Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
In fact, it went even worse than I’d expected.
As soon as he heard that he couldn’t go with Garrison, he shut down and wouldn’t even listen to me. He wouldn’t even look at me. He just got up, and as he walked over to the TV, he mumbled, “Don’t worry about it.”
After that, he was pretty quiet for the rest of the night. He went to bed early and drifted off to sleep without even saying goodnight. He was punishing me, and it was working. Seeing him so disappointed was like a knife to the heart, and I hated that I couldn’t fix it.
All I could do was lay there and watch him sleep. On a good note, it was the first time in days that he didn’t spend most of the night tossing and turning in his sleep. He was still and peaceful. I, on the other hand, was wound tight. There was no way I could sleep.
I didn’t even bother trying.
I needed air.
Being careful not to wake Toby, I slipped out of the room and down the hall to the back exit. When I stepped outside, it was a bit cold but in a good way. I needed the bite of the cool air. I wrapped my arms around myself and tilted my head up, trying to lose myself in the night sky.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d stopped long enough to actually look at the stars. My nights had always been so rushed with getting dinner ready and helping with Toby’s homework. It was nice to have a moment to catch my breath.
I hadn’t been standing there long when I heard boots grinding against the gravel, and they were coming right towards me. That’s when it hit me. I was out there alone. Dylan, or anyone for that matter, could take me, and no one would be there to stop them.
I was about to dart back inside and lock the door when I saw those broad shoulders and that familiar, confident stride.
Ghost.
His road name suited him—not only because of his long, whitish-blond hair and piercing blue eyes, but the fact that he had a way of sneaking up on you. My breath hitched, but for the first time in weeks, it wasn’t from fear. His soul-searching blue eyes met mine, and he held my gaze as he approached. Concern marked his handsome face as he said, “You shouldn’t be out here alone.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t sleep.” I gave him a slight shrug. “I thought some fresh air might help.”
“I get it.”
He came and stood beside me, and for a moment, we just stood there, looking up at the stars. After a while, he asked, “You okay?’
There was an unexpected gentleness in his tone that made my chest tighten. “I will be.”
Ghost nodded, his eyes holding mine for a beat longer than I expected before looking back up at the sky.
Neither of us moved.
We just stood there, and beneath the silence, there was an underlying tension between us. It wasn’t the bad kind, not like it was with Dylan. I wasn’t on edge waiting for the next blow. This was very, very different. This was intriguing—almost enticing.
Our hands dangled at our sides, just close enough that the backs of my fingers brushed against his. It was barely a touch and completely accidental, but it had my mind racing. We were so close, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if I just reached out and took hold of his hand.
Would it feel gentle against mine? Would holding his strong, protective hand make me feel safe? The thought tugged at the corners of my mind and left me wondering if he’d noticed how close we were and if he felt the same pull I did. It was doubtful. Ghost was handsome, steady, and strong.
And I was damaged and broken.
It was crazy to believe that someone like him would want to reach for a woman like me.
Not now.
Not ever.
And so we stood, watching the sky, both lost in our own thoughts.
Ghost
It had been a hell of day, and I’d just gotten into bed when a muffled cry pierced through the silence of the night. I eased up on the bed and tilted my head, trying to hear it again. At first, I thought I was dreaming, but then I heard it again—much louder than before.
It was a scream. Not only that, but it was a woman’s scream.
“Whitney.”
My blood ran cold as I shot out of bed and grabbed my gun from the nightstand. Adrenaline pulsed through my veins as I bolted down the hall. As I got closer, the sound of her screams grew louder, echoing through the clubhouse walls. Toby’s cries quickly followed. “Mom... Momma...”
I didn’t bother knocking. I just barged right in and quickly scanned the room, searching for the threat. That’s when I spotted Whitney thrashing wildly in her bed.