Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19971 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
She just scoffs. “Well, you need to go on back there and watch a few of them movies because all the answers are there. Plain as day. Jealous, unrequited love stalks the object of her obsession until it explodes, and someone gets hurt.”
“We’re aware, ma’am. We found pictures of Ms. King on Ms. Felicity Cameron’s computer, phone, and inside her cabin.”
“Yes, well, the obsession grew with a vengeance. Now get out before Stellan returns and gets all action hero on you and throws you out.” I love that woman. She’s absolutely insane and the sweetest Nana in the world. As they filed out, terrified of the five-foot-nothing granny, I grinned like a fool.
“Thank you,” I say, reaching out to take her hand.
“Oh, deary, don’t thank me just yet. I’m an old woman who expects a lot of great grandbabies in the future.”
“Well, I believe Stellan has plans to make that happen as well.” Or at least I thought he did. He has been absent all morning.
“Stellan, my sweet Beth, Mitchell, & Evan were the best things to come from my loving forty-year marriage. I’m not saying that because he’s famous; she’s one of the state’s best physicians, and they’re lawyers. Although the lawyer thing doesn’t really work in their favor, they’re all good people who haven’t blamed their failings on the rest of the world. They persevered when things got tough and took their lumps on the chin with a crooked smile and a busted lip.”
“Speaking of…have you spoken to Stellan? We haven’t…What if he wants to end things?”
“He’d be a fool. Sweetheart, right now he’s beating himself up for what happened to you, but don’t go letting him push you away. He’s a smart man, but men have egos and pride a mile wide. You need to remind him that he took that bitch out.”
“Thanks, Nana, but I’m not going anywhere. Now, you, on the other hand, need to go because I must speak to my woman—alone.” He winks at me from the doorway, looking handsome with his hair tousled and his tee perfectly sculpted to his fit frame. My mouth waters even though I know this isn’t the time or place for such action.
It took Mrs. Barrymore a moment to leave the room, but she gave Stellan a challenging glare. “You better not upset her.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“Good.” She pats his chest and leaves, closing the door behind her.
“Sorry, I was gone so long. I had a few errands to run that took longer than I expected. I forgot how bad some of the roads were after the storm. How are you feeling?”
He walks up to me and takes my hand, bringing it to his lips. The sensation shoots through every nerve ending in my body. “Sore, but I’m okay. It’s not as bad as I expected it would be.”
“Well, I suppose that’s good. Although I never would have wanted this to happen to you.” Guilt shines brightly in his beautiful eyes.
“I know. I’m sorry that your assistant lost her mind like that.”
“It’s my fault. The signs were there, and I should have seen them sooner.”
“Really? Was she like flirty with you?” I get so freaking jealous of this woman even though I know he never had feelings for her, but she was in his everyday life.
“Not that I would notice. Not overtly. It was the subtle things and the need to always do extra for me. Felicity had a boyfriend, so I assumed that it was just business and the need to prove herself. Some people want to be the best of the best at what they do. Making me a success makes her a success, you know?”
“Yes. I totally understand it. What about this boyfriend? Have you ever seen him, spoken to him?”
“Yes. I’ve met Jim several times and even had dinner with him on more than one occasion because we had issues that arose at the same time that they had plans.”
“Oh…”
“What?”
“Those were manufactured issues, Stellan. I wonder if he knew that she was into you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it. I know I have been all night. She wanted to be with you, and as soon as they broke up, she became your stalker. Those feelings didn’t come out of nowhere. Including you on date nights had to be a dead giveaway to him that you were more than a boss, even if you didn’t see it that way. The fact that you didn’t date probably added to the belief that you had something going on. They probably broke up because of you, and she turned her feelings to you.”
“That’s just a bit too much.”
“I’d ask him. When Chet and I were together, he’d find a reason to include Carrie in lunch with us. He was texting her that night at dinner when I saw you.”