Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
The unexpected thought of my father had a dark vengeance creeping around the edges of my heart, my fingers clenched into a fist. My deep cleansing breaths drew Dash’s attention. I ignored his questioning glance and did my best to tamp down the anger threatening to overwhelm me.
My father had no place in my happiness.
Dash did though. He’d been spectacular today. A mix of kindness, wisdom, and a scent that made me want to cannonball into my commitment to him. Even his sweat-soaked labor, weeding flower beds, hauling every bit of junk to the curb, and cleaning out the garage, had a magnetic charm. In mere hours, my mom and Scott had fallen under Dash’s spell too.
My head was a total roller coaster of chaos tonight. I tried to refocus my attention on the conversation at the table.
But how? With Dash beside me, I swore I could feel his heartbeat in sync with mine. Maybe it was because I squeezed my big body into the booth, claiming more than my fair share of space. I had one arm casually draped over the booth’s back, the other rested on the low partition wall separating the booths.
“You’re quiet over there. Does that mean you agree?” Thankfully, my mom’s question snapped me back to reality. I raised an eyebrow, needing more information. Her grin widened. The stress of the past was lifting off her too, and I liked seeing that.
“I said, we’ve planned to leave around five in the morning to allow time to unload at my house, clean up, and be at the attorney’s office by ten. You and Dash are staying with me, just in case there was any question.”
“I offered to get a hotel room, but she insisted we take her second bedroom,” Dash added, his face asking the question that his words didn’t. Did he think I actually had a say?
Three pairs of eyes fixed on me. I shrugged and said, “Okay.”
“Dash, Beau drifts off while you’re talkin’ to him all the time,” Scott said with sarcasm, flicking a lettuce scrap at me. It didn’t go far before falling to the table.
“I feel like he knows that by now, ass. But thanks for lookin’ out for him,” I added dryly. My mom’s contagious laugh had me shooting her a wink. She clearly enjoyed the banter.
“Do you want me there at your meeting with the attorney?” Dash chimed in. “I can review anything you need me to.”
“Probably a good idea. Everything played out so bizarre in the end.” I kept my eyes locked on my mom, waiting for her approval. “It seems straightforward. The only will found pre-dates the divorce. My mom’s the main beneficiary, but he gave me half. What I get goes to my mom.”
Her smile, a good mix of sugar and sweet, made me happy. “You need to keep your money, honey. You earned every cent dealing with all that drama.”
That wasn’t an option. Her debt levels were too high due to the legal costs she’d paid while fighting to get me back. I shook my head, turning to Dash for backup, only to find him smiling at me with the same gooey sentiment as my mom.
“What?” I asked.
His hand landed on my thigh with a brief caress and gentle squeeze. He didn’t let it linger. It meant a lot that he tried to respect my boundaries.
“You’re giving everything to your mom?” Dash restated what I just said.
“Yeah, I just said that. It can’t be the first you’ve heard about it.” My furrowed brow had to show my confusion. “She lost her ability to work in Mobile County. She had to take low paying jobs and work all day and night every day to pay for all the bullshit legal fees that just kept comin’. She took care of my grandmother until she died. Her car’s fifteen years old, she rents, and needs a retirement fund.”
“He’s a good dude,” Scott said directly to Dash. “He’s changed but it’s still there.”
“Stop it,” I said, feeling a flush rising in my cheeks.
“None of my siblings would trade their inheritance to help either of my parents. They’re like buzzards circling, waiting for the end.”
I didn’t doubt that for a second which made Dash and his desire to be self-supporting more special. The tip of my thumb lifted on its own accord, caressing a small swipe over Dash’s sweatshirt. I didn’t even consider doing it. But between the two of us, he was by far the better human being.
“Wait, your family has money?” Scott asked.
Dash ping-ponged his gaze between my mom and me, clearly in need of a lifeline. I saved him from his confusion.
“Remember when that hotel moved into Sea Springs?”
Scott nodded but with the way his eyes narrowed, I wasn’t sure he remembered.
“His dad owns it and a lot of other things in Texas. I believe he got started in oil?”