Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 106797 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106797 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“Oh God.” My hands flew to my face. “You have to get a second job. Because of me.”
Rhodes chuckled, tossing a paperclip in my direction. It bounced off my forearm and landed next to my sneaker. “Stop, Bug. This is a good thing. I don’t want to do what I’ve been doing to earn a living.” I peeked at him through my fingers and his nose flared slightly. “I’m worth more than what they think I am.”
My heart squeezed and a smile met my lips. Was it possible Rhodes was finally seeing what I’d always seen in him? Still, I knew the extra money he made wasn’t just spent on worthless material things. I frowned. “What about the private investigator for your sister?”
He moved to me again, taking me in his arms. “I’m giving him his last payment tonight. It’s time for me to start letting go, and this is step one.”
“Wait.” I pushed my hands into his chest. “I can help. I’ll pay for him to keep looking. This is my fault, and I know you still believe she’s out there.” His jaw tensed. “Please, let me help. How much do you pay him?”
“Stop.” Rhodes pinched the bridge of his nose, but still kept the other arm secured at my waist. “You’re not paying for him. After this week, his services are done. And that’s it. And we don’t talk about it again. Okay?”
I wasn’t happy about that decision, but I nodded. I knew there was no point arguing with Rhodes, but a part of me still ached thinking I was possibly responsible for him giving up on the search for his sister.
Forcing a smile, Rhodes pulled me in for a quick kiss.
“It’s okay,” he promised against my lips. “I think I’m ready. I think I need to start letting go.”
Fisting my hands in his wet t-shirt, I pulled him closer. “I can help.”
His throat constricted and he slid his hand into mine, pressing his index finger hard into my wrist. “You already have.”
Willow called to catch up the next day while I was enjoying my day off from training. She was so excited about her program and everyone she was meeting at Appalachian State. If I didn’t have Rhodes, I would have been jealous. Since I did, I was able to be completely happy for her. We only talked for twenty minutes before she had to run, but it was nice hearing her voice. Especially when she squealed after hearing I’d worn the swimsuit she bought me.
It was a lazy Wednesday, which I actually cherished. I spent the day watching more episodes of Lost and even took a nap, which I couldn’t remember doing all summer. I had a big night planned with Rhodes, and I wanted to be awake and energized.
When I woke around five, I had a missed text from Mason.
— I’m worried about you. Did you think about what I said? —
I rolled my eyes, stifling a yawn as I padded across the cool hardwood floor to the stairs. Funny, Mason seemed more invested in my wellbeing now than he ever had the two years we’d dated. For once, I was beginning not to care what Mason thought of me. Or anyone else, for that matter.
I took my time getting dressed, applying my makeup with careful precision. It paid off when Rhodes slid into my passenger seat with a whistle at just past eight.
“You look gorgeous,” he said, planting a sweet kiss on my lips as I threw the Rover into drive. “So, are you going to tell me where you’re taking me yet?”
“That would ruin the surprise, silly.”
He grumbled. “I’m too impatient for surprises.”
“Clearly.” I laughed, but the sound caught in my throat when his hand reached across the console and ran up the inside of my thigh. I was wearing a short white dress with a modest top and A-line hem. The more his fingers inched north, the more I squirmed.
“Rhodes,” I warned.
“What? Am I distracting you?”
I hesitated longer than normal when the red light turned green, which was all the answer Rhodes needed. He chuckled from a place deep in his chest.
“I fucking love the way I affect you,” he whispered, trailing his hand higher. I gripped the wheel.
“Rhodes, seriously.” I bit my lip, nervous to tell him exactly why he needed to stop, but when his fingers crawled even higher, the words flew from my mouth. “I’m not wearing any panties!”
I had whisper-yelled, just barely audible over the sound of the radio, but I might as well have announced it through a microphone at a stadium. Rhodes stopped, his hand just inches from my center, and a devilish grin curled on his lips.
“Well I’m definitely not stopping now.”
The air conditioning was on full blast, but suddenly it felt too hot to breathe.