Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Right. Because bad things happened when she got stressed. Her stomach tightened into a knot. She didn’t want to think about that.
About what she’d done . . .
“I’m not stressed.”
“Cate,” he said warningly. “This is me you’re talking to. And you promised to be honest with me about when you were stressed. I know you’re finding it hard having them here. I need to know if you’re having any negative thoughts. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself.”
She was tempted to touch her wrist. To flick the hair tie. But then Rhodes would know her secret.
And he couldn’t know about it. It wasn’t like she was actually harming herself. It was just a bit of pain to keep her mind on track and clear.
“I will admit that it’s taking me some time to get used to strangers being in the house. But I’m not that stressed. I promise.”
Rhodes just stared at her for a long moment. “I believe you. And though I’m not happy with how you’ve retreated, I know you need time. I wonder if there are other ways we can help you feel more at ease with Ethan and Seth.”
Like what?
“I asked them to stay in the background as much as possible, but now I’m wondering if that was the wrong decision. You won’t be comfortable with them if you don’t know them.”
“I’m hoping they won’t be here that long.” Although she wasn’t sure how long it would take to figure out who the stalker was.
“So am I. But there’s no way of knowing how long they will be need to be here. Brody has been unable to trace the owner of the blog, so we still don’t know if there is any connection between them and the stalker. The stalker has been quiet lately. Perhaps they’ve been scared off.”
Or they were waiting until the heat went off . . . until Rhodes got rid of the bodyguards and then they would strike again. She swallowed heavily.
“I’m just wondering if you’d feel more at ease if you spent some time with Ethan and Seth. Then they wouldn’t be strangers. You got used to Samantha being around.”
If by ‘got used’ he meant that she barely tolerated that woman, then sure.
“Did Ethan say something to you?” she asked.
“Say something to me? What would he say to me?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly.
“Cate.”
She sighed. “He seemed to think that if he’s going to guard me, I need to trust him. And to trust him, I need to spend time with him.”
“He’s a good man, Cate. They both are. Don’t be scared to interact with them. Please.”
She wanted to refuse him. But Rhodes rarely asked her to do anything. And he did everything he could to make life easier for her.
When no one else believed in her, cared for her, he’d always been there.
So this is something small you can do for him.
“I just don’t want you hiding in your room for however long they’re here. It’s not good for you, and I miss my sister.”
There was no way she could tell him no now.
“I will attempt to come out of my room more often. And speak to Seth and Ethan occasionally.” That was all she could offer right now.
“Thank you. Call me if you need me, understand?”
“I’ll be fine.” She wouldn’t call him unless it was an emergency. If she did, she knew that Samantha would never let her hear the end of it.
Walking over to her, he kissed the top of her head. “You need to stop working. Do something fun. Okay?”
“Sure.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise. Now, go. You’ll be late.”
“I’ll be back around midday tomorrow. Be good.”
“I’m always good,” she told him.
“Hmm. You’re right. You know what . . . be bad.”
She shook her head as he left.
Be bad. What did he expect her to do?
Is kissing your bodyguard bad?
Cate had a feeling that wasn’t what Rhodes meant.
10
Cate wasn’t coming.
It wasn’t a surprise. But now Ethan had to decide his next move. And how much to push her.
He really didn’t have a leg to stand on. He couldn’t push too hard. For one, he didn’t want to get fired. But mostly, he didn’t want to scare Cate.
Setting his book aside, he stood.
And that’s when he saw her standing hesitantly in the doorway, holding an eReader in her hand.
She wore loose pants and another long-sleeved sweater which was the same shade of blue as her eyes.
“Cate,” he said. “Are you going to join me?”
She stared at him for a long moment. “I’m only here because Rhodes asked me to try and become more comfortable around you and Seth. This isn’t really part of my routine.”
He didn’t care why, only that she was here.
“You and your brother are close,” he said.
“I owe Rhodes a lot. I’d do anything for him.”
“I’m sure he feels the same way.”
“Do you think so?” she asked.