Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Cash nodded. Very much the impression he got of Dev’s file.
“I haven’t eaten, and there’s a lot to this case. Why don’t I order in, and you fill me in?” Cash suggested. Shanna had helped pull his thoughts back to center. For that, he appreciated her. And having one Fox at his back helped ease the burden of being completely alone on this assignment.
Shanna froze in her spot as if assessing him again, but this time it was different. She surprised him by pointing to herself. “Gay. I’m with Emma right now. If that’s what’s on your mind.”
“Gay too,” he said, pointing to himself, resisting a laugh. Apparently, she thought he might be looking for a hookup. Definitely the wrong Fox for that one-night stand.
With those cards on the table, her pretty face morphed into something extraordinarily attractive. “Well then. I have connections for dinner. I know the chef at Beto & Son in Trinity Grove. If I can get us some food delivered, you want some?”
“Absolutely,” he agreed, having no idea what food category might be covered by a Beto & Son but willing to give it a try.
She visibly relaxed as she reached for her cell phone in her back pocket. “I’ll order if that’s all right with you. Emma’s downstairs. She can grab my laptop from the car and come up. Sound good?”
He nodded, feeling like the facts in the case had shifted again. They’d established a tentative truce and were building a solid rapport. Everything in his gut said Shanna had spoken the truth. If nothing else, he wouldn’t have to be alone tonight which was good. He didn’t think he could lift another weight to work off any more tension.
Chapter 6
“You’re late,” Tena said, flicking her cigarette on the front porch ledge, smashing the butt out as she took the steps down.
“I’m ten minutes early,” Dev argued, walking through the freshly cut lawn toward the front door of his Sunnyvale home.
While darkness had fallen, every light on the property was on, lighting his way. That explained their through-the-roof electric bill.
“Who’s that?” he asked with a chin-tilt in the direction of the car idling at the curb. The one that had blocked Dev from parking in his usual spot.
“My ride,” she said as if that should be obvious and rolled her eyes in such a way to make sure he knew the stupidity of his question.
Her high heels ate up the front walkway in her hurry to get inside the waiting car. Her strut was catwalk worthy, a master in a pair of shoes that lifted her height by at least five inches. She was still short though.
When she turned on her heel, she gave all the attitude in the world while sticking out a hand and clicking her long coffin-shaped nails. “I know you got money tonight. I want my share.”
Dev didn’t stop walking toward the house. He cast a critical gaze up and down her body, shaking his head in judgment. Her dress was clingy, sparkly, and draped across her in such a way to accent his significant artwork. Her shoes were dainty and strappy, and matched the color of the dress perfectly.
She wore a sleeveless, plush faux fur coat that hit her thighs, maybe two inches longer than the dress, and left her arms completely bare. It had to be new, looked expensive, and too big for her. The revealing cut of both articles of clothing allowed for glimpses of her unencumbered breasts. Had he known that would be a side-effect of the tit job he’d paid for, he wouldn’t have done it.
Her hair, makeup, and tan all helped pull the expensive but trashy look off to perfection. She still looked like a hooker, but a million-dollar one. He pitied the man who fell between the trap of her thighs that night. He’d pay dearly for the privilege.
Dev sure as fuck didn’t get half of what she hauled in a night.
When focused on something so visually appealing but completely uninterested in taking part…did such thoughts mean that he’d officially died inside?
“I’m not givin’ you anymore money. You spent your allowance. Figure it out.” He cut his gaze back toward the house, dismissing her, and kept going. He heard the shoe whizzing toward him seconds before it missed his head by a mere inch. He ducked away as an afterthought, just in case the other was on its way.
The high-heeled shoe hit the front of the house with a hard clunk. He spun back around toward her to see her angrily taking the other shoe off. She wasn’t as quick as she used to be.
“I can’t stand living out here, you selfish motherfucker, but I stay because this is where you think we should be. Do you have any idea what it costs me to ride back and forth to Dallas like this? It ain’t cheap. You’ve cut my business in half by making me stay out here, and I can’t make it on what you give me, you selfish bastard.”