Total pages in book: 217
Estimated words: 207224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1036(@200wpm)___ 829(@250wpm)___ 691(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 207224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1036(@200wpm)___ 829(@250wpm)___ 691(@300wpm)
All attention is on me when the door closes. I can’t stand it. Fuck! “I’ll be in the gym,” I say, leaving pronto, my focus forward, ignoring my mind’s demands to find her, take her phone, and tie her up. I make it to the gym and kneel on a mat, taking some stretched, deep breaths, before laying my forearms down, engaging my stomach muscles, and pulling my body up. The rush of blood to my head is welcome, and I close my eyes and focus.
I focus so fucking hard.
Focus on fighting the urge to find Oliver Burrows and kill him. I already owe him for arresting me and texting Beau a photo of Beth groping me. Now Tom Hayley is dead? That fucker just got a pardon from Beau for trying to interfere in our relationship again, because she knows her ex is the path to answers. Burrows will be harnessing that to his advantage, enticing Beau in, manipulating his position, and using her loss and need to his advantage.
And here I am restraining that instinct in her. Holding her back.
Denying her.
Fuck.
18
BEAU
I felt his eyes like daggers in my back as I left Danny’s office. I also felt my guilt as strongly. Despite knowing it would be frowned upon, he took me into Danny’s office. And despite The Brit’s immediate aversion, he kept me in there because he knows I have value beyond freedom and love for James. I may have appeared hard-faced and steadfast in my determination, but remaining in that office had nothing to do with my grit and everything to do with the men’s acquiescence. Until I spoke my thoughts and, absurdly apparently, suggested a solution to their problem. James’s dismissal was an insult.
And now Ollie has called, and because I wasted time removing myself from James’s space, I missed him. And now he’s not picking up.
“Damn it,” I mutter, pacing around in circles on the terrace. “Answer.”
“Maybe he’s busy gathering more shit to throw at James.”
I look up and see Danny on his terrace, his shoulder leaning against the door. He takes a drag of his cigarette and wanders across to the railings that separate this terrace from theirs, his stride casual. It’s the kind of walk he walks when he’s calm but raging. “Maybe,” he muses, “Burrows hopes the shit will stick this time.”
My shoulders drop. “Whatever you want to say, just say it, Danny. I’m busy.”
“Busy trying to get in touch with your ex?” He raises his eyebrows as he stops in front of me, only the metal separating us. He reaches across and brushes gently across my cheek. “You have a hair across your eye.”
“Thanks.” I brush at it too, even though he’s already removed it.
“Can you see better now?” he asks, making me exhale tiredly. “He’s your ex, Beau.” He slides his palm onto my nape and holds me by my neck, as if he’s worried I’ll pull away. “Try and see this from James’s perspective. He’s your ex, and he just sent you pictures of another woman all over James, to which, I don’t mind reminding you”—he squeezes a little, dipping to ensure he has my eyes—“you didn’t take too kindly to.”
“We’ve talked about it,” I grate. “And we’re fine.”
“Come on, Beau. Your snake of an ex is going to make the most of this situation. He had James arrested. Be wise with your trust.”
“I need to know what happened.” God damn me, I can feel my lip wobbling, and Danny moves in and hugs me over the divider between the terraces. The mild smell of nicotine fills my nose. “How’s your chest?” I ask, mindful that I’m pressed against it.
“It’s nothing,” he murmurs.
“Sure.”
“Ollie isn’t the only way, Beau.”
Maybe not, but he’s the easiest way, and God save my soul, I know he will share a lot more about Dad’s death than anyone else. He’s not the only one who can manipulate. But is it worth the friction between James and me? “Would you ever try to change Rose?” I ask, feeling Danny still, as if breathing is suddenly an effort and he needs to concentrate.
“I feel like this is a loaded question.”
I exhale into his chest. He knows where I’m going—I don’t need to say it. My suggestion for their delivery problem is the perfect solution. Everyone knows it. But because I am who I am and belong to who I belong to, everyone keeps forgetting the not-so-small detail that I used to be a cop. And while I was making myself pretty for James last night, my father was dying. I snivel and break away, wiping at my face. “I should have met him at the hotel,” I say quietly. God damn me, why didn’t I meet him?
“What?”
I look up and find Danny frowning. “Dad called me last night. He was at a hotel Downtown. Business. He wanted me to meet him there and have dinner. I made my excuses.”