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)
“Seriously, did you taste that potato casserole?”
“It’s called potatoes au gratin,” Carson corrects him.
“They were gone before I got to them,” I relay.
“You missed out.”
“I’m not sure he missed out if Rowan’s expression was any indication,” Jewls teases, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
“Not talking about this.”
“Mmhmm,” she hums.
“Good morning,” Tera chirps, flashing everyone a smile. She drops next to Addie, sparing me a quick glance. “Great party.”
“It was fun,” Addie agrees. “Who would have thought my straight-laced brother and his equally straight-laced friends would be hob-knobbing with the members of one of the most popular rock bands?”
“They’re normal people, Ad,” I point out, knowing much more about Declan and the guys as people than rockers. “They have wives, kids, families.”
“Not Nate and Cooper.”
“Stay away from Nate and Cooper.” I wave my finger between my sisters.
“Relax, Dad. It’s not a crime to be a little starstruck.”
“What apartments are you visiting today?” Jewls changes the subject.
Tera pulls out her phone and rattles off the names of different complexes.
Jewls stops her mid-sentence. “The Ballard. Start there. Harley lived there for a few years. It’s in a great location and has awesome amenities.”
“It’s also safe. Ace checked it out before she moved in,” I add.
Tera looks at me, her eyes warming. “Thanks for the tip.” She goes back to her phone, her forehead crinkling. “Isn’t this your friend and her dog?”
“Oh my God!” Carson shrieks, leaning over her shoulder. “It’s Rowan and Pepper.”
My body tenses and I yank the phone from Tera, dejá vu racing through my bloodstream. Pepper is in Rowan’s arms, panting at the camera. Half a dozen firemen are crowded close.
“Again? Man, she gets around.”
I slice my eyes to Talon, who backs up with an arrogant smirk. “Just saying.”
“Where is this?” I bark out.
“The Nashville Fire & Rescue Instagram page,” Tera answers cautiously. “Less than an hour ago.”
I hand the phone back and briefly catch the amusement on Major’s face before heading out to my truck.
The entire drive to Rowan’s, jealousy boils in my bloodstream. I finally understand Major’s reaction to seeing Jewls on that television screen so many months ago. Rowan may not be on a date, but the possessive animal in me is alive.
Since it’s Sunday, her car is the only one in the parking lot. My calls to her go unanswered, and when I trace her cell, it shows her two miles away.
Is she still walking the dog?
I drive past the Vanderbilt campus and into a trendy residential section, noting the firehouse in the photos about a half-mile from Rowan’s phone location. She’s nowhere on the street. I park and dial Talon.
“Yo.”
“Run this address.” I spout off the location.
“No need, the townhome belongs to Cruz and Alex.”
“What the hell is she doing here?”
“She’s watching their dog, dumbass.”
“Here?”
“If you’d hung around another minute, you’d know the answer.” He’s enjoying this way too much.
“Don’t fuck with me.”
“Knock on the door and ask her. Boy, I wish I could be there for this.” The line goes dead and I blow out a long breath.
My call goes unanswered again, and my tolerance snaps. I ring the doorbell but get no answer. After a few minutes, my frustration simmers and a sense of worry takes over. Flashbacks hit of the day she went missing. My instincts kick in and possibilities run through my head.
I walk around back, recognizing the security system. The back door is locked, but the alarm panel is unarmed. I jog back to my truck and retrieve my tools, circling back around to pick the lock.
All the tension eases when everything looks in order. The house is mostly quiet except for the faint sound of water running.
The shower. She’s taking a shower and I’m standing in the kitchen like a fucking stalker.
The gentlemanly thing to do would be to go to my truck or sit on the back deck and text her I’m here. Eventually, she’ll check her messages.
The water cuts off, and a scratching noise sounds from upstairs.
“Pepper, give me a second to dry off.”
The dog whines.
“Oh, okay, you can come in, you big baby.”
I make a split-second decision, hoping like hell I don’t scare the shit out of her.
“Rowan, it’s Ford. I’m downstairs.”
There’s a loud shriek and the sound of pounding overhead. Pepper comes springing down the stairs, making a beeline for me. I crouch to catch her, avoiding her wagging tongue.
“Ford?” Rowan appears through the slats in the staircase and my chest seizes.
She’s clutching a towel, her hair soaked, droplets clinging to her skin. The smell of her shampoo and body wash lingers through the air, causing my cock to stir.
“How’d you get in here?”
“Picked the lock.”
“You picked the lock? Why?”
“Because you aren’t answering your phone and you’re in a strange place. I was worried.”
Her eyes grow wide. “You were worried?”
“Yeah.”
“But I have Pepper.”
“Sixty pounds of nothing but friendly and excitement isn’t a guard dog.”