Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Deciding that I could go outside if he wasn’t going to, I slipped on a pair of my tennis shoes, so that I could explore the property. But first, I needed coffee and some fruit at least. Making myself a scrambled egg and toast meant being in the same room as him for too long. I’d rather just grab a banana and go.
Preparing myself for whatever insult he tossed at me today, I opened the door and walked into the room, barely glancing at the back of his head. Thankfully, he was seated on the sofa and not in the kitchen. Continuing in our silence, I made myself a cup of coffee, then picked up a banana from the bowl that sat just below the microwave. I could smell the bacon he’d made himself, and my stomach growled. But staying in here long enough to make my own wasn’t happening.
When I reached the door to go outside, his gruff voice stopped me.
“Where are you going?”
I didn’t want to turn around and look at him, but talking to the door seemed silly. Sighing, I faced him. He was shirtless with his bare feet propped up on the coffee table and a mug resting on his denim-covered thigh. I should have kept looking at the door. Snapping my eyes up from his ripped abdomen and the tattoo on his sculpted biceps to meet his annoyed glare, I felt my cheeks get warm.
“Outside.” I stated the obvious.
“To do what?”
“Walk around.”
The distrust in his gaze made me roll my eyes.
“Fine,” he muttered, standing up.
After one glimpse of his jeans hanging low on his hips and the defined V cut that disappeared beneath them, I swung my gaze to the television. More baseball. That seemed to be all he watched.
“How long is this going to take?” he asked.
“Uh, I don’t know. Why?” Did it matter?
“Because there is a game coming on that I don’t want to miss.”
Frowning, I looked back at him, and he was pulling on a black T-shirt, which was too small for his thick arms and wide chest. That wasn’t much better than being shirtless, but at least the bottom part was covered up, and I wouldn’t keep looking at it.
“You’re going with me?” I asked, realizing that he was bending over to put on his boots.
“Yes,” he clipped.
“Why?” That defeated the purpose of my leaving.
“Because that’s my job.”
His irritation with that fact was clear. Not my fault.
“I can’t go anywhere on foot. What do you think I’m going to do?”
He finished putting on his second boot and shrugged. “Hell if I know. I just have to make sure you don’t do it.”
God! I wanted to groan in frustration. “Can you call Linc and ask if I can go alone? You don’t want to go, and I don’t want you to. My reason for going for a walk is to get out of the cabin, get fresh air, and get away from you. You don’t like me. I don’t like you. We could both use a break.”
He stood there, staring at me as if I were about to commit some felony with my coffee and banana in hand.
“Where’s your phone?” he asked.
“In the room.” Why did it matter?
“Go get it. Take it with you.”
“If I take it, then you’ll stay here?” I asked hopefully.
He nodded his head once.
Thank the Lord. I strode back to the room, stuck my banana under my arm to hold it, then snatched my cell up from the bedside table before returning to the living room. I held it up to show him as I passed by and then stuck it in my pocket.
“Am I good now?”
His eyes traveled down my body again, like they had yesterday when I came out of the room. It made my stomach feel funny, and I didn’t want to react that way. Not to him.
I was getting out of here. I didn’t wait for a response. When I opened the door, he said nothing, and I hurried out before he changed his mind.
With a sigh of relief, I went down the steps and stopped to take my first sip of coffee before scanning the sprawling acres around me. This land was beautiful. If it wasn’t for the warden living with me, then I’d enjoy staying here. Even if it wasn’t home. But after Momma had taken her last breath, I realized home had gone with her. Without her there, that house wasn’t home, and neither was Monroe. It was just all that I knew.
I decided to walk farther away from the cabin before finding a spot to sit and peel my banana. The breeze was cool, but spring was already here. Rarely did it take until the actual first day of spring for the South to feel warmer. By noon today, it would be in the mid-seventies. Perfect weather to stay outside. I might not have to see Than, except to get food and water.