Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 70628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70628 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Don’t worry about it, baby. They’re keeping him in the county jail while he awaits trial. Luke and I just found that out this morning. They’re concerned about the risk to him if they take him to the prison.”
I drop my jaw. “So there won’t be any connections. That’s what he was hoping for.”
“Yup. But even he knew—or if he didn’t, he’s just stupid—that there was probably a mark on his head if they sent him to the prison.”
“So you think we’re okay?”
“Luke has twenty-four-seven security—the best money can buy. And I’m your security, Aspen.”
“Paid for by the Wolfes.”
He smiles. “Do you really think they have to pay me at this point? I will always be your security, Aspen. As long as I’m with you, I will not allow anything to happen to you.”
I throw my arms around him, kiss him on his lips. “Thank you so much.”
“You don’t need to thank me for protecting the woman I love. It’s a pleasure. Besides, I can’t live without you now.”
“I can’t live without you either. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky. How can someone as good as you, as honorable as you, love me?”
“How can I not? You’re as good and honorable as I am.”
He’s sweet to say it, but it’s not true. If I were truly good and honorable, I would be done now. I found out the story behind my kidnapping, and the people behind it are either dead or will be brought to justice. So why am I still searching for answers?
Before I can think too much about it, though, one of the waitstaff assigned to our cabana, a young woman named Kathy, approaches us.
“Would you two care to order any lunch?”
Katelyn and Luke arrive, dripping from the water.
“Lunchtime,” Luke says.
“I was just about to take an order from these two,” Kathy says.
“Could I see a menu?” Katelyn asks.
“Certainly.” Kathy hands her a laminated menu.
“Do you have just a regular burger?” I ask. “Cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion. Side of fries?”
“You got it. And a drink?”
“I’m thinking a nice freshly-brewed iced tea,” I say.
“I’ll have the same,” Buck says. “Except bring me a nice freshly-brewed beer on tap.”
Kathy laughs. “Absolutely.”
“Ditto for me,” Luke says. “Except not the beer. I’ll take the iced tea.”
“I like to be different,” Katelyn says. “I’d like the chicken sandwich please, grilled not fried, and a side salad. Iced tea as well.”
“Got it all,” Kathy says. “I’ll bring these out as soon as they’re ready.”
Buck turns to me. “A burger, huh?”
“Yeah, I’m feeling pretty hungry, actually. Haven’t had a burger in…I don’t know how long.”
“I was surprised you didn’t order the fish tacos,” Katelyn chuckles.
“No, I still can’t get the taste for seafood. I know I ordered them at our lunch, but I had to force them down. I just felt that if I could eat fish tacos, I could accomplish anything. Silly, I know.”
“Are you kidding me?” Katelyn says. “It wasn’t silly. It was strong. You got them down. You did it.”
“I did. And I didn’t throw up afterward. But it’ll be a long time before I order them again. I can’t even think about it.”
“Or ‘taco’ about it?” Buck raises his eyebrows.
I look around for something to throw at him. “Taco. Talk. Was that supposed to be a joke?”
“A poor attempt, obviously,” he says, smiling.
We all laugh then.
And it’s kind of strange, really, for all of us to be laughing.
Since the four of us have been together, maybe one or two of us has forced out a chuckle at one time or another, but for all four of us to laugh at the same time? I think this is the first time it’s happened.
It feels pretty good.
After lunch, I grab Edgar. “We’re going to take a walk on the beach.”
“Want some company?” Buck asks.
“Absolutely.”
We leave Katelyn, Luke, and Jed, and amble to the water’s edge.
Hand-in-hand, Buck and I walk, while I hold Edgar’s leash with my other hand. He puts his paws in the water, but that’s as far as he goes.
He’s a good boy. Gloria and Brian obviously trained him well. He comes when he is called, and he knows all the other commands—sit, stay, speak.
At the beach house, he never leaves the radius of about twenty feet from Buck and me. I’m not even sure he needs a leash.
At least there’s something I can do for Gloria. I can take care of her dog, love her dog.
I believe Gloria was a good person. So she had jealous feelings for me. Envious feelings. That doesn’t make her a bad person. It makes her human. She didn’t deserve to die for that.
Gloria didn’t ask Taylor and Nancy to do what they did. She did try to protect them though. I mean, at the time, she was in a relationship with Taylor. And Nancy? I don’t really know what Gloria’s feelings for Nancy were.