Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“Vienna, slow down for a minute and think this through. A few months ago, a close friend of ours turned out to be a serial killer. He targeted Stella and you both. You grieved for him, but you never acted afraid. You refused to allow yourself to consider that you were afraid even for a moment. Fear is a normal reaction. It’s even necessary for self-preservation. If you hadn’t been afraid in your suite and acted on that fear by hiding in the closet, you most likely would have been killed. Fear isn’t cowardice.”
“Do you think men like Sam and Zale are afraid?”
Raine nodded. “I know they are. Maybe not of the same things we are, but they’re afraid. Someone like Zale can be as cold as ice when he goes out on an assignment and yet be terrified if his family or someone he loves is threatened. That’s usually the reason they remain alone. Can you imagine what Sam would do if someone took Stella from him? Suffice it to say, it wouldn’t be pretty. That’s their fear. Fear is normal, Vienna.”
“How come you’re so smart? I’m supposed to be, but right at the moment, I feel lost and very off balance,” Vienna admitted.
The coffee shop did a brisk before-sunrise business. The early customers were mostly locals on their way to work, or tourists on their way to hike the trails or boulder like they were going to do. The little set of bells on the door continually rang to announce a group, a couple or an individual coming into the shop to head to the counter to get their coffee and pastry to take with them.
“You were cooped up in the hotel for too long. You’re not used to it. I get that way when I’m away from Knightly or the Sierras too long. We’re used to wide-open spaces. We’ve lived that way a long time now. That’s how we reset. It’s how we balance ourselves. Being in crowds and staying indoors too long can mess with our heads.”
Vienna was grateful Raine felt the same way. “It’s nice to know I’m not alone. I wanted out of there two days after I got there. The suite was beautiful. The food was delicious.” She leaned closer to Raine, her gaze fixed on Zahra. “I knew if Zahra saw that suite, she’d never let us leave. The hell with the Airbnb. We’d be staying right there at the Northern Lights.”
“What are you whispering about?” Zahra demanded, narrowing her dark, velvety eyes. “I know you’re talking about me, Vienna, and not in a good way.”
“It’s impossible not to talk about you any way but good, Zahra,” Vienna objected. “I was telling Raine if you had seen the suite at the Northern Lights where I stayed, we would never have left. First class all the way. Food was delicious. Anything you wanted, they brought to you anytime, day or night. The spa came to your room too.” She dangled that shamelessly in front of her friend, even though she hadn’t taken advantage of it.
Stella pressed her lips together. Harlow put her hand over her mouth. Shabina bit down on her fingers. Raine inspected the tabletop.
Zahra sighed and slumped back in her chair. “I know darn well you never once availed yourself of those spa services, Vienna. They were wasted on you. I don’t know why I can’t attract a millionaire. I need to get out more. That’s my problem. I really should put a little more effort into finding these hotel owners and flirting a bit with them so they ask me out.”
There was instant laughter. Zahra did her best to scowl. “What?”
Stella regarded her best friend with a slightly surprised expression. “Zahra, you flirt with every male from the age of five to ninety-five. You can’t help it. That’s just who you are. And you’ve been asked out by several millionaires. Several. One was a hotel owner. If we set foot in a hotel, you get special treatment. If we hire a personal trainer, we’re worked like dogs. You get special treatment. Do you not even notice these things?”
Zahra’s dark brows drew together. “No. Everyone is just nice to me. Not women, they aren’t very nice. And Miguel Valdez’s new people at the climbing gym aren’t nice either. One of them is a man.”
“You won’t scan your badge or wear it,” Stella said.
“They know who I am. I go there all the time. I never had to do that before,” she pointed out with a lift of her stubborn chin.
“The millionaires you turned down?” Stella persisted.
Zahra frowned at her. “I’m not going to date someone for their money. That would be awful. They were nice men. I wouldn’t do that to them. They deserve someone really attracted to them.”
Laughter spilled around the table. “You’re such a fraud, Zahra,” Vienna said. “You say you want a millionaire, but in reality you could not care less about money. That’s the truth. You’ve had so many chances. You don’t even date. Of course, there’s Bruce . . .” She trailed off to give her friend time to tell them where she was with the local man she’d had hopes for.