Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
And walking around, carrying drinks with an old back injury that sometimes flared up?
No. Not happening.
She should be home resting.
He had half a mind to make her cut her hours. And he probably would if he thought she’d let him cover her bills.
When Steele wanted something, he tended to bulldoze straight ahead. And he always got what he wanted.
But Grady was right.
Effie would likely run if he went too fast. And while he wouldn’t allow her to run far, things would go smoother if he could go slow.
Grady’s face filled with shock as Effie let out a contented moan as she snuggled her face into his neck.
“What is she doing?”
“Snuggling you.” Steele had to bite back a grin. “Seems our girl is a cuddler.”
Which was fucking great for him. That’s what he missed most about not having a woman of his own. Cuddling. Especially at night. Steele liked to hold on to his woman.
Grady liked to sleep alone. Or he usually did.
“I take it back,” Nate said suddenly.
Fuck, he’d forgotten the other man was even in the room.
“I can see it now. She’s not a one-night stand, is she?” he asked them.
“No, she’s not.” Steele turned to give him a firm look.
“Does she even know that? I mean, you guys haven’t made it obvious. I would’ve called you as soon as she turned up for Vanessa’s shift if I’d known.”
“We were going slow,” Steele told him.
“This is slow?” Nate asked.
“Things are a bit different now,” Grady said. “She needs some care, don’t you, Twinkletoes?”
She grinned up at Grady. “I like that nickname. But I like sweetheart too. And Baby girl. Not Spitfire, though.” She glared up at Steele.
“That’s too bad, Spitfire.”
“Never had so many nicknames. Does it mean you like me?”
“That’s exactly what it means,” Steele told her.
“Goodie. That means you can be my horsie.”
He shot Grady a look as the other man snorted.
“I’ll explain it later,” Grady told him as he stood.
“Right. Tell us about this fucker that touched her,” Steele demanded.
Nate ran his hand over his face. “Uh, yeah. This old guy got grouchy with her over the drink she served him. Grabbed her arm. I was making my way over, but Lex got to him first and threw him out.”
Anger filled Steele. “What the fuck!” He swung to Grady. “She should never have been in that position.”
“No argument from me,” Grady replied.
Effie was doing something with her fingers that he couldn’t figure out.
“Anything like this happens again, you call us. Immediately,” Steele told him.
“Got it.” Nate nodded. “But I’m guessing nothing like will happen again.”
“Damn straight,” Steele muttered, furious at the thought that some asshole had put his hands on her. “And that’s when her back really started to hurt?”
“Yeah, I think so. Lucy came in here and got her handbag. I think Effie took some painkillers. Didn’t realize they would do this to her, though, or I would have found someone to take her home.”
Steele searched through her handbag and drew out the same bottle of pills from the other night. That was odd, though.
“The bottle says not to take them with alcohol. She definitely didn’t drink any alcohol?” he asked Nate.
“Not that I gave her,” Nate said. “However, fuckin’ Lucy poured her some drinks. She said they were free of alcohol, but I wouldn’t trust that bitch.”
“Wait,” Grady said. “You said that Lucy got her handbag for her?”
Nate nodded. “Yeah. Shocked me. Nicest thing she’s ever done.”
“She could have gone through it,” Grady said. “Found the bottle, read the label, and snuck some alcohol into Effie’s drinks.”
“It can’t have been much alcohol,” Steele said.
“I don’ts like alcamahol,” Effie said. “Icky. Makes me feel funny. Don’ts drink it.”
“So she’s a lightweight as well,” Grady said.
“Do you really think Lucy would do that? Why?” Steele asked.
“She’s probably seen that you’re interested in her,” Nate said. “Jealous bitch wants to get into your pants, Boss.”
Steele gritted his teeth. Motherfucking bitch. “If she put something in Effie’s drink, I’ll fucking kill her.”
“Not if I get to her first,” Grady added. “I’ll get the camera footage up as soon as Effie is taken care of.”
“But Lucy knows where the cameras are,” Nate said. “She would have hidden what she was doing.”
Not all of them.
Steele knew Grady had put in extra cameras that he’d told no one about. They were there to ensure that no one could steal from them. Or do anything else they shouldn’t.
“Nate, you can go back to work now,” Steele said dismissively.
Nate gave him a knowing look, but nodded and left.
“He knows about the extra cameras now,” Grady pointed out.
“He suspects, he doesn’t know,” Steele said. “And I don’t think it matters. Nate has worked for us for years.” Although he’d learned not to trust anyone too much. No one but Grady.
And maybe someday, the girl in his arms.