Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“I’m sure it’s not fun for everyone,” she hissed under her breath.
He cupped the side of her face and brushed his thumb over her cheek. I was trying to eat. I didn’t need their public display of affection while doing it.
“Don’t be mad, Tink,” he told her, lowering his mouth to hers.
I decided it was best to just keep my eyes on my food.
“Liberty, got that soil you asked me to pick up,” Country called out from the back entrance to the kitchen.
My eyes shot back up, and I paused with my fork halfway to my mouth. Looking at Liberty, I watched her beam brightly before putting her spoon down and hurrying around the corner.
“Thank you! You are the best!” she called back.
“No problem. Need anything else, just let me know,” Country replied.
I could feel Micah’s gaze on me, and I looked at him for an answer.
He wagged his eyebrows at me. “Good ole Country. You can count on him to make sure everything is handled,” he said, then gave me a pointed look. “No, wait. Come to think of it, that don’t sound like him at all.”
He was determined to make me uncomfortable. Well, I was verging on pissed. I swung my gaze to Nina, who was also watching me for a reaction. She gave me a little shrug and went back to rolling the leftover dough after she cut out a circle.
When Liberty turned around, her eyes met mine, and again, the smile vanished. She said nothing, but went back to the pot to check on what was inside.
“You planting something?” I asked her when it seemed no one wanted to explain why Country had bought her soil.
Liberty’s shoulders tensed, and she turned back to me. “Yes. I hope that’s okay with you. I made sure the others didn’t mind.”
“It looks real nice out there,” Nina said. “Never thought much about adding flowers and such, but she’s sure made it pretty.”
“Oh, yes! You should see it! She’s brilliant. I need her to come to our house and help me,” Dolly exclaimed with excitement.
Liberty’s mouth lifted slightly at the corners. “I’m not done just yet,” she said.
I took another bite and then washed it down with some water. “Been using that scrapbook you got for inspiration?” I asked, remembering what she’d told the nurse and how I’d thought she was full of bullshit.
She nodded. “Yeah. First time I got to do that. I, uh, appreciate everyone being so nice about it.”
Country was doing her bidding. Nina was making stuff that Liberty was teaching her. My VP’s fiancée was trying to get her to come to their house and do their landscaping. Had she charmed the whole damn place?
“Hope it’s not making the mowing any more complicated,” I replied, and her face fell.
A worried frown wrinkled her forehead. I hadn’t meant to sound like an ass, but the men weren’t crazy about keeping the grass cut, and they had to get off and use the edger and weed eater enough as it was. The property wasn’t small.
“Country has been handling the extra edging and weed eating,” Nina said, giving me a sharp look.
“You don’t say,” Micah piped up, grinning like a damn fool.
I wasn’t taking his bait. He could kiss my ass. By looking at Liberty, he thought there was more to this. He was wrong.
I shrugged. Guessed they had it all worked out. I finished my plate without saying anything more, then stood up.
“Ready?” I asked Liberty.
She closed the dishwasher she’d been loading and turned to me. “Yep.”
“Thanks for the meal, Nina,” I said before turning toward the door. “Delicious, as always. Tell Goldie I said thank you.”
“Liberty helped me make breakfast. Might want to thank her instead,” she replied.
I glanced back at Liberty, who gave me a forced smile, then took her purse from a hook and placed it over her shoulder. She was making breakfast? I studied her, finding this hard to believe. Cooking for this bunch wasn’t easy. Why would she offer to do that?
“Can’t wait to hear about your appointment,” Nina told her.
“Me too! If you get an ultrasound, bring pictures,” Dolly added.
Liberty gave them a little wave. “I will be sure to give you the highlights.”
Shoving the door open, I headed out into the hallway just as Grinder was coming in from the back door.
“Prez,” he said. “Didn’t expect you until later. Church is at four, right?”
“Yeah,” I replied.
His gaze shifted to Liberty as she followed me into the hallway, and he grinned. When did Grinder ever fucking grin?
“Liberty,” he greeted her. “Didn’t see you when I came into the kitchen this morning; you’d gone up to get ready. But them fried potatoes were something else. I had two helpings before Nina cut me off.”
Was I in the motherfucking twilight zone?
I looked at Liberty, who was blushing.