Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
“Let me talk to him, Logan. We don’t need another scene.”
Logan shook his head. “He needs to hear it from me, Skylar.”
“Hear what, exactly?”
Logan reached out and snagged me behind the head, drawing me to him for a quick hard kiss. “It’s a guy thing,” he whispered against my lips. “Take Max and Josh inside the bar and stay there until we’re finished. I’ll check in with you before I head to Duke’s office.” His tone brokered no argument, the order given with military authority in the belief it would be followed without question.
Normally I didn’t like being ordered around, but I was willing to obey this time in hopes Logan knew what he was talking about concerning Jake. “I’ll listen on one condition.”
Humor glinted in his eyes. “All right, let’s have it.”
“Ask nicely.”
Logan blinked. “Come again?”
I’d overheard enough conversations in the bar to know that if you don’t train a man early in the relationship, they’ll walk all over you. My friends said it was important to put your foot down right from the start to avoid unnecessary conflict. “Ask me nicely to go inside the bar instead of ordering me around.” I gave him a sweet smile and tried to look reasonable. There was a fine line between training and bitching, I was told. The trick was to be sweet and sincere. Men won’t argue with sweet and sincere I was assured.
Unfortunately for me, Logan stared at me as if I’d lost my mind, then turned abruptly and got out of the truck without another word. I scowled at his backside as he marched toward Jake. Clearly there were some men you just couldn’t train.
_______________
Logan approached Jake with a grin on his face, chuckling at Skylar’s attempt to manipulate him. Jake pushed off the wall at his approach, his gaze darting between Logan and the direction of his truck.
“Why is Skylar drilling holes in the back of your head?”
Logan glanced over his shoulder and watched Skylar climb out of his cab. She threw him a scowl, then said something to Josh before they both disappeared inside the bar with Max.
“She just figured out I’m not a man you can manipulate with a sweet smile.”
Jake’s expression matched his sister’s, proving without a doubt they were related. “Skylar doesn’t manipulate people.”
“You ever been in a relationship?”
Jake shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve dated.”
“They ever smile sweetly then ask you to do something for them?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“You do it?”
He considered the question then shook his head. “Not unless I agreed with them.”
“How often did that happen?”
“Never.” Jake grinned. “Skylar tried that with you?”
“Yep. She wanted me to ask her nicely to go inside the bar so you and I could talk like men.”
Jake snorted. “I forget sometimes she’s a girl.”
Logan leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest as his breath curled in the cold air like smoke from a chimney. Skylar was no girl. She was a woman. His woman. One who could strip him of his breath with a single look. But her brothers didn’t see that side of her. From what he could tell, Skylar was more mother than sister. Six years older than Jake, she’d practically raised both boys while her father worked.
“I get you have concerns about Skylar and me. And honestly, I’d be disappointed in you if you didn’t. So let’s clear the air like men instead of throwing fists, yeah?”
Jake turned and leaned his shoulder against the wall. “All right. You got a sister, Storm?”
“Not that I know of. I was raised in foster care, then joined the army.”
“Okay, let me put it to you this way then. Some guys think sisters are a pain in the ass, but it’s never been like that for Josh and me. I have no real memory of my mother, other than pictures, but Skylar, she’s in every single moment of my life. When we were kids, she stood by my side and caught me when I fell until I was old enough to stand on my own two feet. Skylar never had that. She had to grow up way too fast because of our mother’s death, but in some ways, she’s still naïve. She doesn’t have experience with men, other than a high school boyfriend, so it makes her an easy mark if she trusts you. So to sum up my concerns, I need you to explain why a man—who could have any woman he wants—is currently sniffing around the most important person in my world before I break your goddamn nose again.”
Logan held Jake’s angry gaze as traffic passed them by slowly on the snowy street. He knew the town was watching them. Waiting to see if there would be a round three between the two, so Logan needed to defuse the situation. As acting police chief, he knew he’d have to arrest the kid if he threw a punch. “First, Skylar isn’t just any woman.”