Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“Hey,” I say when he answers. “I just missed you. I was picking up the kids. What did you find out?”
“Well, he is out.” My heart stutters. “But the last we know, he was still in Washington. So, if the flowers are from him, it’s possible that he sent them from Washington.”
“True.” I nibble on my lower lip. “I thought he had five years left inside?”
“He did,” Dad confirms. “And it’s being looked into. All you can do is watch your back and be careful. If anything else weird happens, call your local authorities and then me.”
“I actually have an in here with the cops. Remington’s brother is on the force, so I’ll let him know right away,” I reply, nodding to myself. “Don’t worry, I won’t be careless.”
“I know you won’t. Stay in touch, you hear me?”
“I will. Love you. Talk to you later.”
I hang up and absolutely refuse to have a panic attack right here in front of the kids. I have to hold it together and get them home safely, then I need to have a conversation with Remington.
“Are you okay, Erin?” Holly asks.
“Of course, honey. Why do you ask?”
“It looks like you’re crying,” she replies, and I swipe at my cheek, surprised to find tears there. “Are you sad?”
No, I’m terrified.
“No, I’m just worried. Sorry about that. Let’s go home, yeah? I was thinking about making some homemade pizza for dinner.”
“Can we choose our own toppings?” Johnny wants to know.
“Of course, you can.”
When we pull up to the farmhouse, I see that Chase’s truck is in the drive, and Joy’s waiting out front.
She smiles when we pull in, but I see worry in her eyes.
What now? Did he somehow get out here and hurt someone?
Damn it, I should have talked to Rem last night, but I was just so tired.
“Hi, favorite grandkids,” Joy says, hugging them both tight. “You’re going to come home with me for a while.”
“But Erin’s making homemade pizza,” Holly argues with a frown.
“And she still will,” Joy promises. “We’ll just have a snack in the meantime.”
“They’ve had cookies,” I inform her.
“You shouldn’t have told her that,” Johnny whispers loudly, making us both laugh.
“You and John should join us for dinner,” I offer, and Joy nods.
“That sounds great. I’ll have them back over in a little while.”
With a kid on each side, the three of them walk away, and I head up to the house and push inside.
“Erin?” Remington calls out. “Come to my office, please.”
He doesn’t sound particularly happy that I’m home, and my already knotted-up stomach starts to do the salsa as I walk to the doorway of Rem’s office.
He’s sitting behind his desk. Chase stands at the window, Ryan and Brady sit in chairs, and John leans against the bookshelves. Even Millie watches me with red-rimmed eyes from across the room.
The whole family’s here.
“Uh, hi.”
“Have a seat,” Brady offers, standing from the chair.
“If it’s all the same to you, I think I’d rather stand.” I lift my chin and walk into the room, my eyes on Rem’s.
“I spoke with your father just a little while ago,” Remington begins, and all of this suddenly makes sense.
“Is anyone hurt?” I blurt out. “Did he somehow get to the ranch and hurt someone?”
“No,” John replies and reaches out to pat my shoulder. “You’re not in trouble, Erin.”
“Bullshit,” Remington disagrees. “I want to know why I heard that there’s a stalker who is out of prison and obsessed with you, from your father. Why didn’t you tell me? You’re with my kids. You live in my home. Jesus, you’re…you. I can’t protect anyone if I don’t have the information, Erin.”
“I didn’t know,” I reply as I round on him. “I just found out when I picked up the kids. I didn’t know that he was out of prison.”
Just saying the words makes me swallow hard and close my eyes, taking a deep breath.
“Okay,” Millie says, rushing over to me to put her arm around me. “Now we know.”
“You talked to Millie about it,” Remington continues. “But you didn’t tell me.”
“You’re right, I didn’t tell you.” I sigh, suddenly so fucking tired. “I’d spent all afternoon worried about it. No one could tell me if he was out of jail until today. Millie helped keep my mind off things all afternoon, and then I came home and was just exhausted. I didn’t know anything for sure, and I didn’t want to talk about it anymore.”
“But he sent flowers to your job.”
“I didn’t know that they were from him yesterday. I suspected. I won’t have you interrogate me like I’m the one who did anything wrong. I went through that once before, and I won’t do it again. I’ll pack my shit and get out.”
“Whoa!” Brady says.
“No, wait.” Chase holds up his hands.
“That’s ridiculous.” Ryan shakes his head.