Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
She found Corbin out front, staring up at the house.
“You okay there?” she asked, walking down the stairs to stand a few feet from him.
“Yep. Just sorting where to put the cameras.”
“Want a beer?”
“No thanks, I’m working. So, do you spend most of your time at home?”
She tensed, waiting for him to make some quip about her lack of a job. That was why he was asking, right?
Well, lots of people worked from home nowadays.
You don’t, though.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to work. However, it was difficult to hold down a job when random things would set you off, provoking a panic attack or meaning you’d need some time to yourself.
And then there was her right hand. She had a lot of issues with it and had to rest it a lot.
So, for now, she was just doing the best she could with the money she’d inherited from her grandma.
“I guess so. I don’t have a job.” When he didn’t say anything, she decided to keep filling the silence. “I don’t like being tied down. Just as well I have a trust fund from my parents, huh?”
What are you doing?
She didn’t even use the trust fund from her parents. Not for herself, anyway.
Was she trying to make herself sound ridiculous and shallow?
Bebe knew what people thought of her and she was tired of trying to convince them otherwise. So, most of the time, she didn’t even try.
“All right. So you’re home most of the time. I’m going to get some things delivered. If you have to go somewhere, we can accommodate that. I just need to know ahead of time.”
“Oh. Right.”
Now she felt like a complete dick. Was that why he’d asked?
“No, I’ve got no plans.”
Because she had no real life.
Way to sound like a loser.
Corbin’s attention strayed from Bebe, who’d gone strangely silent, to a man shuffling his way toward them. He looked rough with long, tangled hair and a limp. He was pushing a cart filled with bags in front of him. And he was headed straight toward them.
Corbin tensed. Was he a harmless old man or something more? A threat could come in many forms.
The guy looked up, bypassing Corbin entirely and centering in on Bebe. Corbin stepped in front of her and the guy stilled, his gaze sliding over Corbin.
“Stay there, Bebe,” Corbin commanded.
“Hey, Bob!” Bebe called out in a cheerful voice.
Did she know this guy?
Then, she did the unthinkable.
She slid around him, putting herself between him and the other man.
What. The. Hell.
Hadn’t they gone over this last night when they’d talked through her schedule and rules?
Not that she really had a schedule.
They’d made it clear to her that she should never get between them and a threat. And if they put her somewhere, then she damned well stayed there!
Okay, he hadn’t put it quite like that. But that’s what he’d meant.
“Bebe,” he said warningly, reaching out for her. “Get behind me.”
“Why? This is just Bob; he’s not a threat.” She stared up at the guy with a smile. “Bob’s a friend.”
Bob was a friend?
Throughout this, Bob didn’t say anything. But suddenly, he smiled, displaying the fact he only had about three teeth left in his mouth, and nodded.
“Bob is a friend?” Corbin repeated.
“Yep. What have you got for me today, Bob?”
“Found you some good pieces, Bebe.” Bob reached into his cart and Corbin tensed.
What the fuck? What if he drew out a gun?
Grabbing Bebe, Corbin drew her back just as Bob held up some pieces of . . . wood.
Wood?
Bebe shook off Corbin’s hold and he reluctantly let her go. It didn’t seem that Bob was a threat. Although he’d continue to watch him.
He was starting to wonder whether Barb was right and Bebe was really reckless. Or just uncaring of her personal safety.
Bebe oohed and aahed over the pieces of wood that didn’t look like anything special to him.
“I’ll give you twenty,” she said.
“Twenty, nah, they’re not worth that, Bebe. Give me five,” Bob countered.
“Bob, seriously. We’ve had this conversation. You’re supposed to negotiate up not down.”
Bob grinned that gap-tooth smile at her.
“Twenty, that’s my final offer. No arguments.”
“We both know they’re not worth that, girly, but I suppose if you’re gonna be stubborn about it . . .”
“You know me, Bob. Stubborn as an old goat.”
“And twice as ornery,” Bob finished as though it was something they often said.
Bebe reached into her pocket and drew out twenty dollars, giving it to the old man.
Corbin noticed her hand shaking slightly as she took the worthless bits of wood. What was going on there?
“Want a beer? Some coffee? Food?”
“No, girly. I’ve gotta go.” Bob gave Corbin a suspicious look. “This fella annoying you?”
“Him?” She pointed her thumb at Corbin. “Nah, you know me, Bob. I could take him with one hand tied behind my back.”