Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 158(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 158(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
I reach over to grab my bag to search inside for my phone. I need to call Ocean and let her know what my plan is. Not that I really have one besides going to Owen’s place.
Ocean hates that I won’t get an electric car. From her standpoint, I understand, but from mine it’s never happening. You might not know it, but your car is reporting everything you do in this day and age. It might as well be a cell phone. At least it couldn’t take over your car at any moment. The same can’t be said about an electric vehicle.
“The hell is going on? I saw you and that silver fox chatting it up.”
“Silver fox, really? He has maybe three gray hairs,” I retort. Each of them makes him look sexier.
“Where are you going?”
“Tracking me?”
“Always. That’s what real friends do.”
“His place.”
“Oh, we got a new skank in town?”
“Ocean!” I hiss, my face rushing with heat.
“Not for nothing. Why are you going to his place?”
“My battery thingy wasn’t working, and he fixed it. He also said that I needed more of the blue liquid that washes my windshield.”
“Your battery wasn’t working?”
“When I tried to start it, I couldn’t get it to, like, go.”
“Hmm.” Oceans tsks, sounding suspicious of this whole thing.
“What?” I might be able to hack into a system, but I know shit about electronics beyond the basics. I’m not a freaking mechanical engineer. And I definitely don’t know anything about cars. One can only be so great at some things. It’s why you need an incredible team around you. Ocean is my engineer.
“Just so happens it stops working on the same day you’re doing recon? It’s possible, but–”
“He said a cord was loose.” I jump in and defend him for some reason.
“Not sure that’s the only thing he’s hoping is loose when it comes to you.”
“Ocean!”
“What? You’re the one headed out to his house in Jeepers Creepersville.”
“Even I know Jeepers Creepers is impossible, and I only understand a little bit of biology.”
“But do you understand serial killers?”
“I really don’t think Duffy would have brought me in over a basic serial killer.”
“True.” I can hear Ocean tapping her nails. I’m not sure if she’s thinking or up to something. “But do you think it’s smart going out there?”
“You got the tag. You can hear everything. This is a chance for me to get inside and interact with him. He’s handing us an opportunity we can’t pass up,” I remind her. It pops into my mind that I could cut our connection at any time. Why would I? I lick my lips as a whole lot of reasons come to mind on what would make me. Ones I shouldn’t even be having.
“I’m not so sure about this, Mags.” Ocean uses my real name. “This man has to be deep into something. He could be really dangerous.” She’s not wrong.
“I wanna go,” I admit.
“So there is no talking you out of this?”
Once my mind is set, there is no going back. “I just wanna go, I can't explain it.” I chew on my bottom lip.
“It’s weird to see you crushing on a guy.”
“I'm not crushing.”
Ocean ignores me. Pretty sure I’m lying. I’m not sure what I’m feeling for this man. It’s a job. That’s the story I’m sticking to for the meantime.
“What if he’s a scientist and has put a love potion on you?”
“If Owen is in his basement creating brand-new chemistry, and Duffy is highly interested in what he’s doing, then I don’t think it’s gonna be a love potion he’s concocting.”
That doesn’t mean he’s not making something. A remote spot would be a good place for that. He could be making all kinds of things.
“This is a good thing. You stay close, and you’ll know if I need you. If there’s an emergency, don’t worry about blowing your cover.”
“The man does have a cat. There has to be some good in him. You know they say men who favor cats have been proven to be smarter and more highly educated.”
“I did not know that, but I do now.” I pull down the long driveway to Owen’s. It’s lush and green. My father would love it out here. This is his dream. He only stays close to the city for me.
“How are you feeling? Need a pep talk?”
I glance at my mirror to try and fix my hair. Before I’d gone into the coffee shop the point was not to draw attention to myself. Now I seem to want it. For him to think I’m pretty.
“Nervous.”
“You don’t have to do this.”
“Not that kind of nervous.”
“Ah, crush butterflies.”
“I’m not crushing!” I hiss.
“Right, sure. Not crushing. Got it.”
“He’s coming.” I spot him behind me a few seconds later, pulling down the driveway. I grab my lip gloss and put it on. “Gotta go.” I hang up before Ocean can say anything else.