Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
I almost melted because the fan was super loud, which I liked—reminded me of riding and also, privacy.
Shane put the bags on the bed.
He glanced over his shoulder. “You okay?”
I closed my eyes, suddenly exhausted. “Yeah.”
He put the bags aside and reached for me, drawing me to his lap.
I climbed on, curling up, and he angled his head back to see me better. “What’s in your head?” His frown deepened. “You okay to see your friends?”
I nodded. I’d texted Harper and Aly before leaving, and pulling out my phone, I saw they’d responded.
Aly: YOU’RE COMING BACK?! SCORE. HELL YEAH. TOUCHDOWN.
Harper: It’s GOOOOOAAAL, not touchdown. Kali, don’t mind Aly, otherwise formerly known as our Best Friend. She watched a hockey game with her new man and also Justin and now they’re trying to teach her the terms.
Aly: Formerly known? Wtf? Don’t be butthurt because you’re choosing not to acknowledge the man of your life, who TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA FOR YOU! That’s on you. He’s here. Justin is amazing and you’re just jealous because we’re enjoying him. Yolo, Harp. YO-LO
Oh boy.
Me: We’re here. Where are you guys?
I wasn’t expecting an immediate response so I tossed my phone on the bed, but it started ringing.
Aly calling.
I showed Shane the screen and started to climb off his lap. He held me in place.
Oh, okay. I hit accept and settled back, yawning. “Hehhhlo?”
“What kind of greeting was that? You must be tired, huh?”
Warmth rushed through me. It was good to hear her voice. I smiled. “Hi, Aly.”
“Hey yourself.” I heard her own smile through the phone. “Girl, have we missed you. I know Harp’s been on the phone with you, and you’re getting reports on what we’re doing, but how are you? How’s your sister? What’s going on with you and Shane? The husband of Manny’s owner is a bounty hunter. I don’t think it would take much to get him to do some pro bono work and find you.” She paused. “Kidding.”
She wasn’t.
We both laughed, but Shane tensed at the mention of the husband.
I frowned. “Um, well…”
Shane looked back at me, and whatever he’d been thinking, he’d moved on. The tension left him, and he gave me a soft smile, his eyes warming.
I reached up, touching the side of his face before another yawn left me. I wasn’t able to stifle this one.
“Oh, man. I can hear how tired you are,” Aly said. “Why don’t you take a nap? Let me know where you are and we can swing by? Maybe we should do a meal in? Netflix and chill, that sort of thing?”
Shane shook his head, just slightly.
“Um…” I searched his eyes and made a decision. “Can I call you back in a second? I want to get on the same page with Shane real quick.”
“Okeley-dokely.”
We hung up. “I know they can’t come here.” Shane looked ready to talk, but I kept going. “I’m also guessing you don’t want them to know about this place.”
He settled down to hear me out.
“But I know not wearing your cuts is a big deal, so what about if I went there and hung in their room for the night? They’re at the hotel at the country club, totally safe. You guys can go have a beer or something?”
His eyes had a soft, but knowing slant to them. “First.” He reached up, taking the phone from me and putting it on the bedside table. “That’s considerate of you, thinking about us and knowing what it means for us to go without our cuts. I really do appreciate it, but it’s unnecessary. Second…” He kept a hold of me and stood.
I gasped, but Shane had me firmly in his arms.
He turned and lowered me to the bed, stretching out next to me. He propped his head on his hand to look down at me. “No place is safe from the people we were initially hiding from. No country club, nowhere, and we’re not operating as if they’re a risk anymore. They’ve moved on. They’re in a whole other state by now. But you and I are new. I’m possessive. Not in a bad way, but I caught feelings and I don’t want to lose you so soon. Because of that, you’re going to have to indulge me. There’s no place you can go that I won’t worry about you. You got me?”
I cocked my head, raising an eyebrow. “How many times have you done this before? Catching feelings for a woman where you’re possessive of her?”
That wasn’t jealousy stirring inside of me. Nope.
I was fully lying to myself.
His eyes smoldered, and a faint grin showed. “None before you.”
None.
Before you.
Oh… oh man!
Warmth sizzled inside of me.
He watched me, waiting until I let out a small gasp of air.
“You serious?”
He nodded. “You’re the only one, Kalista.”
“You’re telling me you have feelings for me?”