Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 31834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
A couple of amazing weeks, where she had to admit she and Grim had gotten stronger. Yes, he still did his work and sometimes she asked questions. She had noticed a few occasions where he returned home with blood on his shirt or his knuckles were busted. Sometimes, she didn’t need to know the answer.
Grim’s delight at seeing her was enough, and she had allowed her feelings to manifest, rather than her judgment of him. She didn’t know his full history, but slowly she was starting to learn about him.
He was a very bad good man. That was all she could think of to describe him. He had limits, and anyone who tested them learned his wrath.
“If you remember, last year, not long after we met, you talked about going on a cold picnic.”
“I vaguely remember it. I think I was trying to fill the silence,” she said. Eve did remember. They had gone for dinner and it was during one of those moments when Eve had realized she was starting to fall in love with this man. She didn’t understand her feelings, and seeing as she couldn’t talk to her mother about it, she panicked.
A cold picnic was one of those suggestions that had fallen from her lips, and right now it didn’t sound like a great idea. In fact, her ass was freezing and they were not even seated on the ground yet. This was indeed romantic, not because of the picnic itself, but the fact Grim had remembered it. That was what made it so damn romantic.
“This is the spot,” Grim said.
Eve glanced around and she noticed his men were keeping guard. Grim didn’t need guards twenty-four-seven, at least that’s what he told her. He increased the guards for her protection.
Other than that guy who tried to break into the cabin, she had yet to see one of Grim’s enemies. She could only imagine how many there actually were.
Grim laid down a blanket and then placed the picnic basket on top. The only reprieve was the fact there was no icy wind. It was cold and more snow was forecast, which she loved. She did love the snow. Making the most of it, she took a seat with Grim’s help. She didn’t remove her hat, gloves, or her scarf.
“I don’t suppose I made the horrible suggestion we should eat cucumber sandwiches and ice cream?” she asked.
Grim chuckled. “As it happens, no, you didn’t. You didn’t fill in those blanks. However, I did take a liberty, and thought it would be best to feed you hot soup.”
He opened his picnic basket and she couldn’t help but smile as there was a loaf of bread as well as a large thermos and two cups.
“Soup?” she asked.
“Yes, and you don’t even have to remove your gloves to eat it.”
Grim had removed his and he opened the thermos, poured out a cup for her and one for himself. It looked creamy. He held one cup for her, but she also took his cup so he could put the lid back on the thermos. She waited for him to be seated.
“To a cold picnic,” Grim said, and then held his cup up. She gave a little clink of her cup and then took a sip.
Leek and potato soup. A nicely seasoned one, and her favorite.
“How do you think of everything?” she asked. “I couldn’t even remember suggesting this, and yet you did.”
“Simple, Eve, when it comes to you, I remember everything.”
She didn’t know how she had gotten so lucky and was about to tell him so, when they suddenly heard a scream. It was a childlike scream. Seconds later, a call for help.
Putting her cup down, Eve got to her feet. Grim had a hand to his back but he had stood in front of her. His men were already on the move to locate the sound.
“That sounded like a child,” Eve said.
The scream came again, this time more desperate. Eve felt this need to move and even as Grim yelled at her, she took off toward the sound, knowing he would follow her.
More yelling and screams erupted and that was when she saw them. It was a man, trying to drag a girl through the park. She wore a white jacket and what appeared to be a school uniform. No one was around to come to the girl’s rescue. Eve ran and Grim was right there beside her.
“Hey!” Grim yelled.
The man who had been trying to drag the girl saw them and tried to take off.
Eve went to the young girl, who had collapsed in a heap on the ground. She had a red lip and looked terrified.
“It’s okay,” Eve said.
She glanced over to see Grim had gotten the man. Eve didn’t look away as he punched him hard, once, twice, a third time, and then two of his men came and grabbed the man. Grim gave them instructions, then spun back around and saw that she looked at him. Eve was waving her hand for him to join them. The girl was visibly shaken.