Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Do you honestly believe I wouldn’t pay to get you back?” His mom had a worried look on her face, and he knew it wasn’t merely about him going to South America. It was the fact that Kyle was back and obviously troubled. Carys was going through some hard times. Luke was growing up.
“I think there aren’t a lot of people in South America who know I’m your son. We don’t share a last name, and Hawthorne doesn’t open the doors that Taggart does.” He loved his mom, but this trip was supposed to be easy.
“I assure you these militia groups do their research,” Sean said. “And they have people on the inside. You’re a rich target. I can’t force you to take a bodyguard, but both your mother and I will feel infinitely better if we know Kyle’s with you. He’s been doing some background checks, and he already has questions about the boat you rented.”
“Two of the employees have ties to militant groups.” Kyle had a smirk on his face. It was the same one he’d had since they were kids, the one that came out when he bested his brother at something. “So your trip to the island was probably going to go wrong. It’s cool. I canceled it for you.”
“You did what?”
Kyle shrugged. “Can’t have big brother getting himself kidnapped. I don’t think you would do well in captivity. Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything, and you can take notes. And I already asked MaeBe if she can watch Hamilton. Big Tag signed off on the time out of office. It’s going to be fun.”
It was not going to be fun. It was going to suck. But he sat back because there was no way he was getting out of this.
He would text Tessa tomorrow. It would give him something to look forward to.
Sean and Kyle started talking about all the ways David could be brutally murdered. It was their love language.
“Baby, it’s going to be okay.” His mom reached out and held his hand briefly. “I appreciate you being open to this. I’ve been worried. I’ll worry less if Kyle’s with you.”
Yep, he was going on a trip with his brother. “All right.”
She sighed in obvious relief and started talking about the new location they would be opening in a few weeks.
David sat there and thought about Tessa.
At least one thing had gone right.
Chapter Three
“Did you hear about Kyle?”
Tessa looked up from her phone. She’d been staring at the three messages she’d received from David Hawthorne. They’d come in over the course of three days, and she couldn’t stop thinking about them even two weeks later.
Hey, it’s the crazy professor from Top. I was hoping you had some time this week. I promise a full plate of your own, and I know where to get the best enchiladas. How about it?
That had been sent the morning after they’d met. Professor Hawthorne didn’t play the waiting game. She’d looked down at the text and felt a smile cross her face until she’d remembered the decision she’d made the night before. She couldn’t go through another relationship that involved work. Work was all she had, and the fact that David Hawthorne had the most stunning eyes didn’t change that truth.
Professor Hawthorne was way too close to her bosses, and that was why she’d ignored the text.
The next message had been a voice mail around twenty-four hours after the first.
“Hey, Tessa. It’s David Hawthorne. I’m not sure if you got my text, so I thought I would try calling. I had a great time the other night and would love to see you again. Maybe we could meet for lunch or even coffee. I hope to hear from you.”
She’d listened to that message about a hundred times. He’d gone back to text for his last message.
Tessa, I wanted to say it was lovely meeting you. I don’t know what went wrong, but I’m going to delete your number so you don’t have to worry about me calling again. I wish you all the best. David.
She believed him. He wouldn’t be the guy who bugged her, needing some kind of answer as to why she refused to reply to him after the connection they’d made.
He was gone, and she would have to make sure she didn’t run into him again. The good news was she rarely ever worked with Kyle, and David Hawthorne didn’t frequent McKay-Taggart circles.
“Earth to Tessa.” Wade Rycroft was standing at her desk, and he’d said something about Kyle. “Are you okay?”
She set her phone down and tried to focus. “Yeah, boss. What’s up with Hawthorne?” She’d started calling Kyle by his last name as a reminder of why she wasn’t answering those texts. In the days since that night, Kyle hadn’t once mentioned his brother to her, and he hadn’t acted awkward, so she had to believe that either David hadn’t mentioned her or Kyle didn’t care. She was happy either way. “I thought he was about to go on vacation.”