Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
I was going to have to leave the car here.
“Goddammit.” I tried again and saw Ty leaving the car too. But instead of running over to me, he went to the other side of the beam and pulled out his keys. What was he doing? He squatted down and—that had to be a multitool. Because of course he ran around with a Leatherman at all hours of the day.
“There should be a manual release in here.” He spoke over the punishing winds and actually managed to remove the side lid to get access to…the control panel, I assumed.
I flinched as I got slapped in the face with a bucket of ice-cold rain and snow.
Ty cursed. “Yeah, we’re not goin’ anywhere, Walker. There’s ice buildup on the panel. Whole thing’s dead and frozen in place.”
Fucking hell. All right, so we left on foot. “We’ll park again, and then we make a run for it.”
He nodded once and made a face, undoubtedly in regard to the lovely weather we were having.
CHAPTER 3
Walker McKenna
“Can’t believe I left Florida for this,” Ty said, out of breath. “I don’t think you can attend another board meeting in those shoes, man.”
Yeah, no shit.
I sucked in a cold breath as we ran across another street. We’d reached the residential area where Ty lived, and not a soul could be spotted outside. Everyone had taken cover indoors. Old townhouses in different colors shared the street with coffee shops and restaurants, and the latter two seemed empty too.
“It’s the blue two-story up ahead,” he said.
“Got it.” Just a few more seconds.
His place was wedged between a Chipotle and a narrow, green-painted, three-story home. On a street that was usually bustling and full of life. No front yards or fences. This was the heart of Old Town, where residents stepped out of their homes right onto the sidewalk.
By the time we reached Ty’s house, not even my wool coat could withstand the freezing rain and snow. My legs were ice-cold, I couldn’t feel my feet or my fingers, and I’d been face-slapped by the brutal winds and icy rain to the point where I was sure my skin would bruise up after defrosting.
We hurried inside and were instantly greeted by Ty’s Jack Russell terrier who acted as if she was very relieved Daddy was home.
Dean and I had had a dog once. He’d been afraid of everything, from storms and fireworks to the loud ruckus our younger brothers had made.
“Jesus Christ, four-season jacket, my ass.” Ty shuddered violently and tore off his jacket. “Last time I trust a salesguy who promises I can wear something in both Florida and Alaska.”
I wasn’t ready to form words yet, I was freezing so hard. Removing my coat helped, though. Ty’s home was warm and…strangely dark. From the hallway, I could peer into the kitchen that faced the street, and not a single light was on. No clock on the oven, no indicator lights, no nothing.
After hanging up my coat and removing my ruined shoes, I tested the light in the hallway and—nada.
“No power?” he asked.
I shook my head and blew out a breath.
“Just great.” He hauled his hoodie and tee over his head, then nodded at my clothes. “We gotta get warm. Lose the wet clothes and follow me.”
I was removing my socks while he spoke.
As soon as Ty set foot on the narrow stairs along the wall, Terra barked and rushed ahead to lead the way.
Ty and I switched on the flashlights on our phones.
Well, this was an interesting twist. First time I was here, and I was down to my boxer briefs and undershirt two minutes upon arrival, and the next stop was Ty’s bedroom. Up the creaky steps, where four options waited. The room above the kitchen had to be his daughter’s bedroom. Maybe a bathroom after that. Or the guest room. The third door was also closed, and the last one was Ty’s room.
It was colder up here.
Despite the chill and the darkness, I sensed their family’s warmth on the walls. Graduation photos, Ty and Colt and a few others in Air Force uniforms, a woman I presumed was Ty’s mother, smiles all around, beaches, mountains, everything from camping trips to lazy beach days… Ty holding a snake while wearing a black sarong—strangely sexy. Not many men could pull off that look.
I stopped at a picture just outside Ty’s bedroom. He was squeezing his daughter from behind, both sun-kissed and grinning.
I didn’t know why that particular photo tugged at something inside me, but all I could say was, Ty’s happiness was incredibly beautiful. I’d picked up on that in Florida too. He was a happy man. He struck me as someone who didn’t get stuck on annoying little details in life.
There was something indescribably attractive about that.
“Hey—let’s not lose any fingers to frostbite, Walker. We should be about the same size, yeah?”