Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“No,” I grumble. “I got hooked.”
“In human speak, that means love.” She flashes me an exaggerated wink. “Go on. Tell me when I can start shopping for bridesmaid dresses.”
“God love the man who ever settles down with you for the rest of your life. Remind me to take him out for drinks. Often. Just to give the poor guy a break from your annoying ass.”
She tries to smack me with her spatula, but I jump out of the way, sloshing coffee to the floor in the process.
“Seriously,” she complains, “you’re clearly into him. Not every guy is a douchebag like Toby.”
“You loved Toby,” I throw back. “He was your shopping buddy.”
“I love you more, though, and Toby hurt you. Badly. Fuck Toby.”
I smirk at my sister. “You’re feisty today.”
“Just getting ready for when Hans gets here. He thinks I was bossy before? Wait until I give him my orders to get the old gazebo cleared away and a new one built by next weekend.”
“Poor Hans.”
“I pay him well. He’s not poor. Poor me for having to double do all my work.” She turns off the stove, shooting me a curious stare. “I didn’t even know Jaxson was into men. He never mentioned being bisexual when we went out.”
“Shelly Belly,” I say as I load up my plate with bacon and eggs, “that’s the thing. He’s so far into the closet it’s not even funny. I’m not sure he’s bisexual at all. It’s more of a forced thing to fit in.”
“That’s sad,” she mutters as we sit down in the dining room. “Just give him some time.”
“I don’t think time will do it.” I chew on a mouthful of cheesy eggs, frowning. “He’s traumatized, I think, about what his father will think. Dean Bell is an asshole of epic proportions. He already disowned three sons. Jax is the only one left. Back in high school, he sacrificed love to please his father. He’s been sacrificing ever since. I’m not going to change him.”
The sad truth makes my stomach roil, protesting at the heavy breakfast. Jax has gone his entire life hiding this part about him. To expect him to walk out of the closet for me, especially after the recent hate crimes against gays and my family, is a ridiculous dream.
“I don’t like this,” Shelly says with a huff. “You’re sad these days. It’s reminiscent of another time in your life, which makes me think you’d be better off dating someone who’s not going to hide it.”
“Toby broke my heart because he decided one day he didn’t love me,” I grumble. “This is different.”
“Yeah,” she agrees, narrowing her eyes. “With Jax, he might never allow himself to love you, and somehow, that feels worse, Dante. Like you’ll never get the entire thing, just the carrot dangling in front of you. It’s cruel.”
“Put the claws away, sister bear,” I tease. “We’re just having fun right now.”
“Fun isn’t supposed to hurt.”
A deep voice chuckles, drawing our attention to the doorway. “Sorry, I walked in on what Shelly just said. Darlin’, that’s not what you said last night when you dropped the bowling ball on my foot.” Hans motions down to the cast on his foot that’s encased in a black, padded boot. “Remind me never to go bowling with you again.”
I lift a brow at my sister, whose face is fire engine red.
“Grab breakfast, hammer man, because I have the longest honey-do list you’ve seen to date!” she threatens, scowling at him.
He flashes her a knowing grin and then winks before he hobbles into the kitchen.
“Hammer man? Bowling?” I chuckle at the way my sister turns even redder. “What aren’t you telling me, Shelly Belly?”
“You’re not the only one with boy problems around here.” She shovels down the rest of her eggs, not making eye contact with me.
“Don’t make me drag the story out of your boyfriend,” I joke, earning a warning glare from her as Hans joins us at the table.
“What’s on the agenda?” he asks, a shit-eating grin on his face.
All humor fades as I let out a sigh. “You didn’t hear about the gazebo?”
“No…” He frowns. “Was there something wrong? I inspected it all the other day.”
“Someone torched it. Arsonist.”
In the matter of a minute, Hans goes from flirty to confused to fucking pissed.
“Who do I have to give an ass whippin’ to?” Hans asks, deadly serious.
I guess if Shelly wants to date this rugged carpenter who gives her hell, but is ready to throw punches when she’s clearly been attacked, he’s all right in my book.
“Not sure yet,” I reply, “but we’re going to find out.”
Jaxson
My eyes are bleeding.
Not really, but they sure as hell feel like it.
For days now, I’ve been swimming in my work. Not that we’re a crime ridden town or anything, but because of the recent fire that happened at Red Hake Bed & Breakfast and the fact the Rainbow Vigilante is back at large. I have older townspeople bitching at me about the colorful vandalism and people from the gay community worrying over their safety. I had no other option but to have an article written up in the paper asking for leads on the string of hate crimes in the area. But, rather than get any promising leads, all I got were a handful of terrified people like Cato wondering if they’d be the next target.