Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 94585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
I hated to beg, but I would do it for her. Except begging wasn't enough.
“We can't do it together. I wish we could.”
The sadness in her face was insurmountable. I wasn't going to talk her out of this. Ugly words rose to my lips, some bullshit about not waiting for her to figure herself out.
I kept my lips pressed together. She was killing me, but she was dying, too. As much as I wanted to strike out, I couldn't bring more pain to her eyes.
Daisy rose to her toes and pressed her mouth to mine, her lips moving, words barely audible. “I love you, Royal. I love you so much.”
I pulled her to me, holding her there, kissing her, everything that was Daisy washing over me. Her taste. The vanilla scent of her skin. The soft brush of her curls. The low hum in her throat as our kiss deepened. Her mind was all fucked up, but Daisy's body still wanted me.
I thought about using that to get what I wanted. I could probably do it—seduce her and get her to talk. Maybe.
And if I did, I'd be betraying her trust.
Trust.
Everyone she trusted had screwed her over. Even J.T., staying away for so long and leaving her to face this on her own.
Our kiss felt like goodbye. It ended far too soon. From behind me, I heard a familiar screech. “Royal Sawyer!! This is your last fucking chance, you bastard!”
Daisy was already pulling away. I turned, tucking her behind me, and faced Vanessa. For a split second, I lost my words. I'd been about to tell her to shut the hell up, but her appearance threw me.
Her hair hung lank around her face, the gleam of the black strands replaced by grease and what looked like dust. Her porcelain skin was more like parchment, dry and dull. As far as I could tell, she wore no makeup. I'd never seen her without her signature red lipstick.
Even her clothes were wrong. She was in her usual designer gear, but she was wrinkled and sweat-stained. Vanessa was trouble on a good day. Right now? She was a disaster.
“Wait,” I ordered her, turning to Daisy.
Daisy was watching Vanessa, her mouth dropped open, face leached of color. “What is it?” I whispered low enough that Vanessa couldn't hear.
“Who is that?”
“Vanessa. Ford's ex-wife. She's probably here to hit me up for money again.”
Daisy started shaking her head, shooting a cautious glance at Vanessa, who paced behind us, only seconds from losing her faint control. “She's involved,” Daisy breathed. “In what's been happening at The Inn. I can't tell you how I know, but I know. She's involved.”
What? How did Daisy know Vanessa? I didn't have time to ask. Vanessa wasn't dangerous, but she was the last thing I needed dropped into the middle of my conversation with Daisy. Unfortunately, there was no way Vanessa was going to leave until she had her say. Again.
I dug in my pocket for my keys. “Here, take my car. Bring it back later. I don't care. You have enough going on without dealing with Vanessa.”
Reluctantly, Daisy took my keys. I knew she'd rather have her own car, but that wasn't going to happen. Not yet. I had to deal with Vanessa, and Daisy wanted to go. She saw the logic and rose once more to her toes. Her mouth by my ear, she said, “Whatever happens, just remember I love you.”
“I love you too, Daisy.” I caught her as she tried to escape. She tugged on her wrist, but I held tight. Just one more thing I had to say. I reeled her back in and kissed her lips, then her cheek. “Whatever happens, whatever is going on that you won't tell me, just remember that I love you, too. No matter what.”
A sob hitched in her chest, and she was gone, rounding the hood of my car and beeping the doors unlocked.
“No matter what, Daze,” I called after her.
She nodded again as she started the engine, pulling out of the parking space with tears streaming down her face. Fuck. Not how I wanted that to go. At least she'd have to see me to return my car.
“Royal!” came the screech from behind me. I turned to Vanessa.
“What the fuck do you want, Vanessa?”
“Why, did I interrupt your lover's spat? I thought Darren told her to stay away from you.”
“How do you know Daisy's father?” Puzzle pieces were rattling in my head. Daisy. Vanessa. Darren Hutchins. How did it all fit together?
“Not important. He's small-time. An idiot.”
“I already knew that. Why are you here, Vanessa? You're banned from Inn property.”
“I have one last offer for you Royal. Cash for information.”
“What could you possibly know that would interest me?”
“I know who killed your father.” She said it so bluntly I knew she was telling the truth. Or she thought she was.