Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
She began pacing, placing the mug down on a coaster.
“Only when one of the guys runs him along the property fence line. Otherwise he is sedentary in his kennel.” He coughed. “He’s not gaining because he’s barely eating. But still, losing muscle.”
“See if we can move up the time I can get him. I’d like him on my place as soon as possible.”
“I’ll see if I can push it along. I knew I called the right person. Thanks so much, Leena.”
“My pleasure, Mitch. Talk to you soon.” She ended the call and sighed. Sooner I get that dog home the sooner I can help him.
“Who’s Mitch?”
She turned to find John standing there, gray shirt hiding the scars and other injuries on his torso but not the power. He wore a pair of navy workout pants and black socks. His gaze locked on hers as he approached, tugging down the hem of his shirt.
“Huh?”
He flicked his eyes to the phone in her hand and back to her face. “Mitch. The person you were talking to. Who is he?”
“A solider in Washington. We’re coordinating to transfer a dog to my kennel so I can work with him to help with his recovery.” She skimmed her lips with her tongue. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been shot and beaten.”
“You were.”
He approached closer, eyes beginning to burn with an eerie fire. She’d never been nervous around him, not even when she first picked him up but the way he watched her was changing that. His gaze so intense it singed her and she fought the urge to shift beneath it.
“How long have you known him?”
“Known who?”
“Mitch? The guy you were talking to?” He halted before her and reached out a hand to tug lightly on two of her curls.
“Never met him. We’ve just talked on the phone.” Her nipples had pulled taut and they ached for his touch. The throb between her legs grew in insistence.
“You and I need to have a talk.” His words were low, the tone vibrating along her hypersensitive skin.
“I think your brother and his friend are waiting for you to figure out the next step in the plan.”
“Right.” He stepped closer, his chest brushing her breasts. “We need to talk about what the fuck you were doing out on the street, how long you’d been there, and who’s idea was it.”
She gave into the urge to touch him and trailed her fingers along the arm belonging to the hand in her hair. “No, we don’t. It doesn’t matter. All that does is we’ve found you and you’re home now. So you can work on taking down whomever was working with that fucked up cop and get your life back.”
His gaze narrowed and the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
“Wrong answer.”
“No, it’s not.” She moved to touch the scruff along his jaw, biting back her whimper. “I came to help find you. And again, Argo took care of that but now that you are here it’s time for me to get back home.” Head to the side, she removed her touch from his face. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”
Leena stepped out of his reach and moved by him, stopping to grab her cup along the way. Both Davis and Terri watched their exchange. Terri’s lips were curled up and Davis’ expression was blank.
“I’ll be right back in, just want to take Argo out for a few.” She bundled up once she’d put her cup in the sink and called him to her. Then she took him out to Davis’ backyard and let him run for a while. The cold wind not having slowed down, tore into her skin, making her long for a hot tub. Just something to sink into and have the warmth seep into her bones.
“That may have to be an investment I really consider,” she muttered, shoving her hands deeper into the coat she wore.
“What’s that?” Terri popped up beside her.
“A hot tub.”
“I had one of those. Loved it. Would have loved to get Davis in it.”
“I don’t have one, want one but not with Davis in it. I’d take the other brother in it, however.”
Terri laughed. “I’m sure he’d join you. I see the way he looks at you. As if you’re everything to him. As if he can’t live or even breathe without you. Must be nice to be part of a couple like that.”
“We’re not a couple.” The words had to be forced beyond her lips for everything in her rebelled in saying them.
“Really?” Disbelief colored her tone. “Did anyone tell you two that? I mean the looks between you are hot enough to power the city and melt the snow. That’s pure passion from both of you. I’m not buying you’re not together.”
“Nope, we’re not.”
“So, you came all this way to sit out and pretend to be homeless for a guy you’re not in a relationship with? Do that for all your friends?”