Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
She walked a bit and then looked over her shoulder. Hayden stared at her with a smile on his face. Devy smiled back. It was genuine, it felt good, and it gave her hope that she and Hayden could be friends.
Later that night, after Maren had gone to bed, Devorah told her father she was going for a walk.
“Take Cordelia with you.”
Devorah stared at her father and then looked at the dog, who wagged her tail in anticipation. “Why?”
“Because she needs it, and people are less likely to bother someone with a dog.”
“But she’s a puppy.”
Crow laughed. “Cordelia, show teeth.”
The dog obeyed and lifted her lips in a snarl.
“Good girl. Now give her a cookie.” Crow motioned to the jar on the sideboard. Dev did as she was told.
“What else can she do?”
“Probably anything you ask. Colt sent her to some fancy-pants training school, which is why I let her stay here and not down at the bar with him.”
“A bar is no place for a dog.”
“That’s what I told him when he brought her home.” Crow flipped through the channels until he landed on a baseball game. “Ugh, the Yankees.”
“I’ll be back. Maren’s sleeping,” she told her dad as she leashed Cordelia. They set out on their walk. Colt and Dev had wanted a dog growing up, but Crow wouldn’t let them have one. They were a busy family, and no one was ever home long enough to take care of an animal.
“You’re a good girl. Aren’t you?” Dev looked at Cordelia, who stayed right next to her leg. She didn’t pull on her leash or try to dart into traffic. “I hope you’re good for Maren—she needs someone or something.”
Cordelia looked up, as if she knew exactly what Devorah had said to her.
They walked toward downtown and then veered toward the water, headed for a bike path that ran along the beach. During the day, the views were impeccable. At night, she’d be able to see out over the harbor, the lights of the last boats coming in, or the strong orb of the lighthouse not far from them.
She used to run this path back in the day. She and Laila would jog to keep in shape after basketball season was over. There wasn’t a sport for them to cheer for during the spring, and Devorah needed to look her best for Pearl of the Ocean. She had never planned to enter the pageant, but it was a rite of passage for all high school girls in OB.
Devorah smiled at the people they passed, but mostly she kept her head down. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, even if it was small talk. When Cordelia stopped to relieve herself, Dev looked up and down the path, mindful of the people coming toward her. If her father had taught her anything, it was to know your surroundings.
They continued to walk, enjoying the cool, spring air. The night was calm, and she could barely hear the water sloshing against the rocks. Footsteps caught her attention before she saw who they belonged to. When she finally noticed, she swallowed hard and stood still.
Hayden ran toward her. His shirt was tucked into the back of his shorts, blowing in the breeze created by his stride.
“Shit,” she muttered when reality smacked her in the face—he was shirtless. “Shit, shit, shit.” She didn’t need this.
Wanted it, maybe.
But definitely didn’t need it.
In the few days she’d been back, Hayden had clouded her vision. It wasn’t that she didn’t like him, because she definitely had at one point in her life; it was that he confused her, and she wasn’t sure she could trust him or even herself where he was concerned.
Hayden McKenna had a vibe about him. Sexy and cool. Suave and sweet. He was easy on the eyes and hard on her thoughts. They’d been more than friends but never what she wanted them to be. Right now, friendship was the only thing she could afford with him.
He stopped in front of her, panting, and bent at his waist for a second before righting himself. He put his hands behind his head and attempted to smile at her.
His chest glistened. Sweat trailed down the contours of his muscles, around his nipples, and through the smattering of hair leading into his shorts. Devorah swallowed hard and looked at the ground, back to him, and at the ground again and then swore under her breath.
Cordelia whined.
“Hey, girl.” Hayden crouched and patted the dog, who lapped at him.
“Sorry, she can’t hold her licker.”
“I don’t mind. Conor wants a dog, but he has to wait.”
Hayden stood, his chest at Dev’s eye level. Teenage Devorah wanted to do naughty things to him. She blushed at the thought of touching him, like she had years ago.
“You good?”
She nodded. “Just out walking Cordelia. You?”