Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
I look up and down the aisle and try to figure out what the ranch might need today. We’re stocked up on almost everything since I’ve been spending my days here, but there’s no way that I’m walking out of here without buying something because it’s just another way for me to interact with Camille.
I grab a pair of bolt cutters because we can always use another pair and then make my way back toward the front. I’m almost to the end of the aisle when I hear the hushed whispers from the checkout counter. I stop in my tracks when I hear Wyatt’s anger-filled voice. “You’re pregnant and unmarried, Camille. You’re setting a bad example for the store…”
And he goes on and on, but my stomach fills with knots, and I can’t make out the rest. Camille… my Camille is pregnant. Does this mean she’s dating someone?
I move farther down the aisle, and I hear Camille’s soft, defeated voice. “Yes, I’m pregnant, Wyatt. And your nephew is the father. It was probably ignorant of me to believe him when he told me he was single. I had no idea he was married… you and he both lied to me.”
I hear Wyatt start to stutter. “Now look, I didn’t have anything to do with you shacking up with my ‘married’ nephew, but I do know that now that you and him are no longer an item, I can’t have you sticking around here.”
“You’re firing me?”
Wyatt laughs out loud. “I swear you’re just being dense now. Of course, I’m firing you. You’re starting to show, and this is a small town. I can’t have people thinking I hire employees with no morals.”
I set the bolt cutter on the shelf in front of me, and my hands automatically fist at my sides. That fuckin’ asshole. Who does he think he is?
I walk out from the aisle with every intention of giving Wyatt a piece of my mind, but the first thing I notice is Camille walking out the front door. I make a flash decision to follow her even though I know I won’t just let Wyatt get away with talking to her like he did. He’ll get his, but first I’m going to catch up with the woman that has had me flustered since the first day I saw her.
“Camille!” I call out, jogging to catch up with her. “Stop.”
She turns, but the sight of her wiping the tears off her face has me practically stumbling on my feet. Her voice is filled with emotion. “I’m sorry, Mr. Barnett. I no longer work at the Feed Haven, but I’m sure someone else can help you.”
The defeat in her voice is killing me. “Stop. Just stop, okay? I heard what…” I have to stop myself from calling Wyatt something I shouldn’t be saying. “Wyatt said to you.”
She nods her head and sucks in a strangled breath. “Okay.”
“Do you need a job? I’m looking for an assistant. Ever since my sister had her baby, she’s been wanting me to hire someone to help her, but I’ve been putting her off.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, and I try to catch my breath because standing this close to her is a little overwhelming. I want to touch her, and nothing can stop me from reaching for her and putting my hand on her shoulder. “You would be doing me a favor.”
She gasps when my palm cups her shoulder, and she blinks her big brown eyes at me. She stutters over the words. “I’m pregnant.”
I nod my head. “I know. I heard.”
Her arms tighten around herself. “Why would you want to hire me? If you heard, you also heard that I’m not married… that I’m a homewrecker.”
She seems disgusted by even saying the word, and even though I hear her saying it, I’m still not believing that she’s the type to be a homewrecker. There’s more to the story, but I’m not going to get into it now. She blows out a breath. “Thank you for the job offer, but it’s not a good idea.”
She turns to go, and I get in front of her to block her path. There’s an urgency inside me, but I try to keep myself calm. If she gets away from me now, I may never see her again. My hands go to her shoulders, and even though I want to pull her against me, I don’t. “Look, you’re upset, and I get it, but I can’t just let you walk away. You shouldn’t be like this… in your condition. Let me do something… can I take you home?”
She takes a deep breath. “It’s out of your way.” Her face turns red. “I mean… I know where your ranch is… I mean since we sent orders to your ranch and I saw the address.” She puts her hand up and covers her face as embarrassment flames her cheeks.