Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“Cate?” Ethan said in a surprisingly gentle voice. She wouldn’t have thought a man that big could be gentle. “I know you don’t know me well, but you can talk to me.”
Talk to him? Why would she want to do that?
“About what?” she asked.
“About anything,” he replied. “For instance, you can tell me why I’m making you so uncomfortable right now. I want you to be comfortable around me.”
“Why?” she asked, unable to figure out why he’d want that.
“Because I might be here for a while. I know it’s not easy to have people in your house. But if we were friends, it would be easier, right?”
Friends?
She didn’t have friends. She had Rhodes. And Oliver. But he was paid to be her assistant. And she barely knew her other work colleagues.
“That’s not necessary,” she said stiffly.
Crap. She probably should have said something more polite.
Would he get upset? She hated upsetting people. But it inevitably seemed to happen—like when she’d asked Samantha to move her handbag. Her face had twisted into a scowl and she’d stared at Cate as if she hated her.
But Ethan’s expression didn’t change. “Maybe not necessary, but it would make life easier, wouldn’t it? Because, as your friend, I want you to be at ease. So why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
He wants to know.
Tell him.
“I, um, it’s just . . . that stool . . . I’m sorry.”
“You want to sit on this stool?” he asked.
“Sorry. Yes, I do.”
“No need to be sorry.” He got up to move around to a different stool. “Is it all right if I sit here? Or would you rather I leave while you eat your breakfast?”
He was moving?
Without making a fuss?
What had he asked? If he could stay? Would he really leave if she asked him to?
“No, of course you can stay.”
That was the polite answer. The one she knew she should give.
But to her surprise, she actually didn’t mind the idea of him being here while she ate.
That was . . . odd.
She settled, stealing a glimpse of him as she picked up her knife and fork.
Wait. Shoot. He was going to think she was weird for eating a bagel with a knife and fork, wasn’t he?
Nobody ate their bagel with a knife and fork. But she didn’t like to touch her food when she ate it.
Cate set her knife and fork down just as he turned away. Now he was leaving.
You scared him away.
“Would you like more coffee?” Ethan asked, moving to the coffee pot.
So he wasn’t leaving?
Lord, this was an emotional rollercoaster.
“Um, oh, no, thank you.”
Ethan poured himself some coffee and she quickly ate a bite of bagel.
When he turned back, she attempted to swallow it before it was thoroughly chewed. Coughing, she reached for her coffee. She needed a drink.
Crap! She couldn’t breathe!
“Shit! Cate!”
She was vaguely aware of Ethan racing around to her side.
He pounded his hand on her back as she struggled to breathe or swallow. She knocked the coffee over, spilling it across the counter.
“Cate!”
That was Rhodes’ voice.
“Cough it up, Cate! Cough it up! Right. Now,” Ethan said in the most commanding voice she’d ever heard from anyone.
As she started to cough up the bagel, he stuck his hand in front of her mouth, capturing the half-chewed mess as it came out of her mouth.
Ew.
That was so gross. And embarrassing.
Rhodes handed her a glass of water as Ethan rubbed her back.
It was too much. She couldn’t handle it. Jumping off her stool, she fled to the safety of her bedroom.
Could she be any more of an idiot?
Who did that?
Rushing into her closet, she grabbed Lady, holding her toy tight. Then she quickly snapped the hair tie around her wrist against her skin.
Flick. Flick. Flick.
The pain wasn’t clearing her mind, though.
Urgh!
Crossing her arms over her torso, she patted her chest. Left side. Right side.
Butterfly hugs often helped her self-soothe and grounded her. But it felt like she needed something more. Rooting around in one of her drawers, she drew out her pacifier.
After placing it in her mouth, she gave herself some more butterfly hugs. Gradually, she felt calmer.
Still stupid. But the anxiety had receded enough that she could breathe easier. She could think.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Cate had to get herself under control because she knew Rhodes would be here soon to check on her.
Poor Rhodes, always having to take care of her crazy ass.
She’d set up a comfortable area in the closet to sit and read with a big beanbag seat and a soft weighted blanket.
Rhodes had put in a bookcase for her and there were drawers to keep things in.
There was a knock on her closet door a minute later. Pulling out her pacifier, she hid it in her drawer. Not that she was worried about Rhodes seeing it. He was always understanding of her . . . quirks.