Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
“I like that you can talk to the birds the way you do, Gideon. I think that’s amazing. I loved hearing you talk about the places you’ve been to study the birds.”
“The first night I ever heard you laugh, I’d gone up to my rooftop because I was hurting like hell. I hadn’t been able to sleep in days. I thought I might be going a little insane. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw things I just couldn’t take, and I needed to meditate to try to get the images out of my mind. The doc didn’t want me to climb the stairs, but I did anyway. I had just about found a way to shut everything down, and Javier joined me. I knew he wanted to talk about what happened, and it was the last thing I wanted to do.”
Gideon watched Rory pull her legs up onto the seat. They disappeared beneath the blanket. There were things about her he knew so well now, things he loved watching her do.
“When he left, I had to start all over again, trying to meditate and get above the pain. That’s when I heard you laugh. My hearing is very acute. I knew you had to be a few blocks away. I could tell you were surrounded by a large group of people. I just had to wait for you to laugh again to pinpoint your exact location.”
“My hearing is excellent, but yours has to be extremely good to hear me in those conditions, unless I was laughing like a hyena.”
“I assure you, you were not.” He sent her a faint grin. “I found myself straining to catch the smallest sound from you so I could send one of my spies. I wanted to know everything there was to know about you.”
Her long lashes fluttered. He waited to see her reaction. She didn’t disappoint him. He saw it in her eyes first. Recognition. Then amusement. Her smile was radiant. “That very naughty sparrow who came to visit me on my rooftop.”
He nodded. “She found you at the bar first and then followed you home.”
“It scared me when she flew into the cabinet door.”
“That wasn’t part of the plan.”
“I can’t do anything cool like use birds to spy. I love to study them and take pictures. I’m more of a gardener. I love to design gardens. I meant it when I told you that someday, I’m going to have my own vegetable and herb gardens. I want to stay home and cook. I’d love to bake my own bread and pasta. I wouldn’t work at the bar as many hours so I’d have time for all of that.”
“What about your songwriting?”
“I do that in my head all the time.”
“Wouldn’t you want a little recording studio?”
She shook her head. “I’m not a singer.”
“You have a good voice.”
She shook her head even more adamantly this time. “I love to write songs, but I would never want to sing in front of a crowd. I really do want to design my gardens and cook. That’s the dream. Someday, it’ll happen. I’ve got so many recipes stored in my head. And I just look at empty spaces and see gardens planted in them everywhere I go.”
She looked around her. “Gideon, it’s almost morning. Lydia and the others are going to be worried. I’d better be getting back.”
He stood immediately and reached out his hand to help her up. “Thank you for meeting me. And for being understanding about my past.”
“I appreciate you telling me. I know it wasn’t easy to share.”
He took the blanket and shoved it into his backpack. She didn’t object to holding his hand as they walked to the back entrance of her apartment building. He went in with her and escorted her to Cindy’s apartment. He wasn’t taking any chances with her, not after all that had happened. He waited until she was safely inside before he started back to his home. Javier joined him once he was out on the street. Neither spoke as the SUV picked them up.
17
Ladies,” Detective Larrsen said, looking around the small room at the six women he’d asked to meet him here. “This is Detective Miles Abbott.”
Rory covered her yawn with her hand as she observed the newcomer. He appeared to be about ten years older than Larrsen. He had sandy-colored hair and was clean-shaven and nearly as fit. He wore a dark suit. Pam and Janice exchanged quick looks, and both glanced at his left hand to see if he wore a ring. They’d met him before, but not in such an official capacity. He’d questioned them with Westlake and Carver, but he hadn’t said much.
“Ladies,” Abbott said. He had a deep voice.
“This is Detective Morgan Wilson.”
Detective Morgan Wilson was closer to fifty. Married, wore his suit well, dark hair with threads of silver running through it. Nice smile that lit his very intelligent eyes. He had coffee-colored skin and chocolate eyes. If Rory had to guess, he was the boss.