Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 99949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Strong like himself.
I tried desperately to find the right mask to drop into place so I could get out of there, but it just wasn’t there.
“Sure, no problem,” I said stupidly as I pulled free of Lincoln’s hold. I wanted so badly to tell him I wasn’t trying to make light of what he’d told me but the need to escape was stronger. I knew what he would want next. He’d want me to give up one of my own secrets, or maybe even all of them.
Or he’d want an explanation about my reaction to his touch the night before.
“Theo?”
“I’ll head back first so we don’t get to the house at the same time,” I said even as I rushed into the woods, weaving in and out of trees.
“Theo!” Lincoln shouted from somewhere behind me.
He sounded confused and pissed. I didn’t blame him but all that did was make me increase my stride until I was rushing through the trees so fast that limbs were scratching my arms. It was then that I remembered my hoodie. I let out a cry of relief when I realized it was still tied around my waist. I shrugged it on as best I could as I made my way back to the house. I couldn’t hear Lincoln anymore, but I couldn’t decide if I was relieved or disappointed about that.
“Fuck,” I whispered to myself. What the hell was happening? I’d come to Ford’s house to escape a fucked-up situation in the city and plan my next steps, and here it was less than two weeks later and one man had managed to turn my entire world upside down.
Once I reached the path that led back to the main house, I looked behind me to see if I could see Lincoln, but he was nowhere in sight. I kept my pace brisk but slowed enough to catch my breath so no one would question why I was breathing like I’d just been running in a marathon.
In a hoodie, no less.
I could feel the sweat streaming down my back and I wanted nothing more than to rip the offending garment off, but I couldn’t risk anyone seeing my arms.
As I neared the house, I saw Cam’s police-issued SUV along with a truck I didn’t recognize. An unreasonable jolt of fear went through me before I managed to catch myself. No one knew I was here. My parents no longer lived in the area and the chances that someone from Pelican Bay would know who I was were slim to none.
“Theo?”
I stopped short at the sound of Ford’s voice and scanned the area before I found him sitting on the bench by the fire pit. He wasn’t alone, either. I glanced over my shoulder again but still no Lincoln, so I managed to pull myself together enough to plaster a relaxed look on my face.
“Hey,” I responded.
“Everything okay?” Ford asked as he and the other guy rose to their feet.
Fuck, I needed to get control of myself because apparently my ability to act like I didn’t have a care in the world was starting to falter.
“Yeah. Just took a little walk,” I said, adding in a smile for good measure. “It’s so pretty here, Ford.”
“Theo, this is Sawyer Brower,” Ford responded as he motioned to the man next to him. The guy was quite good-looking though his hair was an odd mix of brown with considerably lighter roots.
I recognized the name, so I said, “The vet.” I nodded in greeting and added, “It’s nice to meet you.”
I wanted nothing more than to escape but I knew the formalities weren’t through yet, especially if I wanted to convince both men that I really had just been taking a walk.
“You too,” Sawyer said. I felt something go through me as the man looked at me, but I passed it off as how tense I was about Lincoln appearing out of nowhere.
“Sorry if I interrupted,” I managed to say, though I knew the words sounded overly polite, and the right thing to do would have been to go to both men, shake Sawyer’s hand and make small talk before excusing myself. But even if I’d had time for that, escape was still the only thing on my mind. “I’ll let you get back to your talk,” I said before they could even respond to my apology and then I was striding toward the house.
I fully expected to have to try and turn on the charm when I heard voices coming from inside the house but when I walked in, I realized there was an intense and loud conversation already in progress between Cam and what sounded like Walter. I quickly made my way to the stairs and finally took what felt like my first breath when I made it to the third floor without anyone calling my name. I rushed into my room and closed the door, then locked it. Next, I went to the bathroom. I locked the door on my side before hurrying to the door that opened into Lincoln’s bedroom. I locked that one too, so he’d have no way to get into the bathroom.