Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“I doubt it, but have at it,” I said confidently. “Where’s your crew? I haven’t seen them since you showed up at the cemetery.”
“They’re scouting the area for a possible move here. I’ve got the urge to return to my roots. You know, maybe I should go check out the Willow Mansion. Maybe I’ll spot some clues there that will help me find the secret passageway. How about you give me a tour one day?”
“They give perfectly good tours there that I am sure you will enjoy,” I said with a hint of sarcasm.
“Afraid to be alone with me and discover that you like me more than you expected?”
I erupted into a fit of laughter, not a smart move with the way he reacted the last time I laughed at him.
But to my relief, he simply shook his head and walked away calling out, “One day, Spicy, one day.”
CHAPTER 20
“You’re still annoyed,” I said the next morning, seeing the irritation in the way the spot between Ian’s eyes wrinkled.
“Aye, Ah cannae stop thinking about it,” he said, pouring himself another cup of tea and refilling my mug.
With his brogue thick, it confirmed how annoyed he was.
“I told you about Stone’s visit because I didn’t want to keep it from you, not to upset you.”
“Aye, I know, and I am glad you did, but tell me how you would feel if a woman showed interest in me the way Stone does in you?”
I chuckled. “That’s not a fair comparison since women show interest in you all the time, which means I would be forever annoyed. But I am confident that your heart and everything else belongs to me.”
Ian shook his head as he laughed. “Point taken and you’re right about my heart and,” —he winked at me— “everything else belonging to you.” His playfulness vanished. “I don’t like the idea that Stone might be putting down roots here from what he told you. He’d be a constant thorn in my side.”
“I don’t believe he plans on staying here. I think he sent his crew away so they wouldn’t draw attention to him, leaving him less visible, which is why he probably switched to driving a truck instead of riding his motorcycle.”
“Leaving him to stalk you.”
“He evidently thinks I know more than he does, though hinting to a secret he won’t share had me wondering if it might be the opposite.”
“Or he’s like a spider weaving his web and waiting to catch you in it, and that, leannan, is not going to happen.”
Why did sweetheart sound more seductive in Gaelic?
Ian’s cell rang and he gave it a glance. “Beau,” he said and answered.
I hadn’t spoken to Amy since last night and with Beau calling Ian, I worried that something might be wrong with her. Ian must have seen my worry since he gave me a thumbs up.
“Beau is staying with Amy today. She’s doing good but he’s worried she won’t rest like the doctor ordered,” Ian said as soon as he got off the phone.
“He’s probably right.” Amy wasn’t one to sit around due to what she probably considered nothing more than a bump on the head.
“I need to get going and reschedule some things being Beau won’t be there today,” Ian said.
I almost gasped when he yanked me off the stool to take me into his arms and deliver a kiss that was anything but tender and left my lips tingling.
“I love you, Pep. Don’t ever forget that,” he said and out the door he went.
I stared at the closed door and smiled. How could I forget it when he was my true-life hero?
I made a quick call to Amy to check on her. She had a slight headache but otherwise she was doing well, and she was glad Beau was spending the day with her, or she wouldn’t rest as ordered. I didn’t tell her about Stone’s visit since it would evolve into a lengthy conversation, and she needed her rest. I’d tell her about it tomorrow.
The power tools sounded outside just as I finished cleaning up from breakfast. I had a couple of virtual assistant interviews set up for this morning and then I needed to get some writing done.
I got busy with the interviews that went better than I expected. Sherman Howard impressed me, and I was seriously considering hiring him since we hit it off as soon as we started talking. But I needed to do a background check on him and get in touch with his references before making a final decision.
I was about to start writing when I got the urge to look over all the research again that Amy had sent me on Ignatius and Claire Willow. Not to be distracted by the work surrounding my desk, I took my laptop to the library and joined Roxie who was curled up in her favorite chair. Mo, who has been known to suffer occasionally from FOMO—fear of missing out—hurried to join us and settled down to nap.