Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“I don’t–”
“That spring break is this week. Right now!” Her voice rises in pitch.
“I know.”
“Why would you lie? What’s going on? Are you failing? I know you aren’t the brightest, but I thought–”
“Hey.” I step between the screeching banshee and my Charlie. “Don’t talk to her like that.”
“Excuse me?” Joanna puts her hands on her hips.
“You heard me, lady. I don’t want you talking to Charlie like that. Keep it up, and I’ll boot you and Poindexter here right off this fucking property.” I step toward her.
“How dare you! Don’t you know who I am?”
“I do, and I don’t give a shit. You need to check your tone.”
“Rowan.” Charlie stands. “It’s all right. It’s just her way.”
“I don’t give a good goddamn what her way is. I’m not letting her talk to you like that.” I keep my position between them.
Joanna sputters, her face turning red.
Charlie comes to my side and touches my elbow. “Really, it’s okay.”
I wholeheartedly disagree, but I don’t interfere. She’s standing on her own two feet, and I’m not going anywhere.
“Mom, I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you’d react … badly.” Charlie tangles her fingers together in front of her. “I’ve been thinking about taking some time off from school so I can–”
“Absolutely not.”
I bristle at the woman trying to steamroll my girl, but Charlie squeezes my elbow. Despite my anger, I stay silent. If she wants to fight this battle, I have to let her, but I’m true to my word. I’ll always have her back.
“Just listen, okay? I don’t know if school is right for me right now. Maybe later when I know what I want to do. But I haven’t seen enough of the world to know that yet.”
“As I suspected.” The boy gives Joanna a dark look. “I’m glad we’re here. This is the right time.”
Joanna turns to him. “You think?”
He nods. “Before the world taints her further. This is a good thing. She has no business in school anyway. The teachings of our Lord make clear that her place is as a helpmate, someone to raise children and keep a warm home for her husband.”
“Don’t talk about her like she’s not here, dickhead.” I step toward him.
“Rowan.” Charlie wraps her hands around my bicep.
The boy watches her movement, his eyes narrowing. I want to pound the prick into a fine pink mist.
Joanna gasps and reaches for Charlie. “Get away from him. He’s the help!”
“Mom, this is Rowan. He’s my-my, my um–”
“I’m her boyfriend.” I wrap my arm around her waist.
Joanna’s mouth falls open.
“It’s worse than I thought.” The boy’s lips form an even thinner line. “Joanna, with me.” He turns on his heel and stomps into the sitting room. “We need to pray. Now.”
“Don’t you move. We’re not done here.” Joanna points at Charlie, then follows the twatty boy as if he has her on a leash.
When I turn to Charlie, she’s looking up at me, her cheeks pink and her eyes warm. “Your girlfriend?”
I smirk. “Does that bother you?”
“No.” She shakes her head slowly. “It … it makes me happy.” She smiles big.
“Good, let’s go.” I take her hand.
“I can’t. Mom said for me to–”
“She’s busy with Opie the dipshit right now. Come on. I want you to tell me what’s going on and what your plan is. You aren’t going to do anything you don’t want to, and that includes going back to school.” I pull her toward the back door.
She hesitates, biting down on her lip.
I lean closer to her and kiss her, claiming her lips for my own. She sighs and wraps her arms around my neck. It feels so right, so fucking perfect. I’m addicted to her.
And isn’t that a fucking problem? I came here for the diadem. But I’ve found myself obsessed with a different treasure entirely. And now I have even more Devereauxs underfoot. How can I search and help Charlie at the same time? The simple answer is, I can’t. I have to choose.
16
CHARLIE
“She’s going to come looking for me.” I glance over my shoulder as Rowan pulls me along. His giant hand has mine engulfed. The man is a beast. I’m not sure what other girls dream about, but for me it’s always been the beast. I hated the part in the book where the Beast turned back into the charming shiny prince. No, thank you.
“You really think she’ll look for you out here?” Rowan leads me into his place. The door shuts behind us before the sound of the lock clicks into place. “You can spend hours searching this property and still not find every damn room.”
“True.” I turn to face him.
Rowan is leaning up against the door. It should be illegal how damn hot he looks right now.
Does he think I’m going to try and make a run for it? Is that why he’s blocking the doorway? I thought we’ve established I’m a clinger when it comes to him. I’m a tad possessive too, because I wanted to claw my mom's eyes out when I saw her reaction to seeing Rowan.