Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
“To the sheriff?” Austin asks.
I shrug. “Yeah. Or to the mayor. I hate to do it, but the evidence doesn’t support any of you being involved.”
“Thanks.” Chance leans back in his chair. “That means a lot to us. And I promise you that we—my brothers and I—had nothing to do with that poor soul who lost his life somewhere on this ranch. My dad had a lot of enemies. Apparently a lot more than I even knew about.”
“The guy was a dick.” Austin shakes his head. “He knocked up my mother and then left when she found out she was pregnant. He did the same to Miles’s mom. And then he divorced Chance’s eventually as well. We never met or talked to each other until a few weeks ago.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard the story. I’m sorry you all didn’t get to grow up together.”
“We know about each other now,” Chance says. “It was tough going at first, but we’re mellowing.”
Austin huffs out a laugh. Apparently tough has a story or two behind it.
“Can you tell me about Miles? About how he grew up?”
Chance shakes his head. “We’ve met Austin’s mom, but Miles hasn’t shared any of his own details with us.”
Hmmm. That’s interesting. What secrets is Miles Bridger hiding, if any? And are they why he was so quick to react?
I will find out. I rise again. “I’m going to find him.”
Austin points across the kitchen. “Go out the back door off the kitchen and try the detached garage outside, the first one.”
“Okay. Thanks for dinner. Well, for the bite of salad, anyway.”
“It’ll still be here,” Carly says. “Good luck.”
I smile at her. “Thanks.”
I’ve a feeling I’m going to need it.
11
MILES
* * *
“Fuck!” I curse at my phone’s ringtone. I don’t recognize the number.
I’m pacing in front of my motorcycle and take in the dented chrome, the torn seat. Faded paint job. The scent of motor oil is like a familiar balm. I can’t wait to get my hands on my latest project. I’ll work a few hours on her later, starting to take her apart to fix her up. It’ll ease this…aggravation.
No. Anger.
At who, though?
I put the phone to my ear when it rings again. “What is it?” I snarl.
I’m frustrated with myself. With Sadie.
“Hello…Miles? Miles Bridger?” A woman.
“Yeah, who’s asking?”
“This is Rhonda. We…you know…hooked up a while back?”
Right. Rhonda. The text earlier.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Did you get my message from yesterday?’
Shit, yeah. “I did. I’ve been busy. What do you need?”
She clears her throat, a crackle through the phone line. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for a week. I finally got someone from your shop to give me your cell number.”
“Oh? Who?”
“I think his name was Dave.”
Dave Wilson, one of my mechanics in New York. He’s fired. This is my private number, not something anyone shares.
“What can I help you with, Rhonda?”
“Well, I—”
The door hinges squeak. Sadie steps into the garage and looks around, her gaze stopping on me.
In that damned black skirt, her bare legs going from here to heaven. Fuck!
“I have to call you back,” I say to Rhonda, ending the call.
Sadie takes a tentative step toward me. Then another. I don’t say anything as she makes her approach.
She tips her chin up when she’s right before me. “You’re being an asshole.”
I lift my eyebrows. Her words are completely unexpected.
“Me? I’m not the one who’s ashamed of us.”
“Have you told your brothers about us?”
Well, shit.
She shifts her hands to her hips.
“No.”
“Why’s that?” She tilts her head.
“It’s none of their business.”
“Just like it’s none of Mark’s business,” she counters.
Fuck, she has a point.
“Are you going to get fired and lose your income if Austin and Chance have an issue with us being together, even though you know I’ve already told them I don’t think any of you had anything to do with the murder?”
I open my mouth. Close it.
“Just as I thought.” She spins around, walks away, and then looks over her shoulder. “Let me know when you get your head out of your ass.” Those words are tossed over her shoulder.
Fuck. Me.
“Wait.”
She stills but doesn’t turn.
“You’re right. I am an asshole.” I approach her slowly. With the same caution as one would take when trying to touch a wildcat, I put my hands on Sadie’s hips, lean down, and kiss her shoulder.
She turns in the circle of my arms. “What set you off?”
I reach up and stroke her sleek hair. “My mother changes men at the same pace most people change their sheets. She’s a shitty example of being in a solid relationship. So I don’t do them. I’ve been with women, but they know the score. One and done.”
“I wasn’t asking for a ring, Miles.”
I shake my head. “This is different. Hell, I have no idea what it is about you that drives me fucking nuts. That makes me want to sink myself balls deep in you and stay there forever.”