Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Is it the thing you’d want Owen or Adelaide to do for you?”
I thought for a second. Would I want them to set aside their dreams for my sake? “No. But it’s different.”
“How so?”
“It just is,” I snapped. “And it’s my family and my business so leave it alone.” I stood up and grabbed both our empty bowls, carrying them to the sink.
A few minutes later, I was still at the sink doing dishes when she came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my torso. “I’m sorry, Austin,” she said, laying her cheek on my back.
The tension in my back eased. “I’m sorry too. It’s a touchy subject between me and my siblings, but I didn’t mean to get short with you.”
“I was out of line to push you. I just wish there was a way for you to do what you really love.”
I shook my head. “Me too, but there isn’t. It comes down to a choice between what’s best for my family and what I want for myself. And I won’t be the kind of guy who chooses himself.”
“I understand.” She pressed a kiss to my spine. “And I admire that. Your family is lucky to have you.”
Turning off the faucet, I rotated to face her. Lowered my lips to hers, warmth flooding my body. “Thanks. Want to go upstairs and let me untie your top with my teeth?”
She laughed. “That’s why I wore it.”
The next morning, I woke up to multiple texts from Xander.
Dude. Lumber yard. Today.
I’ll be at your house at four. We can drive together.
No excuses. YOU LOST.
My groan must have awakened Veronica, because she rolled to her side and faced me. “What’s wrong?”
“My brother is bugging me to knock off work early and take him to the lumber yard to find some wood for his bar.”
“And you can’t?”
I exhaled and scratched my stomach. “I don’t like leaving my dad alone on the job.”
“Hmm.” She snuggled closer. “What if I invited your dad to come with me to the farmers’ market this afternoon?”
“Would you?”
“Of course! I’d love his company. But will he say yes?”
“I think he would.” I thought for a second. “Would you be willing to come ask him in person? I don’t think he’d be able to resist you.”
“Like father, like son.” She giggled, dropped a quick kiss on my chest and hopped out of bed. “I’m going to work out, and then I’ll clean up and pop over to the job site. Can you text me the address?”
“Yes.” I watched her pulling on her clothes and wished I could yank her right back into bed.
I could practically hear the clock ticking down on our time together.
She showed up at lunch time, while my dad and I were eating sandwiches in the shade of our client’s side porch.
“Hi there,” she called, strolling up the driveway. “How’s it going?”
“Veronica!” My dad, as expected, was delighted to see her. He rose to his feet and smoothed his Two Buckleys work shirt over his ample belly. “What are you doing here? Did you come to see me?”
“As a matter of fact, I did!” She beamed at him in full cherry-lipped glory, then gave me a smaller, more secret smile. “Hi, Austin.”
“Hi.” I took another bite of my sandwich, wishing I could eat her for lunch instead. How many hours was it until bedtime?
“So George, Noreen at the library told me about the farmers’ market, and I’m planning to head there this afternoon. I wondered if you and Xander might like any fresh produce.”
“Well, sure! Isn’t that nice of you?” My dad slipped his thumbs beneath his suspenders. “I haven’t been to the market in years.”
“Why don’t you come with me?” she suggested. “I’m all by myself with the kids gone, and I’d love the company.”
“I’d love to, honey, but I’ve got work to do.”
“Go on, Dad,” I said. “We’re about done here. I’ll finish up.”
“You sure?”
“Positive. And since I picked you up this morning, why not just go with Veronica now?”
“I guess I could,” he said. “Long as you’re okay without me.”
“I’m fine.” Behind his back, I gave Veronica a thumbs up.
“Are you ready?” she asked him.
“I guess I am,” he said, stuffing the trash from his lunch back into his reusable bag. “And maybe if we have time, we can stop into the barber shop. Gus always gets a proper shave on Tuesday afternoons, and we can see if he or Larry need anything from the market.”
I was one hundred percent sure his motive for stopping into the barber shop was more about Gus and Larry seeing him with Veronica than offering to pick up beans and squash for them. Hiding a smile, I waved goodbye as they headed back down the driveway, and Veronica lifted her sunglasses and winked at me over one shoulder.