Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“I’m acting strange? I’m saving you from this guy!” He pointed at River.
“Saving her? What the fuck did you think I was going to do to her?” River stepped toward him, but Travis didn’t back down.
The other man looked slightly confused. He was probably used to intimidating people with his size.
“Travis, I don’t know what is going on, but you’re making a scene.” Caren looked ill as she glanced around. “I think you should just go.”
“I’m not going anywhere without you. I’m certainly not leaving you with him.”
“What the heck do you think he’s going to do with all of these people watching on?”
“It’s not here where he’ll do it. He’ll probably offer to drive you home. Or will follow you if you refuse. Then when you’re unlocking your door, he’ll pounce on you, force you inside, knock you to the floor and⎯”
“Okay, okay, I think you’ve painted enough of a picture for me and everyone else in the restaurant.” She stood and turned to River. “I’m so sorry about this. Travis is my friend’s cousin. He seems to think he has some sort of say in what I do or maybe he’s just missing his cousin and taking out his protective needs on me. Either way, I’m sorry this happened and could I call you later?”
River puffed up his chest. “Not sure I should leave you with him. He seems a bit unhinged.”
“I’m not fucking unhinged,” Travis said. “And I can take better care of her than you can.”
“Is everything all right here?” The maître d’ approached, looking concerned. His gaze moved over River’s bulky muscles, then onto Caren’s bright attire, finally settling on Travis. He seemed to decide that he was the most sane of the three of them because he addressed his questions to him. “Is there something I can do to help?”
“No, thank you,” Caren said. “We were just leaving if you could bring me the check, please?”
“Of course,” the older man said stiffly before walking away. He still snuck them some wary looks.
“He should pay the bill,” Travis pointed at River. What kind of man let the woman pay?
Never going to happen in his world.
And he didn’t care who thought that was too caveman.
River frowned.
“No, that’s fine,” Caren said. “River, I’ll message you, okay?”
“You sure, Caren? I could take you home,” River suggested.
“Yeah? Why would she let you do that? What are you wanting to do to her once you get her there?” Travis demanded.
All right so a part of him understood that maybe he was acting a bit crazy.
But he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
There was something about this woman that drove him insane. And it wasn’t about some lingering anger at her over the way she’d treated his cousin when they were younger. He was letting that go. She’d been a child.
But the woman she’d turned into . . . that was a different story. Something about her was driving him crazy and making him do things that he never would have in the past.
Like make a scene in a restaurant.
“Nothing!” River exclaimed. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“He’s obviously losing his mind.” Caren stepped between them, glaring at Travis. “And he needs to take a time out.”
“A time out? I’m not a toddler.”
“Then stop acting like one,” she told him.
“Oh, you’re going to pay for that, Goldie,” he promised.
Her eyes flared as she gaped at him. “Are you serious right now? Have you been drinking?” Her hands went to her hips.
Oh, so she was going to throw some sass? That was cute.
Wait. Did he really just think that? He never found anything cute. Not rainbows or puppies or babies.
Certainly not Caren Stanford.
She was rude and snooty. Self-absorbed.
Or maybe she’d been a kid who needed some understanding and you were a dick.
Maybe. But if that was the case then he owed her.
And Travis always repaid his debts. Which meant that she now had someone who was going to watch out for her since she obviously couldn’t do it herself.
“I don’t drink. I like to be in control at all times.”
She visibly swallowed. Hmm, interesting reaction. Did she like the idea of him taking control?
Well, that would make things easier on her, then. And here he thought he was in for a fight.
The maître d’ returned with the bill and Travis frowned as she handed over a credit card to pay for it.
He didn’t care about all that stuff about women paying or going Dutch. It was all mumbo-jumbo in Travis’ world. The man should always pay.
“Thanks for meeting with me, River,” she said after getting her credit card back. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Don’t hold your breath, River,” he said.
“Travis!” she chided. “Be quiet.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, watching as she gave him a nervous look back.
Be quiet?
When was the last time someone had told him to be quiet? Actually, he couldn’t remember anyone ever telling him to be quiet.