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)
“Rhodes, she can’t just snap her fingers and expect us to jump,” Ethan said in a low voice. “She wasn’t part of the original brief and I’m not comfortable pulling any protection from you or Cate to cover her.”
Rhodes frowned, nodding. “You’re right. I’ll discuss getting in someone else for her again. I’m not sure why she doesn’t like the idea. I said I’d pay for it.”
Cate swayed slightly.
“You okay?” Ethan put his hand on her back. “You look exhausted. You need to rest.”
“Cate?” Rhodes queried.
She smiled at him tiredly. “I’m all good. You know leaving the house and interacting with strangers tires me out. But I think I will go rest.”
Ethan watched her walk away.
Damn.
The woman had one hell of a fine ass on her.
“You’re staring at my sister.”
He turned to look at Rhodes, his eyebrows raised. “She’s my charge.”
“That doesn’t mean you get to check out her ass.”
Actually, he was right. As much as Ethan hated to admit it. But he hadn’t meant to ogle her. She was just so damn beautiful.
“You might want to have this talk with your girlfriend.”
Rhodes frowned. “With Samantha?”
“Yeah. Have you not noticed how much Cate has withdrawn from everyone? She’d just started to get used to Seth and me being here. But now she’s back to hiding in her office or bedroom. She’s not getting enough sleep or eating properly.”
It was unacceptable.
“Fuck. I knew it was going to be hard on her. There’s been too much change.”
“Yeah, and in case you haven’t noticed, Samantha isn’t exactly easy to have around.” He refrained from saying that she was a bitch. “Hire her a bodyguard and move her out. It’s for her safety too. I can’t imagine the stalker is going to be less interested in her now that she’s living here.”
“You think I haven’t used that argument? Fuck, Cate did look pale though. You said she’s not eating properly?”
“I took her for a burger after her meeting.”
“Burgers? Cate doesn’t eat burgers.”
Ethan had to hide his pleased smile. “She does now.”
Rhodes sighed. “I don’t like that Cate is so uncomfortable, but I can’t just kick Samantha out without making certain she’s protected. I have to take care of both of them.”
Luckily, Ethan didn’t feel so torn.
His focus was entirely on Cate.
Cate walked into her office and came to a stop.
What the heck?
“What are you doing in here, Samantha?” she asked.
It was two days since Ethan had taken her for burgers after her meeting. When Samantha had been so upset with her.
Why was she in her office now, though?
Strangely, Rhodes had been questioning her about Ethan and how he treated her.
Then he’d started asking her about whether she was comfortable with Samantha here. She didn’t like to lie so she’d told him the truth.
“Oh, Cate, there you are. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Why? And why are you waiting in here?”
“Well, because I wanted that schedule from you.”
“I was going to give it to Ethan.”
“But I have some things coming up that I need to organize and I can’t wait much longer for it.”
She’d only asked for it the day before yesterday.
Cate walked over to her calendar. It was slightly out of place. How had that happened?
“Did you touch this?” she asked.
“What? Why would I touch your stuff?” Samantha asked. “Really, Cate. You’re kind of delusional, aren’t you? The truth is, other than being Rhodes’ sister, I really have no interest in you at all.”
Did she think that was an insult? That Cate wanted her to be interested?
Because that wasn’t the case at all.
All she wanted was for Samantha to stay well away from her.
“Schedule?” Samantha snapped.
“I’ll need to write it out.”
“Fine. Just tell me for the upcoming two weeks.”
She glanced down at her schedule “I have a meeting Friday afternoon at one.”
Another meeting? How tiresome.
“And that’s for work?”
“Yes. And then there isn’t anything more for two weeks.”
“Fine.” Samantha smiled. “That’s all I wanted to know. Rhodes and I are leaving Friday morning anyway for New York.” She flounced out of the office.
That was . . . strange.
But Cate shook that off. She had other things to do that were far more important than Samantha.
24
“Ameeting? I can’t go to a meeting today.” Cate stared up at Ethan, looking confused.
He frowned as he took her in. He’d done his best this past week to get her out of the office. To ensure she was eating and sleeping, but he hadn’t been that successful.
At least Samantha was gone until Sunday. She and Rhodes were in New York. Ethan planned to keep Cate from retreating all weekend and spend time with him.
You realize that’s not your job.
But she was his friend. It was what friends did. Right?
“Why not?” he asked gently. “Are you not prepared?”
She shook her head. “Oliver is ill. I can’t go to a meeting without him.”
“Do you want to cancel?” he asked.