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)
And Ethan wasn’t willing to leave Cate on her own.
“I know.” Rhodes nodded. “I called Ink. He can’t spare anyone else for Samantha at the moment. So whoever is out of the house takes a guard. And at night, one of you should be here with Cate. If Samantha and I are going to different places in the evening, we’ll have to hire someone from an agency. Ink is looking into someone temporary who can be on call. At least this asshole hasn’t targeted Cate in any of their notes.”
“Probably doesn’t see her as a threat since she’s your sister.”
“I still don’t want her here alone at night, and I would rather you were the one here with her. We’ll sit down and go over our schedules when we get back.”
19
Ethan knocked on Cate’s office door.
“Come in.”
Walking in, he found her hunched over her desk, reading something on her computer screen. He didn’t think she could retreat any further, but since Samantha moved in four days ago, Cate had become a ghost in her own home.
He hadn’t been able to get her to come read with him outside even once.
And he didn’t like that one bit.
“Cate?” he asked, looking around while he waited for her to acknowledge him.
He noticed a full tray sitting on the end of the desk.
Was she eating any of the food the housekeeper brought her?
She glanced up, blinking in surprise. “Oh, Ethan, hello. Can I help you?”
“I’m concerned about you,” he barked. Shit. He hadn’t meant to snap. “Are you eating? Sleeping?”
“What? Yes, I’m eating and sleeping.”
“Enough?” he pressed.
“I guess that depends on what you think enough is.”
“Don’t try to play word games with me,” he said firmly. “Three meals, two snacks, lots of water, and eight hours sleep. Minimum.”
“Is that what you do?” she asked.
“Yes.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Helps keep me big and strong.”
“I’m not sure I desire muscles that big.” But she couldn’t seem to take her gaze off him. And he had to stop himself from puffing up like a rooster. “And I don’t need as much food as you do.”
“But you need as much sleep. And some food. Was this lunch?” He gestured at the tray.
“Oh, is it past lunchtime already?” She blinked at the clock. “It’s not quite one.”
“Yes, and you have a meeting at two-thirty. I thought I’d check in to see find out what time you want to leave.”
“Oh. Yes. That’s in my calendar.” She peered down at her calendar. “I need my list of things I’m supposed to take.” She dragged out a piece of paper from a drawer. He noticed that it had images of each thing she needed alongside the words.
Things like a briefcase, a laptop, water, and shoes were on the list.
“I’ll be ready to go in forty minutes. I need to change these clothes. I think I wore them yesterday.”
Okay, now he was officially worried. While they were out, he was going to get her to eat and drink something. If she couldn’t take care of herself, he would need to step in.
It was as simple as that.
Forty minutes later, Ethan stood in the foyer, waiting for Cate.
“Oh, good, you’re ready to go.” Samantha stepped into the foyer, dressed in yoga pants and a sports top that showed off her stomach.
“You’re leaving?” he asked. “Did you ask Seth to arrange a temp for you?”
“What? No. Why would I need a temp when I have you?” She bit her lip as she stared up at him.
He was sure she thought she was being sexy. But it just felt creepy.
“I’m busy, sorry,” he said politely.
“Doing what? Look, I have a yoga class I need to get to. Polly! Are you ready?”
Polly, Samantha’s assistant, walked out of the living room carrying a large duffel bag, two garment bags, and a huge bottle of water.
Polly was a sweetheart. Quiet and shy. She rarely lifted her gaze off the ground and spoke in such a soft voice that it was difficult to hear her.
And he hated how Samantha spoke to her. As though she was her slave.
Polly’s brown hair was in a messy ponytail, and her glasses were falling partway down her nose. She tended to wear eclectic clothing as though she’d just chucked on whatever she first put her hands on. But it worked for her.
“Here, Polly, let me help.” He stepped forward to grab the bottle of water, which he knew would be Samantha’s. He shoved it at her. “Take this.”
She took it, her mouth dropping open. Then he grabbed the bag off Polly.
“Fine, you can carry my stuff to the yoga studio. Put all those muscles to work.”
She fluttered her eyelashes at him.
“Is there something wrong with your eyes?”
The question came from Cate as she stepped up next to him, nearly touching him. He gave her a surprised look. It was rare for Cate to initiate touch. In fact, she only seemed to do it with Rhodes.