Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Ryleigh, I apologized.”
Ryleigh huffed, then coughed.
She was doing so much better. It seemed Linc was good at taking care of her. Better than they would’ve managed. Plus, it meant there was less chance of Kye catching anything from her.
“Still don’t forgive you,” Ryleigh told him.
Linc grimaced. She kind of felt sorry for him. She also hoped he didn’t get mad and kick them out. That he’d meant what he’d said.
“What if I make him pay?” Tanner said.
She gave Tanner a surprised look. “What are you going to do?”
Tanner just winked at her.
Ryleigh stared at Tanner as Opal watched on gleefully.
“I don’t know,” Ryleigh said hesitantly.
Linc sighed. “I need to talk to Tanner, then I’ll be back to take you to bed, Ryleigh.”
“Ooh, lucky girl. I love it when a man says he’s going to take me to bed. It’s been so long.”
They all gaped at Opal.
“What?” she asked. “Just because you all are in denial about your sexual needs doesn’t mean I am.”
“Don’t say sexual needs in front of the baby,” Linc ordered.
“Don’t boss her around,” Ryleigh said. “Opal, don’t say sex in front of Kye.”
Opal just shrugged. “I’m sure he’s going to hear worse. Does anyone know if they have scholarships or something for the kink club in town?”
“Scholarships?” Linc stared at her in bewilderment.
“Yeah, you know, for people who need some attention but can’t afford the fees. It should be a thing, right? Kink scholarships.”
“If you really need to go, I can—”
“No!” Everyone cut Lilac off, and she stared at them in shock.
“You are not running yourself into the ground to pay for fees to Saxon’s,” Tanner told her. “If Opal needs to go, I’ll pay for her membership.”
“Done! Thanks, Cowboy.” Opal smiled at him, before walking into the bedroom again with a sleeping Kye.
Lilac frowned at Tanner. “I can’t let you do that.”
Tanner just gave her a stern look back. “It’s time you learned to let people help you, Lilac. Which means me. You need to let me help you. Linc, come on.”
Tanner stomped out of the guesthouse, Linc following him, after giving Ryleigh another admonishment to stay on the sofa.
“I didn’t mean to upset Tanner.” Lilac worried at her lip with her teeth.
“You look so tired, Lilac. And he seems really protective of you. He’s a good man, isn’t he?” Ryleigh said.
“Yeah,” Opal said, walking back into the room. “From all accounts, the Malone men are all good. A bit crazy, but decent men.”
Lilac gave Opal a surprised look. How did she know that?
“What? I’ve been talking to people.” Opal sat on the armchair while Lilac sat next to Ryleigh.
“Sorry I got sick,” Ryleigh said.
“Hey, you don’t need to apologize,” Lilac told her.
“I feel awful that you’ve had to look after Kye though. That I haven’t been able to. He hasn’t shown any sign of illness?” Ryleigh asked worriedly.
“No,” Opal said. “And he’s been such a good baby.”
“I just feel useless. Linc’s been great. But urgh, I’m tired of getting sick like this.”
“We need to settle in one place,” Opal said. “Get jobs and a place to live.”
“How can we do that?” Lilac asked. “Our fake IDs aren’t good enough to get a rental place. And we won’t be able to work for cash forever. What about healthcare?” Lilac fought for breath. Everything seemed so hard, and she wasn’t sure how to make it all work.
“Easy, Lilac. It’s going to work out,” Ryleigh told her.
Would it? How could she be so sure?
Ryleigh always thought everything would work out.
But Lilac couldn’t have that same sort of hope. She couldn’t afford to.
Tanner walked back into the room, looking satisfied with himself. Linc followed, holding a bag of frozen vegetables held to his eye.
She froze.
Holy. Crap.
“Wow. You hit a cop, Cowboy?” Opal asked. “That takes balls. How’d you know he wasn’t going to arrest you?”
Tanner shrugged. “Linc knew he was in the wrong. That he deserved what he got.”
“Linc!” Ryleigh looked worried as she got to her feet.
“Don’t get up,” Linc commanded, walking over to her. “I’m fine.”
Ryleigh tugged the bag of frozen veggies away from his face, wincing. “Tanner, did you have to do that?”
“Yep.”
Lilac shot Tanner a look. “Really? Violence isn’t always the answer, you know.”
Tanner stared at her in surprise. “Lilac —”
“I need to go have a shower.” There was a strange feeling in her stomach. It felt like anger and disappointment. How could he do that? First, he’d started a brawl, and now this? She could forgive the brawl, because those assholes were to blame.
But this . . . this was different.
“And I don’t think you should be here when I get out.”
It hurt to say it. It hurt so bad. But Lilac knew that she had to protect herself. No one else would.
Sure, it had seemed like Tanner might have.
But now . . . she wasn’t so sure.