Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I reached out to tuck some hair behind her ear so I had a full view of her face. “What weren’t you saying, Angel Face?” I asked her.
Her tongue darted out to lick her lips. “I didn’t tell them anything.”
“But now that we know there is something to tell, we would just love to hear all the details,” Nina said, and then Goldie shoved her arm, shushing her.
I winked at Salem to ease her obvious distress over their curiosity, then lifted my eyes back to Nina. “If you give me a bacon biscuit to go, I’ll get out of here, and Salem can tell you whatever she wants.”
“Deal,” Nina replied. “Are you headed to Ocala today?”
I watched Salem’s body tense up, but she didn’t look at me. She fiddled with the handle on her coffee cup, attempting to look casual, but her body language said something else. She didn’t want me to go. I managed not to break out into a grin.
“No. A couple of Hughes men are coming in to go over some things that they’re helping us handle,” I replied vaguely.
“It’s about time you go work at Devil’s though, isn’t it?” Nina asked. She was pushing it, and the twinkle in her eyes made it clear.
“Ringer is going to help out for now,” I said, not taking my eyes off Salem. “I have more important things here to attend to.”
“Aw, Tex,” Pepper drawled sarcastically. “I didn’t know my bar meant so much to you.”
I smirked but kept watching Salem as her shoulders relaxed. She hadn’t wanted me to go. Even sober, she wanted me around. That was good to know. Considering I wasn’t going anywhere.
“Ain’t he just a sweetheart?” Goldie chimed in.
The door opened behind me, and I glanced back to see Micah walk inside. His eyes swung to me, then glanced at Salem for a moment before turning to Goldie and Nina.
“We need a few extra pans of the biscuits this morning.” Then he looked at me. “Liam wants to speak with you on a call in the library.”
“Here you go,” Nina said, holding out my biscuit toward me.
I thanked her, then glanced down at Salem, who was back to fiddling with her cup. She needed to adjust to us. I could be patient.
“On my way up,” I told him.
After this, I would find Salem, and we’d talk.
32
Salem
The other women’s comments about how Rome had been looking at me and the way he barely looked anywhere else, even when talking to them, had made me feel like a giddy schoolgirl. That lasted until mid-afternoon, when I started to open the door to the bedroom I shared with Pepper to see Nixie walking out of Rome’s room. Correction: Tex’s room. He wasn’t my Rome. I’d thought perhaps he was after last night and this morning, but I’d been foolish.
Staying in this room and not leaving—ever—had become my plan. It wasn’t solid, but at least this way, I didn’t have to face anyone or anything. Pepper was busy, and I was relieved. Talking to anyone felt like a chore. I preferred to wallow in my stupidity.
I had slept with him. What had I been thinking? He’d been inside me bare, and that…that skank…he’d been screwing her. I wasn’t that careless. I didn’t just spread my legs for any man. I’d only slept with two men in my life. Rome and Eamon. Yet today…this morning, I’d mistaken Tex for Rome.
Closing my eyes, I laid my head back on the headboard and sighed wearily. How much longer would I have to stay here?
When Rome—Tex had said he wasn’t leaving for Ocala, I’d been happy. Hopeful even, but now I wished he’d go. I did not want to see him with other women. Which meant if he stayed here, I would have to live in the four walls of this room.
A knock on the door startled me, and my eyes flew open. I stared at it, saying nothing. I’d locked it so whoever it was wouldn’t be able to come in. Pepper had a key.
“Salem,” Tex called through the door.
Oh heck no. I was not talking to him. He’d gotten me to be an idiot and sleep with him, but my short visit to insanity was over. I’d had my wake-up call. I remained silent.
“If you don’t open the door, I’m coming in,” he warned loudly.
He was making a scene. I didn’t want people to know what we had done. I’d not given the girls one detail.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I scowled at the door. Asshole. Hadn’t he had enough action for one day?
Me, then Nixie and all her available holes.
The doorknob rattled, and then it went quiet. I listened for his footsteps to know he’d left, but heard nothing.
What was he doing? I knew he would break it down. Pepper would be livid. I was sure they had some kind of rules here too. Breaking down doors would be frowned upon.