Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
“I know. I just miss you.”
Great. Now she felt guilty as hell. “I’m sorry, Cat. You know I’d come visit if . . .”
“If you weren’t worried that Alejandro wouldn’t just keep you here. You know he could come find you at any time, right?”
“I know. He won’t, will he?” she asked worriedly.
“Well, I wouldn’t tell him about any more guys trying to accost you.”
She groaned and smacked the palm of her hand against her forehead. “Why can’t I lie?”
Cat giggled. “Yeah, you’re so bad at lying. Are you really all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“You know we just love you and want you safe, right?”
She let out a deep breath. “I know. It’s just . . .”
“You like having your freedom. I get it . . . sometimes I think about joining you.”
“No, you don’t,” Maeve countered.
“No, I don’t,” Cat agreed with a grin. “I’d miss my Papi. But sometimes, I like to tease him that I’m going to travel around with you.”
“And sometimes you get your butt paddled,” Maeve reminded her.
Cat shrugged. “If it happens, it happens. Where are you now? Are you really all right?”
“I am. Promise. I’m in Montana.” She kept it deliberately vague. It wasn’t like she was hiding, but she still didn’t entirely trust Alejandro not to try to track her down. She shouldn’t have mentioned that asshole grabbing her. Thank God she hadn’t gone into detail.
“I love Montana! I was there not long ago and I made a friend. Want her details?”
“It’s a big place, Cat.”
“True. And there is no guy?”
“Not really. He was cute. But he was bossy. Not Alejandro-bossy, but close.”
“Merda. That’s pretty bad.” Cat looked shocked. “So, are you going back out dancing?”
“Maybe.”
“You’re going to let one bad experience turn you off?” Cat asked gently.
It was hard . . . being attacked like that had shaken her. After getting home, she’d been too scared to sleep. And when exhaustion had overcome her, she’d ended up having nightmares.
She’d give anything to not have nightmares.
“It brought up bad memories?” Cat asked.
“Yeah, I guess.” She didn’t really want to talk about it. Fair to say, she hated talking about her past.
“I get it,” Cat said gently. “But don’t let what happened ruin your fun or scare you into staying home all the time.”
“Not sure that’s what Alejandro would say.”
“Nah, he’d say stay at home where it’s safe. But you’re entitled to have some fun, to go dancing and let loose. It’s not wrong.”
“I know.”
“And hey, you might see Mr. Cutie again.”
“How do you know he’s cute?” Maeve asked with a grin.
“Oh, I bet he is from the way you blush when you talk about him.”
“Cat!” She put her hands over her cheeks. Yep, definitely blushing. “Have you heard from the others lately?”
“And now you’re trying to distract me,” Cat replied. “Don’t think I don’t know your tricks, missy. But I’ll bite as long as you call me straight away if you see him again.”
She hid her grimace. Not at the thought of telling Cat, but if she did, then Alejandro would insist on doing a background check . . .
Well, she didn’t want him interfering and scaring Gray off.
Gray could defend himself. And that was sexy as hell. But go up against someone like Alejandro? No way.
There was a slight bad boy edge to him. Well, maybe boy wasn’t the word to use since he was all man. But a few tattoos, a gruff attitude, and the ability to use his fists still wouldn’t help him with Alejandro.
Nope, not letting that happen.
Not that she was likely to see him again. Or that anything would happen. So she was probably worrying about nothing.
“I’ll keep it a secret, promise.”
“You’re not allowed to keep secrets from Alejandro.”
“Ahh, bummer. You’re right. He does get his panties in a twist if I do that.”
She had to giggle at the idea of Alejandro wearing panties.
“Fine. Fine. You don’t have to tell me. But if things start to get serious and you want Alejandro to look into him . . . ”
“I’ll talk to you first.”
There was a loud knocking through the phone. “Cat! What are you doing?”
Whoa. That was a deep, powerful voice.
“I’m on the toilet!” Cat called back. “What do you think I’m doing?”
“You’ve been on the toilet for ten minutes.”
“I’m constipated. Is that a problem?”
Maeve put her hand over her mouth, trying to hold in giggles.
“Can you please back off and give me some privacy?” Cat said with exasperation.
She thought she heard him grumbling but couldn’t be sure. Cat pulled a face. “See what I have to put up with? Oh, I spoke to Immy yesterday. They’re just finishing up Jenner’s tour.”
Jenner was another friend who was a famous country western singer.
“Sampson was in a grouchy mood.”
“Like usual.” Sampson was Jenner’s bodyguard. He was always surly. Maeve had always been closest to him, other than Cat and Immy.