Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
He laughs. “Excuse me,” he says in a mocking tone. “Such a good little girl.”
He says the words like it’s a bad thing, but I am what I am, and I’m not ashamed of that.
“Nothing wrong with being a good girl, at least not to the right kind of people. Good people.”
He smiles again, and my breath catches in my chest.
“Well then, sweetheart,” he draws the word out interminably long as if he’s trying to rile me up. “Be a good little girl and get Braden back here. Now.”
He takes a step back, but his gaze never leaves my face. Even behind the barrier of his sunglasses, I can feel the heaviness of his stare. “Now,” he growls at me.
I gasp at the fire in his tone and slip away from my prison between his body and the wall, making a quick escape to my office. Heart racing, I wonder who this man is and what he wants with Pastor Braden.
“I don’t hear you calling Braden, good girl.”
His deep voice startles me even though I didn’t think my escape had gotten rid of him. I look up. My goodness.
He’s whipped off his sunglasses, and I stare up at the most gorgeous, deepest shade of green eyes I have ever seen. They soften his features, his rugged jaw, and sharp cheekbones. Everything is highlighted, handsome and appealing without the sunglasses. I feel something unfurl in my belly, something unfamiliar, and I shut it down, whatever it is, and roll my eyes.
“My name is Letty. Not sweetheart. Not honey. And certainly not good girl.”
“Fine,” he growls. “Letty, call Braden and tell him to get his ass back to the church. Now.”
He kicks a long leg back to close the door, leaving me trapped in my office, his body a giant barrier between me and an escape route.
I open my mouth to repeat my words, but he stalks over to the desk and lays his palms flat to lean in, so all I can see are tattoos and beautiful green eyes.
“Don’t make me ask again.”
I swallow around the lump of fear growing in my throat and nod as I push away from my desk to put some distance between us.
“Marjorie has his number. I’ll need to go to—”
“No. Call Marjorie from here, Letty.”
The door opens, and it’s Pastor Braden.
“Oh thank goodness, Pastor—”
Pastor Braden’s eyes take in the scene of me practically cowering behind my desk, the big biker hovering over my desk. He frowns.
“Letty, what’s going on in here?”
His harsh tone takes me by surprise, but the worry that flashes in his eyes when the biker straightens puts me on edge. Well, more on edge than I already am.
The biker turns and crosses his arms. “Braden, just the man I’m looking for. We need to talk.”
“Mr. Hollister, I’m not sure we have anything to talk about,” Pastor Braden says, his voice quivering with unmistakable fear.
“I’m sure that we do. You want to talk here in front of your adorable little guard dog, Letty, or would you prefer to let her go on thinking you’re a good Christian man?”
I gasp in shock at his words. “Pastor Braden is a good Christian man.”
“It’s all right, Letty.” Pastor Braden holds up a hand to stop my defense of him and nods. “Let’s go out to the gardens to talk.”
“But, Pastor,” I call after him in confusion. “This man is not a good man.”
He turns back to me with a smile. “It’s not our place to judge a man’s path, Letty, only to steer him onto a better path. Back to work.”
He smiles, but all I can see is the fear that darkens his eyes and slumps his shoulders in resignation, or maybe it’s defeat.
Something is going on with this biker, and I know it’s not good.
I drop down into my chair, but the minute the men are gone, my gaze wanders over to the church gardens until I see them. From this vantage point, they look harmless together, a rough and tumble man seeking spiritual guidance from a spiritual leader, but I know that’s not what’s going on, even if I don’t know what exactly is going on.
The pastor seems afraid of the big biker, but the question is why?
And how do I find out?
Chapter Four
Shades
I follow the pastor outside, away from nosy receptionists who can eavesdrop on our conversation and jump right into the reason for my visit.
“The Kings broke into our clubhouse and ripped us off. We need some cash.”
Braden stops and with a heavy sigh, rubs a hand over his head and down his face. “I can’t just come up with cash whenever you need it, Mr. Hollister.”
“It’s Shades,” I growl and put a hand on his shoulder. “And let’s not pretend I’m here for a fucking loan, Braden. That cash is rightfully ours, and we need it. Now.”