Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
But I didn’t see either of them, unless they’d donned disguises again, so I took a moment to pretend I was anywhere else but here.
Maybe back on the train. Yeah, that was a good place to be. Unlike Penny, who’d be driving her ancient car out here later in the day, I was all about public transportation. The El in Chicago got me everywhere I needed to be, except when I could walk. I loved walking around the city. There was always something going on. Always something to see. Always something to do. Plus, no one even batted an eye when I live-streamed with my followers.
Normally, I also enjoyed riding on the larger commuter train that shuttled people out to the suburbs, but every station we passed on the way here was smaller than the last one. When I squinted down the tracks, I couldn’t even see the skyscrapers in the distance.
A horn interrupted my thoughts. A groan escaped my lips as I saw a white, rusty pickup truck heading my way. Well, mostly white. It appeared that the passenger door had been liberated from a gray pickup of the same make.
Wonderful.
The brakes squealed as the truck came to a halt in the parking lot. The two men—cousins, I now knew—were in the front. Where the hell did they expect me to sit?
Their method of transportation—though it was admittedly at least a half-step up from Penny’s—was the exact opposite of the gleaming facilities they’d lured me to a week ago. Of course, now I knew that they’d just borrowed a buddy’s office, but still, I’d hoped that their tastes hadn’t changed.
But now I was beginning to suspect they didn’t have any, especially when Brady climbed out of the passenger side, revealing his faded and ripped jeans. His shirt was plaid and button-down, and all he needed was a cowboy hat to complete the country bumpkin look.
The really annoying thing was that he still looked hot, even though he obviously hadn’t spent much time on his clothing choices today. Since these guys likely considered me public enemy number one, perhaps that made sense.
But then Cole opened the driver’s door, and his attire surprised me. Black jeans, yes, but with a clean white dress shirt tucked into them and black boots that weren’t covered in dirt like Brady’s sneakers. I wondered if he’d just come from somewhere important, or if he’d possibly dressed nicely for me.
Yeah. Not likely.
As I waited for them to come help with my luggage, I steeled myself for the week ahead. I’d need to be constantly on guard. These men and their buddy Gideon had already humiliated me in front of thousands of followers. They’d tricked and manipulated me. It didn’t matter if they were attractive or if Brady was currently sporting a good-natured grin. They were the enemy, and I needed to act accordingly.
“Hey, Lila,” Brady said, as if we were old friends.
His eyes swept up and down me, taking in my appearance. I’d worn tan pants, heeled sandals, and a pink blouse under my jacket. It was late spring, but in this part of the country, nights could still get quite cold.
“Good thing we brought the pickup,” Cole said, eyeing my suitcases. But then he gave me a polite nod. “Ms. James.” His tone was formal and reserved.
My luggage consisted of a four-piece matched set, the larger three with wheels that made pulling them along seem nearly effortless. They’d been a gift from a luggage company after I’d written a review in an online magazine of the one piece I’d bought myself.
In the time it took me to pull the strap of a small carry-on piece over my head and shoulders, the men had picked up the other suitcases. “I can’t believe you got all of this on and off the train,” Brady said.
“I had help,” I said stiffly.
Brady just grinned. “Bet there are all kind of commuters willing to help a pretty woman with her bags.”
“Commuters can be female too, you know,” I pointed out.
“True. I haven’t been on the Metra in years, so my thinking might be a little outdated.”
“Was your last trip in the 1950s? Because you don’t look old enough for that.”
Brady winked at me as he tucked one suitcase under his arm and held another off the ground. So much for the top-of-the-line wheels on the cases. “I might be a bit behind the times, but I mean no offense.”
Did Brady have to sound so good-natured even when he was saying dumb things? But I bit back a retort. No sense opening hostilities so soon. For one thing, it wasn’t too late for me to snatch my bags and take a train back to Chicago.
But I knew I couldn’t do that to my reputation. My followers were counting on me to show these cowboys up. And besides, I’d soon be stuck in the cab of their truck with them, which didn’t sound pleasant under any circumstances. Probably it was best if we weren’t fighting in that confined space, too.