Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
She opened the door for him with a grin. “Mike!” She couldn’t hide her happiness at the surprise visit.
“Guess that assures me of my welcome.” He slipped one arm around her waist and hauled her against him for a long, hard kiss that she returned with an equal amount of enthusiasm.
“Mmm,” she moaned against his lips. “I missed this.”
“I missed you,” he said, stepping around her and walking farther inside.
“What’s up? Have you eaten dinner? I haven’t, but I was about to make myself something.” She gestured toward the kitchen.
“I can’t. I’m on my way out of town.” His words took her off guard, and she actually felt as though a knife stabbed her in the heart.
“Where are you going?” she asked, forcing air into her lungs, pretending she wasn’t panicked at the thought of him leaving.
He could be headed anywhere for any reason. Just because Sam had been warning her for days about his inability to stick didn’t mean he was going anywhere for good. Not yet.
“Vegas. To find my father.”
“Oh. Wow.” Thank God. It wasn’t back to New York. It wasn’t permanent.
But her reaction to his announcement that he was leaving town told her in no uncertain terms she was getting too close, letting herself get too used to him here, in Serendipity.
She exhaled hard. “I didn’t know you’d decided on a plan.” She focused on the case and his past, not on her own silly emotions, which needed to be tucked back into the box she normally kept them in. The box that had stayed easily sealed off before Mike came back to town.
“It was a last-minute decision. I could have contacted him on Facebook, but that would give him control to decide whether he wanted to see me. I decided the element of surprise would work to my advantage. Maybe if I catch him off guard, he’ll reveal more about his time here.” He laid out his thought process with ease, but Cara caught the tight set of his jaw and knew that nothing about this decision was simple.
“How did you find him?”
“I had someone I trust do some digging, then hired a PI. Turns out, Rex hangs out most nights at a place called Shots. Some dive not known for its high-end liquor or clientele. So I know where I’ll be going when I hit town.” Mike frowned in obvious disgust.
Cara didn’t think first, she just said what came to mind. “Want company?” As soon as the words escaped, she could have kicked herself.
No doubt he didn’t want anyone around to witness his reunion with the father he’d never met. A man he’d always hated . . . and, Cara suspected, wanted to know anyway. Which was the exact reason he shouldn’t take this trip alone.
Chapter Eleven
Mike hadn’t considered asking Cara to go along. He handled his shit alone, especially the personal stuff. Yet for some reason, he hadn’t hesitated to say yes when she’d asked. He refused to let her pay for her ticket, and he was lucky enough to snag her a seat next to him. She was unusually silent throughout the flight, but he didn’t think much about it. He had plenty to keep his mind occupied, the idea of meeting his real father for the first time churning his stomach. She must have understood because she bought magazines and a Patricia Cornwell novel, and delved into those in place of conversation.
An hour in, the pilot reminded them to put their seat belts on because of expected turbulence. Mike glanced at his buckle and Cara did the same, checking and double-checking before returning to her book—until the plane took what felt like a quick dip and consecutive bumps continued to shake the aircraft.
Cara sucked in a breath and grabbed Mike’s arm as the big jet continued to bounce around in the sky. “Oh my God, oh my God.” She repeated the phrase, her nails digging into his skin, leaving deep grooves in his flesh.
The plane jerked again and he covered her hand with his, prying her fingernails up and threading his hand into hers.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” He glanced at her pale face. “Have you ever flown before?”
“A couple of times, but I’ve never gotten used to it.” She shook her head and glanced down, her cheeks pink.
“Why didn’t you tell me flying bothered you?” he asked her, touched that she’d offered to join him anyway.
She shrugged.
He grinned. “I know why. You want me to think you’re tough.”
“I am tough,” she said, glaring at him.
He chuckled and reached out, tucking her hair behind her ear. “That you are.”
She lifted her eyes to his, warmth shimmering there at his honest assessment. Then she smiled, her gratitude and emotions there for him to see, socking him unexpectedly in the gut.
“So where are we staying? I didn’t think to ask.” She changed the subject, and he was grateful.