Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
The feel of Cash’s great head nudging me and his distressed whimpers brought me around. I blinked, pain hitting me. With a groan, I slowly pulled myself onto my knees. I lifted my head, the agony making me hiss. I was in front of the house, about six feet from the porch. Beside me was a sawhorse I had narrowly missed landing on. Even as I used it, it took everything in me to pull myself up to my feet, the torture of the movements bringing tears to my eyes. I knew I had to get inside. My left arm hung useless at my side, and I was pretty sure I’d broken some ribs. I felt the blood dripping down my neck, and I lifted a shaky hand to my head, wincing at the cut I could feel. My ankle felt as if it was on fire with every tentative step I took. I dragged the sawhorse with me, needing to lean on it to go forward.
I looked like a drunk trying to reach the porch, the ground swaying before my gaze. I stumbled and shook, finally making it to the steps. Cash was beside me, his whimpers growing louder.
“So…s’o-okay…boy,” I stuttered. “Good. We’re…good.”
I managed to climb the steps, grunting and groaning at the pain. I only had to get to the door and inside. My cell phone was on the bench, charging, and I would call 9-1-1 and get help. Everything would be fine.
Except my foot caught the edge of the top step, and I went down like a sack of potatoes. I hit the edge of the table as I went over, the boom box hitting the steps as it fell, the music becoming disjointed then silent as it sat in the rain. I lay on the porch, shivering and unable to move. Cash’s whimpers grew into sharp, frightened barks. I attempted to lift my hand to touch him, bring him comfort, but the action was impossible.
With a low groan, I succumbed, and the world around me went dark.
* * *
Ava
I blinked, my eyes feeling heavy. They were dry and weary. I tried to concentrate on the words on the page, but they floated away, much like my concentration.
I hadn’t slept much after leaving Hunter’s. I showered when I got home, needing the heat. Hoping the water would wash away the feeling of rejection. But I felt it staining my skin. He went so quickly from being a teasing, warm lover to a man encased in walls so thick, I would never be able to penetrate them. I didn’t understand.
I didn’t know if I ever would.
My phone rang, and I answered, hearing the pleasant voice of Milly Johnson on the other end.
“Ava, dear, you left an envelope behind yesterday. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy I haven’t called until now.”
“Oh,” I responded. “I was wondering where that was,” I lied. I hadn’t even opened my bag this morning. I glanced at the clock. It was already past one. I had accomplished nothing, done nothing this morning but stare at my desk. I shook my head to clear it.
“I’ll pop around this afternoon and pick it up.”
“All right.”
I hung up, making a decision. It was an awful day outside. Blustery and cold. The rain was hitting the window not in drops but waves of water. It matched my mood.
I slipped on my coat and poked my head into Robert’s office. He looked up from the files he was studying. “I’m going back to city hall. I left a file there I need. Then I’m going home to work. I-I have a headache,” I lied again.
“You look pale,” he agreed. “I think everyone is hiding with this weather today, so it’s quiet. You head home, I’ll hold down the fort. We have nothing scheduled this afternoon.”
“Great. See you tomorrow.”
I managed to get out of the office without running into Gracie or Addi. They’d know I was lying, and I didn’t feel like talking. Talking would lead to crying, and I had done enough of that.
The parking lot was deserted at city hall, and I rushed in, the rain never letting up. Milly handed me my envelope with a smile.
“I’m sorry I didn’t notice yesterday.”
I shook my head. “It’s fine. Gave me an excuse to get out of the office.”
“I expect to see your neighbor today. I called him to tell him his permit was approved and ready.”
I forced a smile to my face. “He must have been pleased.”
“He didn’t answer his cell phone. I left a message. He’s been so anxious about it, I thought he’d be here right away. The rain must be keeping him inside.”
“I guess so.”
I left and hurried back to my SUV. I pushed aside my worry. Hunter always kept his cell phone on him. He also forgot to charge it at times, so he might have missed the call. I glanced at the sky. Surely he wasn’t out there working in this weather?