.
“Did I say you could get off the couch?”
“You’re not the boss of me, dude.”
“Yet.”
Double yikes.
Why the heck did that turn her on so much?
Maybe you just like bossy, protective men.
“I can’t take a bath. I have to get those cupcakes to Kiesha. And I was going to bake another dozen.”
“You’re finished baking cupcakes.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a fierce look. “No one tells Isa when to get out of the kitchen.”
Okay.
“And now, apparently, I talk about myself in the third person. This is all Kiesha’s fault.”
“I think it’s . . . cute.” He placed a special emphasis on ‘cute’.
She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not cute. I’m tough. I’m strong.”
“You don’t think you can be cute as well as tough and strong?” he asked quietly.
You couldn’t, right?
It was some sort of trick question.
Toughen up, Isabelle.
It’s about time you grew up.
Stop sniveling like a girl.
You’ve got to be stronger than this to survive.
“Isabelle? Hey.”
She blinked, seeing that he was crouching in front of her again. “Um, hey.”
“Where did you just go?”
There was more concern in his face and he had a warm hand on her leg.
“Nowhere.” She bit her lip. “You really think you can be into cute, soft things, and strong at the same time?” She wasn’t sure whether she was making any sense and expected him to ask her to explain.
But she wasn’t sure that she could. Not without giving away more than she wanted to about herself. And she wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.
“Know plenty of people who like things that are considered soft, cuddly, cute,” he said. “They’re still strong. You should like what you want to like. Be who you want to be.”
She took a deep breath. “Sounds nice. But sometimes things can . . . hold people back.”
“True. Sometimes, you have to let go.”
She nodded, her head throbbing. She rubbed at her chest, then her neck.
“Bath,” he said. “Then a massage.”
“I can’t . . . Kiesha is expecting the cupcakes.” She knew she didn’t have it in her to bake and ice another batch. But she really needed to get these cupcakes down to her friend for tomorrow.
“How are you planning on getting them to her?” he asked.
“I’m going to drive . . . oh. Oh, shit.” She grimaced. “I’ll have to use Loki’s truck.”
“You don’t seem too enthused. Won’t he like that?”
He seemed determined to have a bad opinion of Loki. She knew that most people didn’t understand him. But he was her person.
“Of course he wouldn’t care. Loki is my best friend,” she told him firmly. “And I don’t let anyone talk badly about him.”
Not even the person she’d kissed.
If he couldn’t get along with Loki, then there was no point in moving things forward.
To her surprise, rather than getting angry, he just nodded slowly. “Your loyalty to people you care about is one of the things I like most about you.”
It was?
That was kind of nice.
“So what’s the problem with Loki’s truck?”
“It’s a stick shift,” she said with a sad sigh. “I’ve never been able to drive one that well.” It kind of went beyond that, though.
“You weren’t taught how to drive one?”
“Oh no, I was taught. If you call being yelled at, taught.” She cringed. “Loki has tried to teach me since, but I . . .”
Had panic attacks, flashbacks, clammed up and crunched his brakes, then felt guilty about it afterward. Worrying that she was wrecking his truck.
Uh. It was just a disaster all the way round. But what was she meant to do without a vehicle? She had to get to the fair tomorrow and then to work on Monday.
“I’ll have to try and rent a car for work.” No way could she make that drive in Loki’s truck. Besides, he might be back soon. Although she knew he’d drive her if needed. “I need to talk to Sam and see how long my car will be out of action. Thanks for arranging that, by the way.”
He nodded. “Tow truck driver said there wouldn’t be any charge.”
“Ah no, Loki owns the company. Evan got into a bit of difficulty about six months ago and Loki helped him out.”
“Seems he does that a lot.”
“Umm.” Did he? She guessed he did. “I need to get the cupcakes loaded into his truck.”
God, the last thing she wanted to do was drive to Kiesha’s place. Especially in Loki’s truck. She was exhausted, and if she was honest with herself, she was scared about getting behind the wheel.
“No.”
“Um, no?” she questioned.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
“But the cupcakes have—”
“I’ll take them to Kiesha’s.”