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)
“I know.”
“As long as you know it,” she muttered.
“I do.”
“And pushy. Ha. Have they told you that you’re pushy?”
“Yep.”
“Darn. What about handsome? I bet no one has ever told you that!”
He stared down at her. And she just realized what she’d said. Oh, dear Lord.
What was wrong with her? She had no idea if he was really handsome. She blamed it on the pounding headache. She felt light-headed and yucky.
Stupid panic attacks.
“You’ve got me there,” he said. “No one has ever called me handsome.”
“Yay! Oh no, wait. Brody doesn’t drive!” She knew he’d been in an accident when he’d first got his license and hadn’t driven since.
“I’m sure he’ll get a taxi.”
“But my car . . . what do I do?” She nibbled her lower lip in worry.
“I’ll call someone to tow it. You just rest.”
Her phone beeped.
“Your friend just texted to say he’s getting an Uber and on his way. An Uber? That doesn’t sound safe.”
“It’s not unsafe,” she said.
Suddenly, she felt his breath against her ear. “You’re not to take an Uber, hear me, Bunny?”
Another shiver ran through her. There was definitely something wrong with her. And his bossiness was out of control. “What?”
“You heard me. You won’t take an Uber on your own or put yourself in any danger. Understand? I didn’t save you to let you get hurt another way. So you keep yourself safe or I’m going to have to redden your ass. I have to go now, but I’m never far away. Remember, you don’t know me and I was never here.”
“I can’t tell my friend?”
“You can’t tell anyone. Pinky promise.” He held up his little finger.
“Pinky promise.”
And then he was gone . . . and she was really starting to wonder if she’d imagined the whole thing.
7
Brody sat on her front stoop, frowning down at his phone. He’d sent her two messages already asking her if she was okay. Her car wasn’t in the garage. Where was she?
What if something had happened to her? Maybe he should track her phone?
No. Nope. You cannot go all stalker on her.
Not yet.
It was tempting, though.
Sometimes, it felt like he took two steps forward and one step back with her. They were friends, but she never really confided anything in him. She hadn’t spoken once about her kidnapping. He’d tried to ask her gently, but she’d closed up on him so suddenly that he’d given up. He hadn’t wanted to upset her.
Hell, he could barely get her to talk about her childhood. Her parents died in a car crash when she was young. And he’d gathered from the few things she’d told him that her grandparents had been strict and controlling.
He wanted more, but he had no idea how to make a move. Initiating moves wasn’t something he was used to doing.
Suddenly his phone beeped.
Autumn: Had a bit of an accident. By Royal park. Come get me.
That wasn’t the usual way she sounded, but if she’d just been in a car accident then she was likely stressed.
He tried to call her back, but she didn’t answer. So he brought up an Uber service.
By the time his ride dropped him off at the park it was fully dark. As soon as he spotted her car, relief flooded him. She was sitting in the front driver’s seat with a blanket wrapped around her.
It looked like her car had hit a sign. The streetlamp provided some light, but he also turned the flashlight on his phone on.
“Autumn!”
She looked over at him. “Brody?”
“Hey, are you hurt?
She leaned back, staring up at him with wide eyes. Her face was so pale, it worried him. His hands shook as he ran them over her.
What should he do? Did he take her to the hospital? Did he take her home?
God damn it!
Calm. Chill. You can do this. You have to. You’re the only one here to take care of her.
There was a reason why he was always behind the computer and not out in the field. He wasn’t used to being in situations like this.
“I . . . I’m all right,” she said.
“You don’t look it. What hurts?”
“Head. Had a panic attack. Crashed the car. Want to go home.”
“I need to take you to the hospital.”
“Not hurt. Just a bad headache and feel yuck. Please. Home.”
“Sure thing.” He brought up his phone to order another Uber. “I need to call a tow truck for your car.”
“Already done.”
It was? She’d managed that? Maybe she’d had the panic attack after she’d crashed the car.
“Is there anything else you need? The Uber is five minutes away.” Probably the same one that had just dropped him off.
“Just you.”
This was a new feeling. No one had ever needed him. Sure, he was called on when someone wanted something at work. And online, when he was gaming, he was a king, kicking ass and taking names. But not in his personal life. He was not the person anyone needed anything from.