Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 367(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Cora’s hand went to my belly, and I momentarily forgot what we were discussing.
“We’re going to lunch, anyway,” Cora said. “And, from what I heard, to an auction.”
Janie held up her thumb. “I’m on it, Captain Cora. Once I figure something out, I’ll call and let you know.”
Just then, the alarm on my phone rang, signaling it was time to go.
“I gotta go. The auction is in less than twenty minutes, and it takes twenty-five to get over there…you ready?” I asked.
Cora offered me her hand. “When you are.”
I winked at her, then tugged lightly on her hand to guide her back outside the way she’d just come. Once we were next to my bike, I reached for the helmet and offered it to her.
She didn’t hesitate in putting it on and straddling the bike.
When I mounted in front of her, she scooted up until her entire front was plastered against my back.
“You know,” I said. “I’ve never had anyone, but you ride with me.”
She didn’t say anything.
What she did do was squeeze tight where her arms were wrapped around my chest.
I rode to the auction feeling better than I’d felt in a really long time—much longer than even I was willing to admit.
***
Cora was bouncing on the balls of her feet, swaying slightly beside me.
“Can I hold the little paddle?” she asked.
I handed it to her.
And before I knew it, she was raising her hand up in the air and bidding on a truck that I hadn’t wanted.
I took the paddle away from her. “No more paddle for you.”
She snickered.
“Going once, going twice! Sold for fifteen hundred!”
I looked down at Cora, who was looking as innocent as a person could who’d just forced me to buy a car that I didn’t want.
“What?” she asked, batting her eyes as if that would solve everything.
I was just about to tell her exactly ‘what’ I had a problem with when the attendant came up to me and said, “Sir? Are you paying by check?”
I frowned at Cora hard and then sighed before standing up.
Once I handed her the paddle back, I said, “Don’t buy anything else.”
“Or what?” She blinked innocently at me.
“Or I won’t be able to pay for it.” I laughed.
“Oh,” she frowned. “I was going to pay for it. Here, take my card.”
She tried to dive for her purse, but I left her there looking for it.
I wouldn’t be taking her money.
Fifteen hundred dollars, in the grand scheme of things, wasn’t that much money.
What it was, though, was an eyesore.
Who the hell would want a bright pink Jeep?
Obviously, Cora did.
But still.
After handing the lady my credit card, I signed the slip and went back to the auction only to find Cora’s paddle once again in the air.
I sighed in exasperation.
“What are you doing?” I whispered fiercely, taking the paddle back.
“Sold!” The announcer once again pointed at me. “For fifteen thousand!”
I sat back in my chair. “What the hell, Cora?”
“It’s a 2017 Dodge diesel with two hundred miles.” She shrugged. “And I have that in my bank account…not to mention I was going to buy a new truck soon, anyway. My dad mentioned it when he was here that I needed it for hauling things and transporting. He told me to take care of it or he would. At least this way I can actually drive what I want instead of what he’s provided for me.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “The reason it was so cheap was because it was part of the flood in Alabama last year. Did you fail to hear that part?” I asked. “I’m buying these vehicles for parts…not to actually drive them.”
She waved her hand away. “My dad can get it running if you’re not willing.”
I shook my head and growled at her under my breath. “That’s not what I was trying to get at, and you know it. But…just sayin’…I don’t know much about diesels. I’m more of a gas man. I can do simple things, but anything more advanced, I would recommend that you let your father look at it. Plus, I haven’t worked on anything newer than a 1980s model vehicle in a while. More so, what are you going to do with the bright pink Barbie Jeep?”
I didn’t mention that it was physically impossible to drive both.
I was sure that she’d already considered that.
“I’m going to drive it.” She shrugged innocently.
I groaned and took the paddle back. “I’m more than willing to get your truck running…if I can.”
She winked at me. “That’s ‘cause you like me.”
She was wrong about that. I didn’t like her.
I loved her.
Though similar, this love business felt like something that was going to rip its way out of my chest and cause my heart to explode.
If Beatrice had done what Cora had just done, I would’ve fucking lost it.