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)
Robbie, Ace, and Talon fill the doorway, all with heated expressions.
“A little overkill.”
“Was the alarm on when you arrived?” Ford questions gruffly.
“Yes, normal morning—” I pause, thinking over my routine. Did I turn the alarm off? “Actually, I don’t remember. My mind was all over the place.”
“The system shows the alarm activated Saturday at five,” Finn states.
“Which is when I closed up. Maybe that storm knocked it offline?” I reason.
Robbie goes to Finn’s side, and they exchange a look that has my hair standing on end.
“Our systems don’t work that way.” Robbie raises an eyebrow. “Did you get a notification?”
I shake my head.
Ford’s face remains stoic, but his eyes soften as he pulls me to him.
“Seriously, Ford. You guys are freaking me out. I don’t keep a lot of cash, and this is a pleasant area of town. It makes little sense someone would screw with my alarm. It has to be a shady coincidence.” There’s an edge of dread in my voice.
Ford’s hold tightens and his lips sweep across my forehead. “We’ll investigate why it disengaged.”
“Why would anyone mess with my alarm? It’s a salon. There’s nothing to steal.”
“You’re back online, and I’ve connected your notifications to Ford’s phone as well.” Finn shuts his computer.
“That isn’t necessary.”
“Appreciate it,” Ford speaks over me.
“Ford, seriously, it’ll be annoying getting texts every time the alarm activates or disables.”
“Not annoying to know this place is safe.”
“Shady coincidence,” I repeat, hoping someone will agree with me.
“Well, since you’re here, there are boxes in the studio that need to come down.”
I twist to Shayla. “Now is not the time.”
“All this muscle in one place, I’m taking advantage.” She opens the side door that leads upstairs. “I’ll even hold the door for you.”
“Presley found out we were headed here and gave me strict instructions to pick up some kind of mint shit.”
I stare at Finn for a beat before a giggle escapes. “Eucalyptus Thickening Spritz?”
“Sounds good?” He shrugs. “Whatever you brought to the wedding.”
“I’ll get you a little package together.”
“Same for Ember,” Robbie adds.
“Therefore, I need the products down here. You are selling out before the doors even open.” Shayla points at me sternly.
“Where are the boxes?” Talon passes.
When the four of them follow Shayla upstairs, Ford tips my chin to him. “Baby, you have a lot happening, I get it. But your safety is a priority.”
“I’m safe. The only enemy I have is in jail.”
His silence is unnerving.
“You’re being overprotective.”
“Always when it comes to you.”
“How about you stop overreacting and kiss me.”
His lips tip to the side and he relaxes. “That I can do.”
25
FORD
Rowan—Your mom and sisters are here.
Before I can reply, the bubbles appear and then the next message.
Rowan—Ford? What do I do?
More bubbles.
Rowan—They are here for the weekend…
I correct her. They are here through Monday.
Rowan—What????
The phone rings and before I say hello, she’s squawking,
“You knew they were coming?”
“I invited them.”
There’s shuffling as the background noise dies down. A door closes, and she blows out a breath. “Why in the hell would you invite them and not inform me?”
“Hard to plan a surprise if you know about it.”
“I don’t want a surprise. I don’t like surprises.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“Do we need to discuss etiquette lessons again?”
My cock stirs, remembering the last time she tried this. “You want to teach me manners again?”
“Seems like they didn’t stick.”
“Baby, last time you rode my cock like it was your fucking job and fell asleep with me still inside you. Not sure that was a lesson. More like a reward.”
Her breath hitches and I picture the flush on her cheeks. “Then I’ll change tactics. No sex until they leave. Maybe that’s a lesson you’ll remember.”
My grin grows and I chuckle lightly.
“I’m serious.”
“That’s why it’s entertaining. You try to cut me off and see what happens.”
“Your family is in the house.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
“We will not! I’m officially banning sex for the weekend.”
“Rowan, should I remind you of this morning? I’m hard as steel with the taste of you still on my tongue. Keep up the sass and see what happens. I show up and haul your ass upstairs, everyone will know why.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
“Ford!”
“Rowan?”
“You are infuriating.”
“And you’re a huge fucking turn-on.”
She mumbles something unclear, and I decide to let her in on the rest of her guests. “In about an hour, Cassie will be there.”
“My mom is coming? Why?”
“Harley and Shayla wanted everyone here.”
“It’s not even all of my products yet. Why the big deal?”
My grin slips. “Because you are a big deal.”
“Are you coming by?”
The passenger doors to my truck swing open, and Talon, Ace, and Major jump inside. I adjust myself in the seat, wincing at the friction against my dick. “If we can get through this thing, I’ll be there.”
“Is this ‘thing’ dangerous?”
I curve my reply. Rowan doesn’t ask too many questions, but when she does, it’s always the same.