Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Me:
Is that right?
Maggie:
Yeah, my heat has been acting up.
Me:
You don’t have any heat?
Maggie:
No, but we’re okay.
Me:
Why didn’t you say anything?
Maggie:
Because we’re okay.
I’ve got some little heaters I borrowed from Mom.
And the kids are bundled up. I’ve got the HVAC guy coming tomorrow.
Me:
I’ll be there in ten.
Maggie:
Are you sure?
It’s cold and dark.
We can make it until morning.
Me:
There's no way I’m leaving you three there with no heat, babe.
I’ll be there in ten.
Maggie:
The kids are here.
Me:
It’ll be fine.
Probably just the pilot light.
I’ll do my best to be quiet.
I was looking forward to relaxing for a couple of hours, but there was no way I could do that while Maggie and her kids were without heat. So, I grabbed my coat and gloves, then went out to the shop for my tools. Once I had everything I could possibly need, I got in my truck and drove over to her place. I knew she was concerned about the kids seeing me, so I parked across the street and quietly made my way to the side of the house.
With the cold night air prickling against my skin, I knelt in front of the furnace and carefully removed the side cover. I used my flashlight to check the flame, and just as I suspected, it was out. I grabbed my extended lighter from my bag and lit it, coaxing the flame back to life. Seconds later, the soft glow of the flame grew brighter, letting me know that it had lit.
I grabbed my phone from my coat pocket and sent Maggie a message.
Me:
It was the pilot light.
Try it now.
Maggie:
Okay. Hold on just a second.
It wasn’t long before there was a click, and the unit kicked back on. I
waited to put the cover back on until Maggie texted back.
Maggie:
It’s working!
Me:
Good deal.
I shoved my phone back in my pocket and was just starting to put the cover back on when I heard a man’s voice say, “Hold it right there.”
I quickly glanced over my shoulder and found Grant standing behind me. He was wearing a pair of plaid sleep pants with boots and a heavy winter coat, and he had a gun in his hand that was pointed directly at my back. “Grant?”
“Who are you and what are you doing with Ms. Maggie’s unit?”
“The name’s Ronin. My brothers call me Rooster.”
“Wait.” He lowered his gun as he asked, “You’re with Fury?”
“I am.” I didn’t blame him for not recognizing me without my cut. It was dark and cold as fuck, and he had no clue what I was doing in his neighbor’s yard. I screwed in the cover, then stood and faced him. “Maggie’s heat went out, and I just came by to light the pilot for her.”
“I see.”
“You make a habit of checking on her?”
“I wouldn’t say that I make a habit of it.” He glanced over at the window as he explained, “She’s a single mother living here alone with two young kids, and I do what I can to make sure they’re doing okay.”
“Got it.”
“What about you?” His brows furrowed. “How’d you know her heat was out?”
“She told me.”
“Oh? So, you know her?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“So, you two are an item?”
“Don’t see where that’s any of your business, Mr. Grant.” My phone started to ring in my pocket, so I grabbed it as I told him, “Well, the heat’s fixed now, so she and the kids are good.”
“Okay. Good to know.” He turned and started to leave as he said, “I’ll be seeing you around.”
As soon as he was out of sight, I looked down at the screen and saw that it was Maggie calling. I quickly answered, “Hey. You okay?”
“I am now. Thanks to you.”
“It was nothing.”
“It was far from nothing.” I could hear the smile in her voice as she asked, “Do you think you could come around back so I could give you a proper thank you?”
“Yeah, I think I could manage that.”
“Okay. I’ll go unlock the door.”
I ended the call, and then started toward the back of the house. I’d barely rounded the corner when I spotted Maggie at the back door. I was freezing. My fingers were numb, and my cheeks chapped from the frigid breeze, but the second I saw her standing there with that blanket wrapped around her, I felt warm all over.
A smile swept across her face when she spotted me, and I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sight. When I got closer, she opened the door wider and whispered, “Hey.”
“Hey there, beautiful.”
“Hey there.” She shivered as she said, “It’s so cold. I hate you had to come over here like this.”
“It’s all good. I’m glad I could help. Besides, it gave me a chance to see you.”
Without warning, I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her close, then bent down and captured her mouth in a kiss. Her soft, full lips opened with a moan, giving me deeper access. Her hand roamed across my chest, then slowly continued up to the nape of my neck as her fingers tangled in my hair.