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)
“Because there are some things a lady keeps to herself.”
“Meaning you want everyone to believe you’re Wonder Woman.”
“Of course.”
“Even Wonder Woman had to recharge, Mrs. Powers.” Jewls’ scowl melts into a dreamy grin.
It’s an expression I’ve seen often with Harley. The happiness of being a newlywed and taking on a new name.
“Okay, what am I dealing with here? Fear of needles? Floating veins? Blood spatter?” Zanie turns to me.
“I’m not a fan of needles or blood, but I don’t think my veins float.”
“Look at the wall and tell me about your salon.”
“How’d you—” I stop myself, realizing Jewls spends time with this woman.
I recite my basic marketing spiel about our services and location, absently staring at the poster on the wall.
“All set. Lie back and relax.”
I peek at my arm. “I didn’t feel a thing.”
“See why she’s my best friend?” Jewls’ eyes are closed and she’s fully reclined. “Now we let the concoction work its magic.”
Zanie lets herself out quietly.
“What are we going to do about this issue?”
“What issue?” A pang of fear clenches in my stomach. I’ve only been in the house for four days. Is there already an issue?
“The issue that has the men wound tight?”
“They are an intense bunch. Did Major say something?”
“Not specifically.”
“But?”
She twists slightly in her chair to face me. “Last night, Major got a late text and left the room. After a few minutes, I was worried and went looking for him. All the guys, including Ace, were in the kitchen. They were talking low, and the only thing I could make out was their conversation involved Tera and a guy named Kent.”
Shit. My mind scrambles to find a decent explanation without giving too much away. After our encounter on Friday night at the restaurant, Ford asked me to keep it to myself until he could dig into Kent and his motives with Tera.
In other words—do not blab to the women, but all the men would be involved. This didn’t bother me because, honestly, I didn’t know what was going on. Instead, my focus was on setting up in Ford’s house as we made my move official.
“Did you invite me here to pamper me, or drill me for information?”
“Both.”
I try to remain straight-faced, but her questioning stare pierces into me, breaking down my resolve.
Stick to the basics, Rowan. There’s nothing unusual about seeing people at restaurants.
“We ran into Tera on a date on Friday night. She was a bit… haughty.”
“She was a raging bitch. That much I could tell from the acid in Ford’s tone.”
I dive into an abbreviated version of our conversation, staying mostly on Tera’s condescension and snide comments. Then finishing with the news about her canceling her apartment.
“Who does that? Entitled much?
“Apparently so.”
“I can’t believe you can repeat that without hunting her down and bitch slapping her ass back to Chicago.”
“Funny you say that. The first thing I told Ford is I wish you or Charlie were there to deliver a verbal smackdown.”
“Don’t worry, she’ll get what’s coming to her.”
“She acted as if we scorned her in some way. Like my moving in and success was unfathomable and offensive.”
Jewls nods, her gaze unfocused as she works through something. “Who is Kent?”
“She introduced him as a friend, but when she linked her arm through his, it was like she was proving a point.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Hopefully, that was our last time seeing her for a while.”
“Where were you again?”
“The new place in West End.”
“The one with a month-long waiting list?”
“I didn’t know that. Ford made the reservation.”
“Ford makes things happen. The point is, you were at a swanky, hip place that most can’t get into. Yet you run into her? It makes little sense.”
“I hadn’t thought that much about it.”
“Leave it to me.”
“Leave what to you?”
“I’ll dig into this.”
“There’s nothing to dig into. Happenstance and done.”
“We’ll see. My instincts don’t believe it was happenstance. That little powwow in the kitchen was not about a casual coincidence.”
“Ford doesn’t want me talking about it.”
“That’s understandable. These men are all protectors.”
“You think Tera is a threat?”
“Her intentions are certainly suspect. It was apparent when she showed up here in July that she wanted more from Ford than a place to live. He annihilated that notion pretty quickly. But with the trick she pulled with her lease and insisting to stay, something is off.”
I try to push her mention of Tera’s attraction to Ford out of my mind. The image of her parading out of his house in that skimpy bathing suit flashes through my mind. Seems like a lifetime ago.
The image is replaced with Tera’s shock the other night.
“She asked Ford about his new project.”
“How did she know?”
“It was the second time she mentioned it. The first was the day by the pool with Harley. I figured she overheard something.”
“Highly unlikely. That privileged information is for us in the circle.”