Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 111416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Most likely it was worse. “The one you had words with wanted to buy you, Nova.”
Her head jerked back and her mouth gaped open as that sunk in. “He what?”
He tipped his chin down while keeping their eyes locked. “Yeah. And if he couldn’t buy you, he wanted to rent you by the hour.”
She burst out laughing.
What the fuck? “You think that’s funny?”
He focused on the slide of her throat as she tipped her water glass to her lips and guzzled it. When she was done, she wiped her thumb across her bottom lip. He would’ve gladly done that for her, if she had asked.
“Don’t you?”
“Fuck no, I didn’t find anything funny about that. Jesus, Nova, it’s sick.”
She shrugged like it was no big deal. “Of course it’s sick. But what the hell do you expect? These guys have the mindset that women are their property to do with what they will. That includes selling them. They treat anyone with a vagina as a commodity. Are you surprised? I’m not.”
His nostrils flared. “No. But I guess it hits differently when it comes to you.”
“Why? Because we fucked?”
Of fucking course, but that wasn’t the only reason. “Because you’re my partner.”
“Bullshit.” Her brown eyes narrowed on him and her mouth twisted. “They might not know you can’t make money off me, but I do. So, I’m not worried about it. Besides a few of them touching where and when they shouldn’t or saying ignorant shit because their pea brains are stored in their fucking balls, they behaved as expected. Would I want to be alone with them in a dark room? Fuck no. Not unless I had my Glock with me, along with two full mags.”
“Well, at least your brain isn’t in your balls and you see them for the threat they are. I’m thinking when we go back tomorrow night, we’ll play doubles.” With him partnering up with her at the pool table, the risk of inappropriate touching should be reduced or even non-existent.
“Why? Are you worried about me?”
Of course he was. “Nothing to do with that,” he lied. “I just think we should mix it up every time we hang out there so it doesn’t appear as though we’re there for a specific reason. For example, you play darts while I play pool or you sit at the bar and start up some conversations while I’m playing pool. Shit like that.”
“All right. I’ll allow it.”
He huffed. “You will, will you?”
She pushed her empty salad plate away and leaned back against the booth’s red vinyl seat. “Do I have to remind you again that you’re not in charge here? Suggestions are one thing, orders are another. Here’s a fun fact in case it’s not clear… Anything you can do, I can do just as well, if not better. Unfortunately, as a woman in this career, I have to constantly prove my ‘worth.’ I guarantee, since you have a dick, you don’t.” She lifted a palm and shook her head to stop his response. “I’ve already experienced it firsthand more than once, so don’t even try to deny it.”
“I wouldn’t, because I agree. Believe me, the state police has plenty of enlisted members who don’t believe women should be in law enforcement. Their twisted opinion is that women aren’t as capable. Not strong enough. Not fast enough. There’s always some bullshit reason. And usually the assholes complaining the loudest are the slugs.” He wondered if the FBI used that same term for lazy as fuck agents.
“It’s like that at every level of law enforcement. So yeah, women need to constantly prove themselves. While men can do the bare minimum and get the same amount, if not more, recognition and respect.”
He grimaced when he thought about how he treated her the first day they met. But then, he was an equal opportunity ball-buster. “Sorry you have to deal with that.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just respect and value us as a coworker doing the same job. It’s that simple. The capability to do our job, and do it well, does not come down to gender.”
If she was looking for an argument, she wasn’t getting it from him. “True that.” He sighed. “You ready?”
He wanted to get out of there before dinner struck him like a brick over the head. It had already been a long day and unlike Nova being smart about eating a salad, of course he had picked a heavy meal. Hopefully it would help him sleep good tonight. However, they were still only about halfway home…
The apartment, not home, he reminded himself. Their temporary residence.
Either way, he didn’t want to risk nodding off. And it wouldn’t be a good look if Ghost ended up being Kitten’s backpack. Hell, he wasn’t even sure if Nova knew how to drive a motorcycle.
He studied her as she gathered her stuff and stood.