Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“You didn’t know ahead of time he scored a visit?”
“No,” Crew answered. “He didn’t share until afterward. He said he wanted to make sure it actually happened first since the Demons aren’t the most reliable.”
No shit. “Did he see anything worth mentioning after I left?” Decker asked him.
“No. Just typical biker shit. But he’s still working on Wolf to allow him to patch over. If he can pull that off…”
“Yeah, that would help the investigation for sure. Okay, I’m pulling into the driveway. Got to go.”
“I’m sure you do.” Kissing noises filled the truck.
“And you called me fourteen…”
Crew laughed and the connection ended abruptly.
Decker parked in the front of the same side of the garage where he stored his bikes. He began parking outside only recently so Sloane could park inside. He didn’t want to block her in since she’d need to take Val to preschool first thing in the morning. Her doing so would give him the time he needed to work on that fucking statement and get it to Crew before he headed to his pizza delivery “job.”
Since he didn’t have his house keys, he used the remote to open the garage door and headed inside. He immediately stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of Sloane sitting at the desk still working this late.
Her strawberry-blonde hair was pulled up into a sloppy knot at the top of her head with a few escaped strands framing her face, the way she normally wore it while at home when she didn’t have meetings. She also had switched from her contacts to her glasses, which were sexy as fuck.
She already changed out of her normal workday-wear, too. She now wore pink fuzzy slippers on her feet, black leggings and a wide-necked black sweatshirt that hung off one shoulder and stated “Thick Thighs & Pumpkin Pies” boldly across the front.
That was a statement he could get on board with.
But it wasn’t any of that, that caught and kept his attention, it was the fact that Finn sat in her lap like he owned it.
“First of all, nice sweatshirt. It’s a good reminder I need to make plans for Thanksgiving since it’s coming up soon. Second, I’m surprised Finn’s not with Val.”
“Well, hello to you, too,” she said with one raised eyebrow. “Normally I keep the door cracked so I can hear if she calls out. But lately, once she’s asleep, he’s been slipping out and coming to hang out with me. Whether I’m working or cleaning up the kitchen, or hanging out in the living room. Before I go in to bed, I tuck him back in with Val and close the door.”
“Where is she now?”
“Out in the living room watching Frozen.”
Decker groaned. “Then no wonder Finn is in here with you, especially if she’s singing along.”
Sloane giggled. “And why I’m in here working late. I’m hoping to get ahead with work so I can take her to the library tomorrow after school. I promised to find her some new books to read.”
That simple promise she made to his Valee Girl caused something foreign to move deep within him.
And he wasn’t sure he recognized or welcomed whatever it was.
He pushed it aside and squeezed in behind her.
“I can move,” she offered.
When she began to rise, he planted his hands on her shoulders and pressed her back down. “No. You’re fine where you’re at.” Keeping an ear open for Val, he leaned over and sank his teeth gently into her bare shoulder, then ran his nose up along her exposed neck. “Damn, you smell good.”
She pulled away and twisted her head to show him her wrinkled nose. “You don’t.”
He grinned. “Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you hang around men who smoke cigarettes and pot, drink until it seeps from their pores, and are allergic to soap and water. If I shower, will you join me?”
Since coming back from Texas, they’d showered together twice. Twice was not enough. That needed to change.
Her blue eyes sparkled. “Do you need help washing your back?”
“Mmm. That and other places.”
“Val’s still awake,” she reminded him in a low murmur.
“This is what I want and you can tell me no…”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t tell you yet.”
“I don’t care. The answer is yes.”
“I want to tie you up, hang you from the ceiling and flog you until you can’t sit down.”
Her eyes went round and so did her mouth.
He chuckled. “That's what you get for saying yes before you even know what you’re agreeing to. Get to know a man first, Sloane, before you give him a blanket yes. He could want to wear your skin.”
“When you bring out a basket with lotion, then I’ll worry.”
He shook his head. “It’ll be too late to worry at that point. How about this? I’ll put her to bed, read her the shortest story I can find, then jump in the shower. And you finish up whatever you’re doing and once we’re both finished, she should be out like a light. By the time I’m done in the shower, I expect you to be naked in my bed waiting for me. I want you on your stomach with a pillow under your hips. Got it?”