Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
He nods thoughtfully. “Where do you think that’ll go?”
I eye him and sip my water. “I think she’ll continue designing flowers for weddings, I suppose.”
Rem rolls his eyes. “You’re a smartass. Come on, I’m your big brother. You’re supposed to talk to me about this stuff.”
“I’m… I could see myself falling for her. She’s fucking amazing, and I’ve been attracted to her for years. The chemistry is crazy. She’s driven and smart.”
“You like her.”
I eye him again and nod. “Yeah, I like her. A lot.”
“Good place to start,” he says, clapping me on the back. “I think she’s great. She’s been a good friend to Erin and Millie.”
“I suspect she’s a good friend to everyone.”
“Except the part where she talked my soon-to-be wife into hiring Charlie Lexington.”
“Dude, get over yourself. Charlie’s the best there is, and you want Erin to have the best.”
“But why does she have to be a Lexington?”
I laugh and shake my head. “Because the universe has a sense of humor, that’s why. I’m going to take the horse and go for a ride. I’ll probably be out of cell range for a while.”
“Want me to go with you?”
“You can’t bail on your party.”
He glances around, shrugging again. “Half the guys are off doing other things anyway. I think Brady took a few guys fishing. I’m surprised that you didn’t want in on that.”
“I plan to go next week.” And take a certain someone with me. “Come on, let’s go.”
“Where are you going?” Ryan calls out.
“Just for a ride,” Rem replies. “Wanna join us?”
“Hell yes.”
It’s late when I decide to leave the ranch and head home. We spent all weekend on the land, enjoying time with friends, and it was a good time. I have no complaints at all.
But I miss Summer, and I plan to call her as soon as I get home.
First, I stop at the police station real quick to grab my duty belt and clean my weapon before my shift tomorrow.
I’ve just walked inside when Sergeant Prescott waves me over.
“How’s Summer?” he asks.
“As far as I know, she’s fine. Why do you ask?”
He narrows his eyes. “She didn’t call you?”
My gut tightens, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up. “Why would she need to call me, Sarg?”
“She had an incident last night,” he begins.
“Is she in the hospital?”
“No, no. Nothing like that—”
Before he can say more, I take off and run back to my truck, putting it in gear and racing toward Summer’s house before I even have the door closed.
But when I get there, her house is locked up tight, and she doesn’t answer. I call her, but it goes to voicemail.
“Summer, it’s me. I just spoke to my sergeant, and he said something happened last night. I need you to answer the phone, sugar.”
Running back to the truck, I toss the phone onto the seat and drive over to my own place, trying to figure out how to get a hold of her.
I can call her aunt. She’ll know where she is.
But when I get home, I see Summer’s car parked in my driveway, and for just a moment, my heart calms in relief.
She’s safe.
That’s all that matters.
But then I run to the front door, and when I find it locked, I key in the code and push the door open. Lily lifts her head from where she’s sleeping in a little dog bed and then pads over to greet me.
“Hey, baby. Where’s your mama? Summer!” I rush back to the kitchen, but I don’t see her, so I take the stairs two at a time.
I can see that she slept in my bed last night because the covers are messy on her side, and when I push into the bathroom, I find her in the bathtub, with headphones on. Her eyes are closed, and she’s bopping her head back and forth in time with the music in her ears.
“Summer.”
Obviously, she has the volume up, and I’m going to startle her, but I need to know what in the ever-loving fuck is going on.
“Summer!”
She jumps, gasps, and slams her hand over her mouth, those baby blues wide, and then sighs.
“You scared me!”
She takes off the headphones and sets them on the floor beside the tub.
“What the hell is going on, Summer?”
“First of all, please let me get out of this bath, and I will tell you everything.”
“Are you okay?”
Her eyes soften. “Yes. I’m okay. And I’m sorry I came here without asking you, I just—”
“Get dressed.” I turn to leave the room. “We’ll talk downstairs.”
Lily’s waiting in the bedroom, sitting on the middle of the bed, watching with interest.
“Come on, girl.”
She follows me down the stairs, and it’s not even five minutes later when I hear Summer coming down the steps. She’s in a white tank top, no bra, and a pair of pink sweat shorts. Her golden hair is piled on top of her head, and her face is clean of makeup.