Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 93984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
“You are the very best guest I’ve ever had,” Justin proclaimed, his voice rough and sleepy. He glanced at Gabriel for a second, and Gabriel’s heart skipped a beat. A pair of the brightest blue eyes looked up at him.
“What?” Justin demanded when he noticed Gabriel staring.
It took Gabriel a moment to untangle his tongue. My God, how could someone’s eyes change their appearance so much? Justin had struck him as a good-looking man before, but those eyes set against that face stole his breath away. “I understand why you wear contacts.”
Justin made a face, wrinkling his nose and curling his lip a little, then turned his attention to his coffee. It also meant lowering his gaze to his mug. “Yeah, kind of hard to blend in when you’ve got people remembering you for your eyes.” He looked up at Gabriel and fluttered his ridiculously long eyelashes. “He’s got the prettiest sapphire blue eyes. His eyes are like a twilight sky,” he said in a high falsetto.
Gabriel snorted, nearly choking on his laugh.
Justin sipped his coffee and smirked at Gabriel. His gaze narrowed. “Yours are a really dark brown. I’d thought it was just the lighting, but nope, very dark like…”
“Satan’s soul,” Gabriel suggested.
“I was going to say the soul of Lindsey Cranston.”
Gabriel shifted, frowning at Justin. “I don’t think I know this person.”
“I hope not. She’s an eleven-year-old who lives on my street. She’s hit me up two years in a row for Girl Scout cookie orders, and I swear, she is not someone you feel safe telling ‘no’ to.”
Gabriel shook his head, not bothering to hide his smile. The man was barely awake and already cracking jokes. Stepping over to the fridge, he pulled it open and stared inside. “There’s not much here, but I can make French toast if you’re hungry.”
He glanced over his shoulder to see that Justin’s mug had stopped halfway to his mouth, his eyes open wide. “You cook?”
“Some. Nothing incredibly fancy, but I know my way around a kitchen.”
“Then, yes. Yes, I would love some French toast. And after breakfast, we are going to the grocery.” Justin turned his attention to his coffee and did a celebratory wiggle in his seat. “I’m gonna eat good. I’ll do the hacking and you do the cooking.”
Gabriel grabbed the eggs and milk, pausing as he turned from the fridge to glare at Justin. “I’m not here simply to be your cook.”
Justin snorted. “No, I was thinking you could also rub my feet and ask me about my day after dinner.”
Gabriel turned toward the fridge, acting as if he were going to put the food back, which got Justin to his feet, waving both hands at Gabriel.
“No! No! I was joking! I swear, you’ll get to kill people too and do fun, sneaky things.”
With a nod, Gabriel started for the stove again, smiling a little at the heavy sigh Justin released as he flopped down in his seat. They enjoyed an amicable breakfast, talking mostly about the weather and things they needed to pick up from the grocery. It was easily one of the most relaxing mornings Gabriel had enjoyed with another human being in an extremely long time.
They didn’t talk about the job, and Gabriel didn’t feel naked without his gun at his side. He didn’t even think to mentally list the items that were close at hand that he could use as a weapon against Justin. They were just two people sharing breakfast and coffee. It felt normal.
After a quick shower, they jumped into Justin’s white SUV and Justin drove them through the town of Independence, Kentucky. Gabriel hadn’t gotten to see much of it, thanks to the lateness of the hour, but he was more than a little surprised as they wove their way to a local grocery store.
It was a slice of classic Americana: rolling green hills, quaint and tidy neighborhoods, schools, and even a courthouse with a couple of classic white columns that looked as if it belonged to some wholesome 1950s TV show.
“Is this real?” Gabriel asked as they stopped for a red light.
Justin chuckled. “Yeah, it is. It’s quiet, unassuming, and the neighbors are just the right amount of nosy.”
Gabriel arched one eyebrow at Justin. “What’s the right amount?”
“They notice when strangers are in my neighborhood, and we give each other a heads-up.” Justin shrugged. “This is the first time I’ve brought my work home with me.” He paused and grinned at Gabriel. “I’ve not had anyone find my house yet, but it’s nice to know that I’ve got people who will tell me if someone is hanging around who shouldn’t be.”
“And what about my appearance?”
“I’ll tell them we’re old friends and you’re staying in town for a little while.”
“Won’t they think it strange if I’m still here after a month?”