Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“And did he give up any information?”
“He did.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Willingly?”
“With a little convincing,” he answered, keeping his voice low.
She took that as her cue to do the same. “And did you find her?”
He hesitated before saying cautiously, “We did.”
“And how is she?”
She knew before he answered because it was clear in his grim expression. “Dead.”
She squeezed his knee hard, whispering, “I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t a complete surprise.”
“Where was she?”
“We found her in Ohio.”
What a sad ending to an already tragic story. “Damn, I feel so bad for her sister. So, now what?”
“I’m not sure what Sloane’s plans are yet. I haven’t spoken to Decker since we’ve got back. Since we were up for almost forty-eight hours straight, we were running on coffee and junk food.”
“No wonder you stopped at your mother’s for a good meal.”
“And of course, she was happy I stopped by. So… Once I find out the details of the funeral, will you come with me?”
He wanted her to do what? She didn’t know Sloane or her sister. “Are funerals usually a plus one?”
His mouth twisted. “I don’t know but I’d like you there.”
“Rez…”
“It’s a funeral, not a wedding.”
“Still… We’re not a couple.”
“It’s a damn funeral, Phire, not a date.” His lips flattened into a straight line. “Forget I asked.”
Was the man actually pouting? “When is it?” Was she going to let him guilt her into going?
She never would’ve accepted that kind of manipulation in the past. She would’ve told the man to go pound sand. What the hell was happening here? Why did she feel the need to make this man happy?
Had they actually slipped into “couple” status along the way when she wasn’t paying attention?
She shook that thought free when Rez answered, “Not sure yet since her body’s still in Ohio. Sloane or her parents will need to make arrangements first.”
“That’s a shame her sister couldn’t be saved. Drugs can ravage a person.”
“Their family, too. Unfortunately, her sister’s addiction put a wedge between Sloane and her parents.”
“Crazy. She only wanted to save her sister and was willing to do whatever necessary to do that. You’d think her parents would want that, too.”
“You’d think. People are weird.”
She laughed softly. “That they are.”
“Anyway, think about going. Of course, Finn and Mel will be there, so you’ll know other people besides me.”
She could see Mel and Finn anytime, and preferably not at a funeral. She had a feeling Rez wanted to show her off as his date, despite what he said about it not being one.
His fingers brushed along the back of her neck. “Are you coming over after you’re done here for the night?”
“How come you never come to my place and I always have to stay over at yours?” Lugging around and living out of an overnight bag was inconvenient. And she’d have to go home first, anyway, to grab it.
“Because I don’t like you living there. And on that note, I know I sound like a broken record, but I don’t like you working here, either. I worry about you.”
“Weeeeell,” she drew out, “no need to worry about me. I’ve been living in my place and working in this place for years now. And anyway, that’s not your decision.”
“But this place has changed since you first started.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “It has?”
If anyone knew that, it was her. But she needed options first before she could leave. And her apartment might not be in a luxury complex, but it was affordable.
He frowned. “Am I being an asshole?”
“Pushy, yes. An asshole, no. But I’ve lived for thirty-one years without you, Rez, I’m sure I can manage another thirty-one without you, too.” But did she want to? The thought of him not being in her life at all... actually hurt.
“Damn,” he whispered.
Maybe she only needed to set some boundaries for whatever this was between them to work.
She grabbed his chin and turned him until they were almost nose to nose. She was distracted for a second by his gorgeous and deeply intense eyes, but she mentally shook that free.
Focus. Don’t let his physical appearance distract you from what’s important. You’re a thirty-one-year-old woman, not an eighteen-year-old simp who falls for a guy just because he’s hot.
Or good in bed.
Been there, done that. Learned that lesson the hard way already.
“Don’t get me wrong, Rez, I appreciate your concern, but it’s unneeded. I’m capable of taking care of myself and making my own decisions.”
She liked him. A lot. But if she was going to get seriously involved with someone—and clearly he was starting to lean in that direction—she wanted to do it on her terms.
“In the past, I was with someone with the mistaken idea that because of what I did for a living, I was no more than a brainless twit. That I was incapable of making good decisions on my own. I proved him wrong by making the very smart choice of kicking his ass to the curb.”