Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
“Whoa!” he said quickly. “Let’s not do that. We don’t want to make a mess.”
She glared down at the juice box. “It’s defective.”
“What if I have a go? Maybe I can help.” Taking the drink, he pushed the straw through on the first try.
“Wow, you’re good.”
“I’ve had some practice getting it in the hole.” He handed it to her.
She started giggling.
“I mean . . . I didn’t mean that the way . . . you started it!”
Her giggling grew louder.
“Darn it,” he muttered. “You’re a brat.”
Something strange crossed her face and he could feel her closing off. Shoot. What had he said? Did she take offense at him calling her a brat? He hadn’t meant it in a bad way.
Come on, Brody. She just met you, and you’re calling her a brat. How is she meant to take it?
“Hey, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“What? Oh no, you didn’t. I just . . .” She let out a breath. “It doesn’t matter. You came here to talk to me about the money that I won?”
“Yes.”
She rubbed at her forehead. He hoped the pain relief kicked in quickly. She sipped her juice. “I knew the money was too good to be true. Where did it come from? Was it some sort of trick? Do I owe it all back plus interest?” Her voice was starting to rise and she looked ill.
“No. Nothing like that.”
“Because I used some of it to buy this house and I don’t know how long it will take to sell it. Especially with the problems in the bathroom. And I’m not sure where I’ll live if I do manage to sell it. I couldn’t . . . I couldn’t go back to my job after . . . after . . .”
Should he press her to talk? Should he tell her that he knew what she was talking about? That the senator had her brought to his cabin in the woods so he could rape and kill her? Brody had managed to hack into the police report, so he knew the bastard hadn’t raped her. But he’d come close. Done things to her that she should never have had to endure.
The fact that she could even have a strange man in her house right now was surprising. She was doing so much better than he’d imagined.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“What? Yes. I’m fine. Sorry. I was just thinking about something.”
“It seemed to upset you.”
“Um. Yeah. Would you like to go sit down on the sofa and put your foot up?”
“Okay. But your obsession with my foot is a little odd.”
She could call it whatever she wanted if it meant she sat with it elevated.
“Can I help you down?” he asked, stepping forward worriedly as she scooted to the edge.
“No, I’ve got it. Graceful like a ballerina, remember?” She slid down onto one foot, catching herself on the counter before she could fall on her butt.
Something slid out the front of her sweater and he tensed, expecting to see a gun or mace. Or something else lethal. Reaching down, she picked up a stuffed fox toy. He frowned.
A fox?
Could that be from the Fox? But why would the Fox send her a stuffy?
Then again, why did the Fox do anything? Why would he give her a check? Why would he give Millie one, too?
Very little about the Fox made sense. Was he a good guy or a bad guy? Or both?
And how could he be both?
Autumn quickly picked up the toy and held him against her, right next to a necklace that had slipped out from under her sweatshirt. “Freddy, you were meant to stay in my boobs.”
Lucky fox.
Calm.
“Cute fox,” he told her.
“Thanks,” she muttered. “He’s my emotional stuffy. I know that sounds stupid, but he helps me.”
“Hey.” He reached out to touch her, then drew his hand back.
Bad Brody. You cannot touch her just because you feel the overwhelming need to. She’s not your support stuffy.
She’d sure make a cute one, though. He could feel himself growing red again.
“It doesn’t sound stupid at all.”
She eyed him. “A grown woman carrying around a stuffed toy doesn’t sound stupid to you?”
“No, it doesn’t.” He gave her what he hoped was a firm look. He was going to have to practice that in the mirror.
Not that he was ever going to see her again.
To his surprise, she gave him a smile. “Okay.” Turning, she limped her way into the living room.
All right then.
Brody watched her worriedly, sighing in relief as she managed to sit down without hurting herself again.
She set her foot on the cushion on the coffee table. “Happy now?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like playing doctor?” she asked as he settled the ice pack on her foot.
For some reason, he felt embarrassed. It wasn’t like he’d ever felt the urge to play doctor before. But there was a part of him that enjoyed fussing over her like this.