Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 128742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
“Nice tenants you got here,” he calls darkly as we’re walking outside.
Once we’re on the sidewalk, I finally take a deep breath. The winter chill cools my lungs, and when I exhale, it’s a faint white cloud.
“Did I not?” Lee snaps at me. “Literally, did I not?”
“Leave her be,” Jamie says gently while typing something on his phone. “She doesn’t need us telling her what for. She knows.”
Jack’s still clenching his fists when he finally looks at me. “Are you all right?”
I give a quick nod. “Fine.”
“Car will be here in ten,” Jamie tells me, tucking his phone away. “Hired us a private service.”
Jack continues to scrutinize me. “You’re sure he didn’t hurt you?”
“He didn’t. And I’m sorry, okay? I was wrong. You guys were right. He’s a creep, and I didn’t see it.”
“What in the hell were you thinking?” Satisfied I haven’t been maimed or worse, Jack’s anger homes in on me. “You out of your bloody mind going in there alone?”
“Too right,” Lee drops in.
“Shut it, mate. You didn’t stop her.”
“I should have locked her in our bathroom then?” Lee shoots back.
“Yes.”
“He never gave me any hint,” I say in my own defense. “I mean, he’d always been perfectly polite before.”
Jack snorts. “Of course he was. If his type were bastards from the off…”
“Abbey,” a familiar voice calls from behind me.
I turn, startled to see Nate jogging toward us up the sidewalk. He’s wearing jeans and a black hoodie beneath a leather jacket, his hair windblown and his expression awash with worry.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I hear Jack mutter.
“I saw your message,” Nate says when he reaches our group. “What happened?”
“The fire’s out,” I assure him.
Although now I’m completely embarrassed by the ruckus I’ve caused, forcing everyone I know to come running to my rescue.
“Ben Tulley had her captive in his bathroom,” Lee informs him.
“He what?” Nate’s gaze jumps from me to the boys. Then those dark eyes turn bright with anger. “You lads let her go up there alone? Are you mental?”
“Right, mate.” Jack steps between us. “Thanks for coming. It’s sorted. Piss off.”
“Hey, wait.” I try to interject but Jamie pulls me back.
“I’d rather hear that from her,” Nate says. He doesn’t shrink from Jack’s challenge, holding his ground. “Abbey?”
“We’ve got her,” Jack retorts. “You’ve no part to play here.”
“That’s not your decision.”
“You’re embarrassing yourself, mate. It’s pathetic.”
“What’s pathetic is this bloke in front of me who won’t let the lady speak for herself.”
Brow furrowed, Lee looks between Jack and Nate. “I don’t understand all the hostility.” His frown deepens as his gaze flits toward me for clarification.
I bite my lip and stare at my feet. Fuck. This is not the time for any of this to play out.
“She told you she was fine,” Jack is saying.
“No, you told me she was fine, you wanker.”
“What is happening right now, you two?” Jamie demands, blinking in confusion.
They both ignore him.
“Keep talking shit and I will put you down, ay?” Jack’s shoulders hunch with barely restrained tension.
Nate gets right up in Jack’s face. At six feet, he’s about four inches shorter and yet looks equally formidable. “You want to throw a punch, let’s have it. I’m not bothered by huffing and puffing.”
“Nope.” I throw myself between them. “I’m talking now, okay? And I say both of you need to back off. Thank you very much for coming. I really appreciate that you came to help me, but I’m good now. So please, put your tape measures away and leave me out of it.”
“Leave you out of it?” Nate echoes dryly. “I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re all right, luv. I was worried sick when I got your text.”
As if finally getting the memo, Lee gasps.
Fuck. I know that gasp.
“Are you together?” he exclaims, his head shifting from me to Nate. “Tell me you’re not together.”
Jamie’s gaze flies to mine. “You’re with Nate?”
I feel my cheeks heat up. “I…”
“You’re with Nate?” Jamie repeats as if his brain is stuck in neutral.
“Come off it, yeah?” Jack mutters, impatient. “Let’s just get Abbey home.”
“You knew?” Lee swivels toward Jack, accusation in his voice.
“Yeah, mate, I knew,” he snaps back. “Now can we please— ”
“Abbey,” a voice suddenly shouts, and we all glance toward the entrance of Ben’s building.
Ben Tulley himself comes stumbling out the front doors, hair rumpled, the two flaps of his open shirt fluttering in the wind.
“Abbey,” he calls unhappily. Stumbling toward us, he extends his arm to beckon me. “Please, come back upstairs. Give me a chance to apologize proper, yeah?”
Ben is about eight feet away from me when the flashbulb goes off.
“Abbey!” someone else yells. “Abbey, give a smile!”
My forehead grooves as I look around in confusion.
Then I spot him. The photographer.
No. That’s too generous a term.
He’s a vulture. Paparazzi. I grew up with those bloodthirsty vultures circling my father each time he left the house. I’d recognize them anywhere.