Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
“Good idea,” Asher said to his sibling.
Zach strode to the door, and once he was out of Derek’s view, he nodded at Asher. His version of, I’ve got her. His brother was covering his ass and Asher owed him one.
“Thanks, guys,” Derek said. “I’m going to hang up and get to work on this list. Let’s touch base again soon.”
Derek disappeared from the screen, leaving Asher and Harrison alone in the study.
Asher glanced at his brother. “I need to go find Nikki, but I have a quick question for you first.”
“Shoot,” Harrison said.
“How do you know Nikki lives in a doorman building? Does it have something to do with a certain reporter?” Asher raised an eyebrow.
Harrison treated him to his movie-worthy smile. “What can I say? We hit it off.”
“Your usual MO?” Meaning one night, maybe two, agreed upon upfront, no strings, no future.
Harrison didn’t meet his gaze.
“What is it?” Asher asked.
“It’s gone on a little longer than usual. But when the interviewing is finished, we’re over.”
Asher ran a hand through his hair. “Jesus. Nikki likes this woman, so do you think you can not be a dick when it ends?” In case Asher was lucky enough to get more time with Nikki off the island, her one potential friend wouldn’t hate him because he was related to Harrison.
“That’s insulting. I’m never a dick to women.” Harrison actually looked hurt. “But I’ll make an extra effort with Winter. Now go find your girl and quit worrying about mine. I mean about me and my no-relationship motto.”
Shaking his head, Asher left the room and walked through the house, looking for Nikki.
Chapter Ten
Nikki walked down to the beach with Lucky trotting along beside her. She trusted him to stick close. In a couple of days, he already knew where his food and affection came from. Zach had joined her in the kitchen and tried to cheer her up. Though she appreciated the effort, not even him calling her pretty girl in the fun way he had could get her to smile. Then he’d resorted to giving her his thoughts on the situation.
Lucky ran to the water and ducked and played in the shallow waves, getting wet sand on his paws. Nikki hoped she could sneak him to the tub before Maggie saw him and insisted on taking over. She didn’t want to make more work for the kind woman. She had enough company to handle without adding Nikki’s dirty dog to her to-do list.
“I looked all over the house for you.” She heard Asher’s voice before he sat down by her side.
“I needed air.” She’d wrapped her arms around her knees and continued to stare out at the water.
Asher brushed her hair off her shoulders, his fingers grazing the sensitive skin of her neck, causing her to shiver despite the heat of the sun. “Looking for answers out there?”
She nodded. “The camera shouldn’t have come as a surprise. How else could someone have taken naked photos of me?” She felt so violated she hadn’t slept naked since unless she was secure in Asher’s bedroom and in his arms.
“I guess I was in denial, because Derek’s words took me off guard.” She sighed, knowing that wasn’t what bothered her most. She’d already come to terms with the pictures being out there. As much as she could, anyway.
He let out a harsh laugh. “Sometimes denial isn’t a bad thing. And sometimes it comes back to bite you in the ass,” he muttered.
She shook her head. “You haven’t spoken to your father alone yet, have you?”
“No, but I will. Let’s not change the subject. What’s bothering you most?”
The answer came easily. “Could Meg really hate me so much she’d want to humiliate me in front of the entire world?” Her voice broke on the last word. She didn’t want to think someone she’d spent so much time with, whether she liked Meg or not, could be that awful to her.
“C’mere.” He pulled her to him and settled her in his lap.
Though she felt his hard erection beneath her, she didn’t do anything but seek the comfort he’d offered. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she buried her face against his cheek and shoulder.
“To be honest? From the one-sided conversation I overheard yesterday, I’d say Meg is completely capable of hurting you, and you think so, too.”
She nodded in agreement. Refusing to release him, she ignored the heat that had her dress plastered to her skin and his shirt covered in sweat. Instead, she focused on how their bodies connected and drew strength from him.
She took Asher’s words about Meg seriously and thought about the woman and the often cold look in her eyes, and Nikki knew. “You’re right. Meg probably took my keys.”
“Was she around the day they went missing or did she disappear at some point?” he asked.