Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 14074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
My bed and dresser have been stolen, but there’s a pile of clothes and the few keepsakes I had in my room. Everything else is gone.
Gone. Gone. Freaking Gone.
I can’t even fathom what’s going on. Why would they steal my personal things?
Immediately I see a note on the inside of my door. I tear it off and unfold it.
Kate,
Sorry, but we got evicted today. I should have told you, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. You come from a wealthy family, I’m sure you can just buy new stuff.
I need the money.
Jenny
I crumble up the paper which she even ripped out of my journal. I want to cry, but Aiden’s outside waiting for me. I don’t want him to know that I’ll be sleeping on a pile of clothes for the night.
My parents sent me money all the time, but I told them I wanted to make it on my own. It seems I can’t even do that.
I thought Jenny was a nice girl when we started working together. Hell, she even volunteered for a once a month reading program.
I needed a place to stay, and she told me I could split the rent with her for the spare bedroom.
Shit.
I just thought of something. I open my banking app on my phone and log in. My entire account has been drained as well.
How? Why? I try to puzzle out.
It reminded me that I typed my password in front of her several times. What a dumbass!
Now, I’m broke, homeless, luckily with more than just the clothes on my back. I get ahold of myself and call my bank “Thank you, yes,” I reply after spending five minutes verifying and explaining my current situation.
“Do you want to open a different one?” the lady asks.
“I don’t know if it’s worth it to open another account. They stole all my money.” A growl turns my attention to the front door. Aiden is standing there, holding Bella’s hand. He scans the room, then he turns to me. His eyes widen at first, then his expression turns to an angry scowl.
“Thank you for your time, ma’am, but that’s all I need.” I end the call while staring at him
“Why don’t you have a sofa?” Bella asks like any innocent child. I freeze unable to say anything because I want to cry, but I hold back just as Aiden steps in.
“It’s a surprise. She moved in with Uncle Aiden,” he tells her.
“Yay,” she squeals and gives me a big hug. I take her love and soak it up. She’s a darling, and it’s just what I need right now.
“Did the movers pack your clothes?” he asks, bringing my eyes to his.
“They didn’t take it all,” I confess, looking over Bella’s head and keeping up with the lie.
“Let’s organize it and go.” He taps Bella’s head. “Sweetie, please stay right here in the living room while I help Kate.” He locks the front door then takes my hand. “Lead the way.” I take him into my bedroom, and I can feel him tense up.
“I don’t know what happened, Kate, but I’m here for you.” He squeezes my hand, and I fall apart. Tears. This isn’t how I should be handling this.
“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He pulls me into his arms and instantly, I know it’s where I belong. “Come on, let’s get you out of here and then we can talk. I don’t want to leave Bella alone out there.”
“You don’t have to help me,” I tell him. As much as I want this man, it’s not his job to be my knight in shining armor.
“I want to help you.” He wants to say more, but he pauses then steps back. “Tell me what you need me to do.”
“I have to pack these, but I don’t know if they left my suitcases.” I open the closet door, and they are there. Damn at least there’s a little luck.
Chapter 3
Aiden
I’m ready to commit murder. Who the fuck does something like this? Then it hits me. “We need to leave.” They may be waiting to come back and get her.
“Why?” she asks in a far-off voice as if she’s lost to her own thoughts
“I don’t trust that they won’t be back. Come on.” I help her faster, refusing to do it neatly so we can get out of here. We’re out of the room in three minutes tops. Bella is sitting by the window looking at the passing cars.
“Are you ready, pretty girl?” Kate asks her, bending down with a smile.
She turns her own sweet smile on my woman and answers, “Of course, Auntie Kate.”
I like the fucking sound of that, but another name hits me even more.
Mrs. Aiden McAvoy.
I want her in my bed without a doubt, but she makes me want more than that. It’s nuts because I’ve known her for less than an hour. And yet none of that matters to me.