Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80014 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“That better be a very bad joke.”
“We’re in the middle of the desert, Jack.”
“Right. So, goal number one when building a house here should be to keep the deadly nightmare vermin on the outside.”
“They didn’t even spell the sign right,” he said. “I’m lucky the house is still standing, given the geniuses behind this project.”
“My question is, did you see the dessert sign before you bought the house? Because I’m going to go ahead and call that a red flag.”
“No, that came later.”
“Are your mom and the developer still together?”
He shook his head. “They lasted almost three years though, which was a record for her. She’s definitely relationship-challenged.”
As long as he was answering my questions, I decided to slip one in that was really none of my business. “Speaking of relationships, did your boyfriend live here with you when you two were together?”
“No. We never lived together.”
“How do you date someone for four years and never get to that point?”
Reno glanced at me with an amused expression. “You’re very nosy.”
“I prefer the word curious.”
We’d reached the double doors to the main bedroom, and he changed the subject with, “The guest room is down the hall, last door on the right. There are clean towels and some toiletries in the bathroom cabinet. You can also help yourself to the clothes I stored in the closet, not that they’ll fit, but you might find something to sleep in. And please don’t run away while I’m asleep.”
It stung that he was sticking me in the guest room, but what did I expect? I really liked Reno, and that was only getting stronger the more time we spent together. But to him I was still just the asshole who’d ripped him off. Like he was going to invite me to share his bed?
“I’m not going anywhere, I promise. Can I have my phone back, though?”
He hesitated and asked, “Why do you want it?”
“I’m going to call in a swat team to rescue me from my jailer.” When he rolled his eyes, I asked, “What do you think I plan to do with it? I’d like to read one of my ebooks, maybe take a look at the news. If I get really fancy, I might even play a few rounds of Bejeweled.”
“You’re not going to sleep?” Even though he asked the question, he pulled my phone from his pocket and handed it to me, along with the rest of my belongings. Apparently he’d decided to fully commit to the belief that I wasn’t going to leave.
“Falling asleep is a process.”
“Normally I’d agree, but I’m dead on my feet. I told my brother I’d be there at lunchtime, so I’ll see you in about three hours.”
After I said good night, I continued down the hall to the guest room and got naked. I carefully hung up my suit and shirt and moved them to the bathroom, so the wrinkles could steam out. Then I took a long, hot shower. It felt incredible after spending all night in a car, followed by the grungy task of cleaning up the bar.
The potato chips were calling my name, so after my shower I wrapped a towel around my hips and went downstairs. Along the way, I took a detour through the living room and checked out the cluster of photos on the mantel. They were all of Reno with his mom and his kid brother, taken throughout the years. His love for those two was really touching.
I continued on to the kitchen and began browsing through the bags of gas station treats. I’d been acting like a petulant child when I grabbed an entire armload of chips, and I’d wanted to see what Reno would do about it. Much to my surprise, he’d indulged me. Maybe that was just because he was smart enough to pick his battles, but still.
Just then, I detected movement out of the corner of my eye and whipped my head around. At the sight of a scorpion making its way across the kitchen floor, I screamed like the victim in a slasher film and scrambled onto the countertop. Yes, I’d been warned, but the sight of an actual fucking scorpion still freaked me the hell out.
Moments later, Reno appeared in the kitchen and asked, “Are you alright? What’s wrong?” He was wearing nothing but a pair of black briefs, and he was holding a machine gun, of all things.
I pointed at the scorpion, who’d frozen in place. Reno’s posture relaxed, and he exclaimed, “Fucking hell, you almost gave me a heart attack! I thought Greco’s men had found this place and were attacking you.” He slung the weapon over his shoulder by its strap and opened a kitchen cabinet. Then he grabbed a metal colander and stuck it over the scorpion, like he was giving the thing its own personal thunder dome.