Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“Yes.” She pauses. “Yes, of course. You’re right. Please keep me posted.”
“I will.”
I left the hotel and walked around the main area of the small Colorado town. It was after seven by this time, and most of the shops had closed. The tattoo parlor was still open, so I went in there.
“Good evening,” a heavily tattooed young man with a septum piercing said. “You got an appointment?”
“No, sir. I’m looking for my girlfriend. Her name’s Patty, and she left me to shop here in town right after lunch. Red hair, gorgeous. You can’t miss her.”
“Haven’t seen anyone like that. Sorry.”
Fear sliced through me as I left the tattoo place. Most of the shops seemed to be small and locally owned, so I went to each one and pounded on each door. Only one person came to the door at the shoe store.
“We’re closed,” she said through the glass.
“Are you Mariah?” I asked, glancing at the sign, Mariah’s Shoes and Stuff.
“Yeah.”
“Sorry to bother you, but I’m looking for my girlfriend. She was shopping here before. Red hair, beautiful, bright personality? Loves shoes?”
“Look, Mister…”
“Ainsley. Ennis Ainsley.”
“Mr. Ainsley, you’re obviously not from here with the accent and all, but Snow Creek is about as safe a place as there is. She may have run off.”
I turned stone cold.
Was it possible? Could Patty not be feeling for me what I was feeling for her?
Could she—
But we’d had an amazing morning. Best sex I’d ever had, and she’d said it was the same for her. We’d exchanged I love yous and everything.
“No.” I shook my head vehemently. “Absolutely not. Have you seen her?”
“I don’t recall seeing a redhead in here.” She shifted her gaze around nervously. “Look, I’ve got to get supper on for the kids. I’m sorry I can’t help you.”
What was I missing? I went in all the restaurants and looked for her. She wouldn’t be in a restaurant. She would never miss dinner with Daphne and Brad.
Which told me all I needed to know.
She couldn’t have run off on me. She wouldn’t do that to me. She wouldn’t do that to Daphne.
With nowhere else to look, I just walked up and down the street, gazing into dark windows, hoping against hope I’d see her beautiful freckled face.
I jerked when a hand gripped my shoulder from behind.
“Ennis.”
I turned and stared into the dark eyes of Brad Steel.
“I’ve checked everywhere,” I said before he even spoke. “It’s like she disappeared into thin air.”
“Have you called her parents? Maybe she…”
“Took off?” I shook my head. Why was everyone saying that? “I already thought of that. But after the morning we had, I doubt it.”
“Good sex?”
“Better than good. And we said I love you for the first time.”
“You think she got cold feet?”
“No. Plus, Patty isn’t one to mince words. If she wanted to leave me, she would have told me.”
Brad nodded. “I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I, mate.” A chill ran down my spine. “I’m worried. Really worried.”
“The cops are on it. I called them. Have you seen them wandering around?”
“Honestly, I haven’t noticed. I’ve only been looking for red hair.”
“I get it. They’re going to want to talk to you.”
“Hey, wait.” I lowered my eyelids. “You don’t think…”
“I don’t know. But like you say, Patty wouldn’t just leave.”
I regarded Brad Steel—his swarthy good looks and dark eyes. The man who’d charmed Daphne Wade. He was rich beyond my wildest dreams, but something wasn’t right. A man had dropped dead at his wedding, and someone was threatening an innocent infant—his son.
If I squinted, I could almost see a shadow of evil following him.
“Steel, I’m beginning to regret the day I ever laid eyes on you.”
I expected him to react, but he said nothing.
And I started to feel bad about what I said. I was imagining things. A shadow of evil? Come on.
“Look,” I began. “I didn’t mean—”
“Yeah, you did.”
Well, if he agreed… “Okay, I did. What the hell is going on?”
“I’d tell you if I knew.”
“You’ve got to know someone who has it out for you.”
He was quiet for a moment, until—
“I’m working on it,” he said.
This time I curled my hands into fists. All the fear in my heart turned to anger toward Brad. “Steel, you’ve got to do better than that. The woman I love is—”
“I know. I’ll do what I can.” He shook his head. “This will kill Daphne.”
I adored Daphne, but they were friends. Patty and I were partners, lovers. “Not as much as it will kill me. We were talking about going to London to meet my folks. Then touring the continent.”
“I know, man. I’m sorry.” He touched my shoulder lightly. “You’re right. It will affect you worse. I’m walking over to the police station to file the report. You want to come along? They’ll need to talk to you anyway.”