Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 179794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 899(@200wpm)___ 719(@250wpm)___ 599(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 179794 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 899(@200wpm)___ 719(@250wpm)___ 599(@300wpm)
“How did the doctor appointment go?”
“Fine.” Continuing polishing her toenails, Ginny noticed Gavin limping. Suki didn’t seem to be in any better shape, plopping down on the huge, pink dog bed that Gavin had bought for her. “You get everything bought?”
Sitting down on the bed, Gavin removed his boots.
“A heads-up that you bought the shed Isaac wanted, as well, would have been nice.”
“Was he happy?”
Gavin laid back on his elbow to watch what she was doing.
“Happy doesn’t come close. Ecstatic was more like it. So were Silas and Matthew when theirs were brought out to the loading dock.”
“How did you like the one I picked out for us?”
“I learned something new today.”
“You did?” Ginny’s lips curled in a smile as she placed the nail brush in the bottle and twisted it closed.
“Yes, I learned they sell kits where you can make sheds that have two-car garages out of bricks.”
“Go figure.” Shoving a pillow behind her, Ginny met Gavin’s eyes. “Are you angry? My brothers will build it.”
“We had to rent a big truck for everything you bought, load the trucks, then drive to Silas’s. We just finished unloading it. I’ll drive the truck back in morning.” Yawning, Gavin straightened from the bed.
“You’re not angry?”
“No, I’ve had more exercise today than I’ve had in a month. You want to take a shower with me?”
“No.” She wiggled her toes at him. “They’re still wet.”
Ginny pulled out a decorating magazine as Gavin took his shower. She was looking at a kitchen layout when breaking news flashed across the screen.
She was still watching it when Gavin came back in the room, drying his hair with a towel. He must have heard the newscast from the bathroom because he was already focused on the television.
When the reporter cut to another story, Gavin flicked the television off.
“It took longer to hit the news than I expected.” Slinging the towel around his neck, he moved his boots out of the way.
“The report said that he’s going in front of a judge in the morning for a bond hearing.” Ginny closed the magazine. The glow she had been feeling faded as the dark fear she had lived with most of her life returned with a vengeance. “They’re going to let him go,” she said numbly.
Gavin pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms, then hung his damp towel in the bathroom before laying down on the bed beside her. “I talked to Agent Collins this morning. Allerton won’t get out. He’s too much of a flight risk. There were three vehicles filled with men who were trying to take you yesterday, and you didn’t bat an eyelash. Why are you so worried tonight?”
Her eyes flew to his. “I’ve lost every home I’ve lived in. I’m jinxed.”
“I see, you’re worried because you bought the lumber for the house.”
“Yes. Leah and I planned what our houses would look like when we were playing in the playhouse Silas built for us. We would take turns playing mommy. Leah was never able to live out her dream, and I’m terrified Allerton won’t let me either.”
“You’re not jinxed.”
“I am.”
“Nymph, you’re not jinxed. In fact, you’re the exact opposite.”
Her heart lightened. “I am?”
“For real.” He laughed, turning the light off. “I have proof.” Pulling her into his arms, he rested his chin on top of her head. “You dodged a bullet yesterday and today. Two bullets, two days in a row; that’s pure luck.”
Ginny frowned at him in the darkness. “I didn’t dodge a bullet today.”
“You did when you didn’t go to the lumberyard with me. I backed up my truck to the loading dock, Silas backed his up, and then four sheds started coming out, then the lumber came out, then the bricks—”
Ginny gurgled in laughter. “You wouldn’t have shot me.”
“No, but damn, woman, a shed made out of bricks?”
Rubbing her hand over his smooth chest, she placed feathery kisses on the crook of his neck. “I wanted you to have a sturdy place to park your bike.”
Swinging the door open, Ginny sauntered into the kitchen. “Good morning,” she greeted the two lone men sitting at the kitchen table as she went to the stove to heat a pot of water.
“You’re up early this morning,” Puck said as he made coffee.
“I had an early night. How are you this morning?”
“Be doing better next week when it’s someone else’s turn to do kitchen detail,” Puck complained with a yawn.
“Could be worse. Wait until it’s your turn to do laundry and everyone has put their wet towels in the laundry baskets.”
Jesus made a face at him. “I could have lived without knowing that.”
“The Ohio chapter doesn’t have chore duties?”
“Yes, but so far, I’ve managed to escape that one.” Opening the refrigerator, Jesus took out a large plastic bag of bacon, while Puck started making another pot of coffee.