Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Jerico didn’t allow himself to dwell on the past. He swore both Aspen and Rexy would have a much better future.
Heading back to the house, he picked up the next load that she’d set on the front step. After several trips to stow the possessions that appeared on the porch, Jerico found Aspen locking the sorry excuse of a door.
“Rexy’s snoring in the truck. Let’s go.”
“I’m ready, but I don’t want to leave my car here.”
“Definitely not a good idea. Follow me. I’ll go slow. It’s best if you have my phone number. Can I borrow your phone for a minute?”
When she handed it to him, Jerico quickly added his information to her contacts and connected a call so he’d have her number as well. Finally, he took a picture of his ID on her device before handing it over. “Send that to someone you trust. They’ll know where you are.”
Nodding, she followed his instructions. “Thanks.”
“Let’s go. The police warned they wouldn’t be able to hold him long. We’re headed to the off-base housing.”
“Do you have a family?” she asked.
“I didn’t, but I think that just changed. Let’s go, little girl.”
Dangling his head out the truck window, Rexy woofed his agreement with that plan.
“He’ll want to drive with me,” Aspen told him, and Jerico returned to his truck to open the door and lift the massive creature down safely.
I’m either crazy or about to be the victim of one of those gruesome crimes on TV.
From the back seat, Rexy’s head landed on her shoulder with a thump to reassure her, as if the dog understood her thoughts.
“I’m glad you’re here, you big oaf,” Aspen told the beast.
Who knew if she would have had problems with her neighbor if he hadn’t had a dog? She amended that thought—if he hadn’t had a dog he abused. The authorities had tried to help, but she knew they were swamped, and their hands were tied to a certain extent if there wasn’t imminent danger to Rexy. Her neighbor would never have allowed her to take the dog or Rexy to be sent to the shelter. She shuddered at the scary thoughts of what he would have done.
Rolling her shoulders as she kept Jerico’s taillights in view, absolute conviction draped over her like a blanket. There was no doubt this was worth the risk. She would have had problems with her neighbor without Rexy as a catalyst for conflict. He was loud and totally without an ounce of empathy—if he even knew anyone else had feelings, Eddie certainly didn’t consider them.
A shiver ran through her body as she pictured the handsome military man who had come to her rescue. He hadn’t hesitated to put himself in harm’s way at the bar. No one else had dared intercede. She could remember his warmth and hard muscles from the brief brush of his body. Not even the terror of her situation had kept her from being aware of his appeal.
Jerico Adams could have any woman he wanted. She’d noticed that team when she’d walked to the back counter to pick up her to-go pizza. She definitely hadn’t been the only woman in the place focused on them.
Following him into a nice neighborhood, Aspen looked around. There weren’t big mansions or fancy manors. It was squarely middle class, but even in the dark, she could tell everyone took care of their houses. When they reached a plain white house without exterior decorations, Jerico pulled in front of the house and jumped out to point her into the driveway.
“You need some plants out here to fit in with your neighbors,” she blurted as she slid out of the car to tilt her seat forward to allow Rexy out of the back.
“I do. Maybe you can help with that. Come on in and I’ll show you your room. Then we can bring everything inside,” Jerico said easily. He led the way to the door and ushered Aspen inside.
Rexy pushed past her to investigate, almost knocking her over. Without hesitating, Jerico reached out to steady her with a hand on her lower back.
The warmth of his hand sizzled through her shirt, and she struggled to hide her reaction as he exclaimed, “Whoa! We’ll start some training with Rexy tomorrow. He’s too big to not have better manners. Go on inside.”
“Do you know how to do that?” she asked as she walked over the threshold.
“Yes.”
“Are you good at everything you do?” she asked, before blushing enchantingly as she realized how he could interpret that.
He responded to the question she’d meant to ask. “I am good at coaxing the best out of everyone—hopefully, including myself.”
Waving an arm around the small family room, he said, “I want you to feel at home here.”
He looked at the room, trying to see it through her eyes. There was a couch and a chair—both brown and pristine. Trying to remember, he estimated he’d sat on either one combined maybe five times. No pictures hung on the wall. It was scrupulously clean and held the homey appeal of a doctor’s waiting room.