Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Katie: Excuse me, sir? You’re breaking the rules!
I play dumb.
Noah: What rules?
She sends me an eye roll emoji.
Katie: No sexting while I’m at work! I can’t be all hot and bothered when I’m trying to talk to a customer about their mortgage rates.
Noah: Soooo, go to the restroom and finish the job there. Slide your fingers in your panties and rub your clit while imagining it’s me…pleasuring you.
Katie: Goddammit. You just wait!
I chuckle, knowing she’s definitely worked up.
Noah: See you at the diner, my love :)
Less than an hour later, I’m walking into the Main Street Diner and find Katie reading a menu as she waits for me.
I dip down and bring my lips to hers. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey, trouble.” She glares at me as I slide into the booth seat across from her.
“Me? I’m certain that was your nickname in school.”
“More like Everleigh’s.” She snorts. “She was a bad influence on all of us. Or rather, her spontaneous personality was. Swear she could talk us into doing anything.”
Before the waitress walks over, I take the opportunity to tell Katie my news.
“Speaking of being spontaneous, I have a surprise for you.”
She lowers her menu and makes eye contact with me. “A surprise?” Her timid voice tells me she’s unsure if she’s gonna like it or not.
But oh hell yes, she will.
“I’m taking you to a bed and breakfast for the weekend. We leave tonight.”
“Are you serious? What about Ow—”
“Already taken care of. All you need to do is pack a bag and be ready by six sharp.”
She looks at me wearily, narrowing her eyes as if she’s trying to find a reason she can’t.
Reaching over, I grab her hands and weave her fingers through mine. “You deserve some time off to relax, unwind, and enjoy yourself. We’ll eat, hang out, and walk along the river and downtown. Perhaps some other things…” I waggle my brows, and she immediately blushes.
“The river? Where are we goin’?”
I smirk. “Magnolia Springs.”
“What?” She gasps, releasing my grip and blinking hard. “Really?”
Nodding, I smile at how excited she is. “Yeah, it’s beautiful this time of year.” Booking a room was a freaking miracle, but they had a last-minute cancellation that I happily took.
Katie bites her lower lip as she gazes lovingly at me. “You remembered.”
“Of course. I’d never forget that.”
At six o’clock, we pack Katie’s car and hit the highway. It’s just over an hour away. Her grandma lived there before she passed, and Katie would spend almost half her summer there during elementary and middle school. Once she was in high school, she’d only spend a few weeks there because she’d rather spend time with her friends.
The summer before my senior year, she invited Everleigh, Gemma, and me to visit her for the weekend. Gabe was supposed to go, but he got stuck working at the last minute—or that’s what he claimed anyway—so I decided to drive down with the girls.
Once we arrived, I immediately saw why Katie loved it so much. Magnolia Springs is a quaint and charming small Southern town with old Victorian homes, delicious seafood, and a beautiful sunset off the river. I overheard her telling Everleigh and Gemma she wanted to get married in the same little white church as her grandparents. However, considering they got married in Lawton Ridge, something tells me when she told Gabe what she wanted, he was less than enthusiastic about it.
Katie lets out a sigh, and I interlock my fingers with hers. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She shrugs, then continues, “Just thinking about Loretta and Brittany. I’m just afraid they’re following us and are waiting for their opportunity to pounce while we’re away. Hurt you when we least expect it. I don’t trust them, Noah. This whole thing is consuming me. Why did Loretta withdraw that money?”
“Baby…” I squeeze her leg to gain her attention. “I’m hearing your concerns, and I have them too, but I promise I won’t let anything happen while we’re away. Owen’s safe with your parents, and we’re together in a tourist town. Coming after us would be stupid because too many people are around. We’re safe and are going to have fun.”
She looks at me and releases a deep sigh, then smiles. “You’re right.”
“This weekend is about us. I just want you to relax and have a good time, okay?”
She nods. “This was really sweet of you.”
“I might’ve had some selfish intentions…” I arch my brow with a smirk and laugh when she blushes.
I’m relieved when she recalls a memory from high school that involves Everleigh being pantsed at the school assembly. The thought has us both cracking up laughing.
“I haven’t been here in five years,” she admits as I drive through downtown. “After the funeral, it just seemed sad and pointless to visit.” Katie takes my hand again.
When we park at the Magnolia Springs Bed and Breakfast, a huge grin meets her lips. A white wraparound porch surrounds the old house and beside it is a garden in full bloom.