Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 50561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Just as I thought she was off and running on the topic, her aunt seemingly long forgotten. By the time we pulled through the gates, she was almost kneeling in her seat as she told me about her grand schemes for a wedding fit for a princess. Every girl’s dream!
“It’s not too much is it?”
“Of course not. Nothing’s too much for my baby. Just let me know whatever you need and it’s yours.” She hugged my neck hard enough to break it and flew out of the car and up the steps, barely waiting at the top for me to catch up.
Once I reached her, she grabbed my hand and dragged me into the house behind her and up the stairs. “We need a real shower.” That twinkle in her eye said she was after more than me scrubbing her back and I was more than willing to oblige.
After our water sports, it was almost two hours before we made it out of the shower. I was dragging ass while she had caught her second wind and left me to head to the kitchen and her cooking lesson. The damn girl’s gonna be the death of me! I hope not. I hope I have many years to look forward to, and hopefully they will all be filled with days like this.
I wasn’t interested in work or anything more strenuous than a little light music, but before I could get comfortable my phone buzzed. The readout showed that it was Sam, the man I had on Jen’s tail, and I remembered Ash’s fear that we were being followed.
“What’s up?”
“She’s back in town.”
“How long?”
“Not quite sure. She gave me the slip somehow, must’ve been another way out of that motel she was staying at. I’ve picked her up again though at her place in the city. She’s alone, no sign of him. What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing now, just keep an eye on her. I think she may have followed me from the office today.”
I should be pissed at him for letting her get away and get that close, but these things happen. The only question now is how did she know she was being watched? Doesn’t matter. She now knows that her niece was with me in the car, unless she didn’t get a good look, and with my luck I doubt it.
“Just make sure she doesn’t give you the slip again. I want a full report of every move she makes from now on. If you need someone else on the job with you that can be arranged.” My worry now was for Ashley. I could always get to the bottom of Jen’s schemes, but until I know her reaction to mine, and Ashley’s relationship I was taking no chances.
I wanted to rush to her after hanging up, but through the intercom I could hear her calm voice as she spoke with the cook and knew that she was safe. How the fuck am I gonna play this? I thought I’d have time, at least another few weeks or so-so I could put things in place to protect her. Now it looked like time had run out and I wasn’t about to put shit off any longer.
I got right on that. Tony was a bodyguard slash driver, but even though I trusted him alone to see to my care, I wasn’t about to do the same with hers. I put in a few calls and had men ready to take up position starting tomorrow. She’d have eyes on her at school and Tony would take it from there when he picked her up in the evenings.
I toyed with the idea of telling her but nixed it. Let her enjoy her wedding planning and the newness of our relationship without that blemish. She was the first person I’d given much of a damn about in a long time and I’ll probably make a few missteps here and there; but if watching out for her bordered on over protectiveness, so be it.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” She slipped into the room catching me unawares as I was deep in thought. “Yes you are, you’re worrying. I always know when you are. You get this line in your forehead. What’s wrong?”
It was amazing that she knew me so well already.
“Nothing’s worrying me, I promise. Are you all done in the kitchen?” I reached for her hand and pulled her down to me for a kiss to distract her. “Yes, I made your favorite, whiskey sweet potato casserole and we’re having rib eye steak with Martha’s own secret rubdown.”
“Sounds good, let’s go before it gets cold.” She led me downstairs as excited as a kid who had a new stunt to show off. “Sit here.” I winked at the cook over her head as she sat me down at my place, which had been set as if for a king. She’d broken out the fine china. She made a fuss over me, making Martha and I smile and grin at her antics. Far from being put-out as I had first feared, Martha now seemed to delight in having someone in her kitchen who was eager to learn.