Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
“I lost Bear,” I lie.
If Santa was real, I wouldn’t be getting shit this year. Worth it because all my little lies are getting me Marley, and that’s all I actually want.
“Bear is lost out there!” She jumps up from off the floor. Her wet boots catch on the loose packing paper, and she slips. I catch her easily, pulling her close. Her curves melt right into me. Damn she feels good against me. It’s where she’s meant to be—by my side forever. Enjoying her against me is short-lived though. She wiggles away to get to the door to go in search of Bear.
The second she opens it, he comes bolting in out of the storm. He almost runs right into Marley in his excitement to see her. I couldn’t have planned this any better. I’m going to give my furry accomplice the biggest, juiciest bone I can find to reward him.
“Oh thank goodness! Bear.” She drops to her knees, wrapping her arms around him. “You need to keep your butt inside.” She buries her face in his neck, hugging him tighter before kissing him on the head. A pang of jealousy hits me at the affection she’s showing Bear. Maybe he won’t be getting that bone after all. “I guess I’m done here?” It sounds more like a question.
“You’re staying. The roads are too bad for you to drive.”
“If I don’t go now, I’ll be stuck here for days.”
I shrug. “Better here than at home alone over Christmas.” She chews on her bottom lip. I fight not to reach out and pull it out from between her teeth. “You need someone to look after you.” Her mouth drops open. Why do I fuck up everything I say to her?
“But you’re grumpy and will hate it.” Her eyes widen as she throws her hand over her own mouth. I might be a dick, but it’s not in Marley’s nature. Truthfully, she needs an asshole in her life. Someone who stands up for her. She’s so damn sweet. People tend to take advantage of that shit.
“You’re staying.” There, that settles it.
“You’re not the boss of me. In fact, I’m the boss.” She unzips her coat and points to her badge. She doesn't even have a gun. I know she owns one, but she hardly ever wears the thing. I’m still not sure how she ended up the Deputy of Winter Falls.
“Badge or no badge, your little ass is staying put.”
“Oh really?” She turns, opening the door and marching out with a purpose. She only gets a few feet out the door, and I’m on her. I wrap my arm around her waist and lift her off the ground. “Put me down, you giant lumberjack!”
“You have a flat.”
“What?” She stops wiggling to glance over to her SUV. It’s hard to see with the thick snow falling. It takes her a second. “What the hell?” I pull her back into the house, kicking the door shut behind me. I put her down and start bolting all the locks, including the coded one on the handle before I pull out my phone and set the alarm too. She gapes at me.
“What is this place? Fort Knox?”
“Something like that,” I mutter. I have something far more valuable than gold. Gold is replaceable. There is more of it out in the world. There is only one Marley, and she’s all mine.
4
Marley
How did this happen? I’m in Saint’s kitchen cooking dinner. It’s hard to be grumpy about it when the man has a dream kitchen. There is nothing I love more than cooking, and in a kitchen like his, I could cook a feast. Everything in here is brand new and state of the art. That builder really went all out when he did this place.
My kitchen is so tiny I can barely make a few dozen cookies without it being a pain in my booty because of my lack of counter space. Plus my oven is wonky. Saint has these to die for double ovens. I can make cookies and dinner all at once in them.
“You’re rich,” I blurt out.
“I do well for myself.” He does one of his normal shrugs.
He’s sitting on one of the high-top chairs at the kitchen island watching me. Bear is laid out on a rug in front of the back double doors that lead out to the deck. This feels so cozy right now.
As grumpy as Saint can be, he's actually nicer to me than anyone else in town. Pretty sure that’s why they always send me out when he calls. No one else ever makes it past the front gate.
I’ve seen him around town. He doesn't give most people the time of day. With me he’ll actually stop and make small talk if we run into each other. He mostly ignores everyone else or grunts at them.