Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“I’m not going unless I can take some of that.” Rhys pointed at the lasagna. “I’m starving.”
“Damn right,” Rogue agreed. “It smells amazing, and I already know Jacob is an awesome cook.”
“Fine. None of us are going to be any good at thinking if we don’t eat, and it does look incredible.” He held my gaze as he said the words, and I wished he wasn’t talking about food.
Grant put plates on the counter, and Rhys got beers from the fridge. They all dished up huge servings of lasagna for themselves.
Rhys took a big bite before he picked up his plate. “Oh my God, this is like heaven.”
“Fuck yeah,” Rogue mumbled around a bite of his own. “Grant, you’ve got to taste it.”
Grant looked exasperated with them. He clearly wanted more details about what they’d learned, but he grabbed a fork and stabbed it into his piece.
I should probably be more concerned about what was happening on the ranch, but at that moment, all I cared about was Grant’s reaction to my cooking.
I watched his lips press against his fork and draw the pasta into his mouth. His eyes closed, and he groaned as he chewed. I felt the sound like an intimate touch.
After he swallowed, he met my gaze, and I lost the ability to breathe. “Even if I’d planned to let you leave before, there’s no way in hell I’d let you go now, not when you can make food like this.”
I smiled. “So you like it?”
“This is the best damn lasagna I’ve ever had in my life.”
Rogue whooped. “Now aren’t you glad I brought him?”
Grant rolled his eyes. “Go to my office. Now. And take off your damn boots. Just look at this floor.”
Rhys and Rogue giggled like kids and scurried out.
“Get some dinner for yourself,” Grant said. “And help yourself to a beer or anything else you want. I’ll…” He paused for a moment, looking more uncertain than I’d seen him. “I’ll see you later.”
I wondered if that was really how he’d intended to end the sentence. I wished I would see him later because he intended to sneak into my room, slide into bed with me, and stop this ridiculous idea that he was going to keep his hands off me while I was here.
10
GRANT
“Talk,” I said as I flopped into the chair behind my desk. Rhys and Rogue occupied the other two chairs in the room, boots now off, legs crisscrossed with their plates balanced on their laps. Neither one looked ready to stop eating to take the time to explain to me what had seemed so urgent a few moments ago. “You came rushing in here, needing to talk to me. I want all the details.”
“Then you shouldn’t have let Jacob make dinner.”
I rolled my eyes. “How serious is our problem?”
Rhys frowned. “We don’t know much. We haven’t identified the guy yet.”
“When did Colton see him?”
“Just a little while ago,” Rogue said. “The guy took off when he noticed Colton watching.”
“Did he try to track the guy down?”
Rhys shook his head. “He thought it was more important to let us know in case there’s somebody else out there too.”
I nodded. “Good point. Do you think there’s any use in trying to track the guy down?”
“No. I think the best thing to do is send somebody into town to find out more about the questions he’s been asking—if it was him—and see if anybody knows who he is.”
“I’ll go,” Rogue said.
I shook my head. “You’re way too conspicuous.”
“Aw, thanks, bro, but I’m really not that famous.”
Rhys reached out and smacked his twin’s shoulder. “You know that’s not what he means. You can’t be discreet to save yourself. If you start asking questions, everyone in town’s going to know about us.”
“Know that we’re looking for this guy? Is that a problem?”
“No,” I said. Did he really not get it? “Everyone will know things out here aren’t what they seem.”
“Wait.” Rogue frowned. “Are you saying I’m not allowed to go to town, like, ever?”
“That’s not up for discussion now.” I hoped to hell Rogue understood I was deadly serious. I didn’t need trouble this soon after taking over. I also wasn’t letting anyone put Jacob in danger.
“Rhys, ask Madison to go and tell her to take Colton with her.”
Rogue frowned. “Madison hates talking to strangers. She’s not going to want to ask any questions.”
“I know, but the fact that she doesn’t talk much makes her a damn good listener. It also means people dismiss her, that and the fact that she’s female. Madison will end up hearing a lot more than most people would.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go to town too?” Rhys asked.
“I’d rather have you here in case the guy comes back or we discover he’s not working alone.”
“I might not be the most discreet when asking questions, but I damn well know how to fight,” Rogue said. “So if you’re looking for help defending the place, I’m going to stand by you.”