Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
“Don’t move!” I whip around, gun drawn, and catch the terror on the woman’s face before she trips over her foot and falls out the back door, screaming, “Gun! Gun!”
“Ford! Wait!” Rowan’s calls are drowned by the blaring of the alarm.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch her racing to the panel at the front and punching in her code.
“I told you to stay put.” My gun stays trained on the door as I inch forward.
“Wait.” Rowan dashes by, but I hook her waist before she can get past me. “Aunt Chloe?” she calls, Pepper jumping wildly at us.
“It’s me,” the woman answers.
“Oh my God, are you okay?”
“Well, umm…”
“Ford, let me go. That’s Aunt Chloe, Cruz’s mom.”
I’m stunned enough for her to escape. She gets to the door and lets out a squeal before bending. I lower my gun and set it on the counter, going to help.
Rowan has the woman on her feet, apologizing profusely. Both of them jump when my phone, still in Rowan’s hand, starts ringing. She tosses it to me like it’s on fire.
“What?” I bark sharply.
“D-d-d-did y-y-you just pull a gun on my MOM?” The question is followed by a roar of laughter.
“Didn’t know it was your mom.”
“That was the funniest shit I’ve seen in ages. Alex is already downloading the video of her tripping out the back door.”
“Glad I could amuse you,” I grouse.
“She was supposed to notify you she was coming.”
“Negative.”
Chloe straightens, her gaze traveling over me. When her eyes meet mine, they are sparkling bright, her smile anything but horrified.
“Can I talk to her?”
Chloe takes the phone when I offer. “Before you start, I was trying to —”
She goes quiet.
“I know, but I’ll handle it. Have a good day.”
She ends the call, handing back the phone.
“Rowan?” I slice my eyes to her.
“Ford, this is Aunt Chloe.”
“I’ve heard.”
“Nice to finally meet you, Ford.” The way she pitches my name indicates she knows more about me than my name.
“Any reason you’re breaking in the back door at this hour?”
“Had no idea the alarm was on. I watered the flowers first and then let myself in. It wasn’t meant to be a break-in. Cruz told me about Rowan’s date, and I thought I’d help with Pepper this morning so you could sleep in.”
Yeah, this woman knows about me and was tipped off by the nosy couple supposedly on vacation.
At her name, Pepper comes bounding back in the door, oblivious to the tension rolling off me.
“Not sure if you know, but Rowan was attacked and kidnapped at gunpoint recently. We take security seriously.”
Chloe’s smile dies, and she glances at Rowan. “I’m sorry and careless. I totally forgot.”
“It’s okay.”
“Rowan?” I quirk an eyebrow.
She comes to my side, sliding an arm around my waist. I scan her face, the terror from earlier gone. Her eyes drop to my chest and she jerks. “Oh my God, we’re not dressed. Chloe, it’s not what it looks like. We were sleep—”
Chloe throws an arm out, cutting off Rowan. “Girl, save it. I’m well-versed in how this goes. I’m far from a virgin. My son kissed a lot of frogs before he found his prince. And don’t get me started on my niece, whose husband can’t keep his hands to himself, hence why she’s pregnant again.”
I drop my lips to Rowan’s head to hide my grin.
“We were sleeping,” she mumbles.
“Well, take this man back to sleep and let me have my grand-dog for the day. I have everything she needs. Ember and I love having her at the store.”
“You sure? I don’t want to mess up her routine. Cruz trusted me.”
“Cruz is acting like a fool. She’s a dog. She adapts to everyone and everywhere.” Chloe waves her hand in the air dismissively. “She’s getting spoiled.”
I outwardly chuckle and Rowan digs her nails in my side. “Not funny.”
“I’ll swing by and pick her up around five.”
Chloe’s smile returns at my offer. “It’s settled.” She grabs the leash off the hook and pats her leg. Pepper trots to her excitedly. “Nice to meet you, Ford. See you around.”
The minute the door closes, Rowan bangs her head on my shoulder, groaning.
“Problem?”
“Chloe has a big mouth.”
She’s retreating into her safety shield.
“How’d you sleep?”
My question takes her off guard, and she tips her head, looking at me quizzically. “Better than I have in months.”
“You’re a cute sleeper.”
“You watched me sleep?”
“As soon as you curled your body around mine, I kept my eye on you.”
“We cuddled?”
“If that’s what you want to call it.”
“I’ve never… I’ve never had that.”
A slow burn simmers low in my chest. “Had what?”
“Close contact sleeping.” She hesitates, licking her bottom lip nervously. “I guess you can say it’s unusual.
“Bullshit.”
She jerks, trying to move away. I twist, trapping her against the counter, and slanting her chin.
“I’m not the kind of man who wants to dredge up those that came before me. To some, it’s a part of getting to know each other. I choose to skip it because, when it comes to you, there’s an untamable burn that singes inside.”