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)
“Don’t you think they would have done things the other way around?” Cate asked. “Started with the photos and escalated to road rage?”
“Yeah,” Brody said. “That would make more sense.”
“But nothing about this makes sense,” Ethan muttered. “Maybe Rhodes should come back.”
This asshole could come after Cate again. And he wasn’t about to let anything happen to his girl.
He wouldn’t put Rhodes at risk, but if it kept Cate safer for him to be back here . . .
All right, maybe he was mildly compromised in his ability to provide protection to Rip. Fuck. He probably needed to speak to Ink.
“I’m safe here,” Cate countered. “Rhodes needs to go to the gala tonight. That charity means a lot to him. I won’t ruin that.”
His phone started ringing with a new call. Speak of the devil.
“Well, you might not get the choice. Brody, Rhodes is calling me. What does Ink say?”
“Ah, yeah. I haven’t told Ink yet. I should do that. It’s just he’s got a lot going on at the moment. And I thought I better call you first. I mean, there’s nothing that bad going on in the photos. Would Rip really care about you wiping Cate’s face?”
Cate grimaced. “If I was someone else, maybe not. But I’ve never let anyone else take care of me. But it’s foolish. I am a grown woman. If I want to let a man wipe my face and feed me, then I will.”
“You go girl!” Brody cheered.
Ethan sighed and shook his head.
“Look, the good news is that I’m getting close to who actually owns this website. They’re clever at hiding themselves, I’ll give them that.”
“That’s one thing,” Ethan agreed. “Thanks, Brody.”
He ended the call. Crouching in front of Cate, he took her hands in his. Still a bit cold.
His phone started ringing again, but he ignored it.
“I turned the thermostat up, why isn’t it warmer in here?”
Although he was feeling rather toasty. He was close to stripping off his T-shirt.
“You turned the thermostat up?” she asked. “Why?”
“Because you’re cold.” She was wearing a woolen sweater that went down to the middle of her thighs, and she had on black leggings underneath.
“Are those leggings warm enough?” They didn’t look it.
“They’re fleece-lined,” she told him. “But that isn’t important. You need to answer Rhodes’ call or he’s going to think something has happened.”
“I’m just going to give this to you straight.”
“Give what to me?”
“I told you that I don’t want our relationship to be a secret. Which means I’m going to have to call and talk to Ink and see if he wants me off this job.”
Off this job?
Did that mean he would have to leave?
“Are you sure you want to tell him?” she asked. “We could keep it a secret and then you wouldn’t have to talk to Ink.”
“No. No secrets. I don’t like lies and subterfuge. And I don’t want to pretend our relationship doesn’t exist. I can’t keep something like this from Ink. He’s not just my boss, he’s my friend.”
“But how can there be a relationship if you’re not even here!”
His eyes widened. “Baby, what are you talking about? Oh shit. No. I’m not going to go anywhere.”
“But if Ink takes you off this job . . .”
“I’m still going to stay. I just won’t get paid.”
“You’d stay without getting paid?” She knew he’d said that earlier but she hadn’t believed him. “Oh wait! I could pay you!” That was the perfect solution.
“That is not happening.”
She stood and stepped to the side so she could pace up and down the room. “No, it is the best idea. I’ll pay you to stay and be in a relationship with me.”
“Cate Ripley,” Ethan said firmly as he stood, towering over her. “Did you hear what you just said?”
“Well, yes. Of course I did.” There was nothing wrong with her hearing.
“And you don’t see any problems with it? Go over the words in your head again.”
She said them back to herself. Huh . . . oh. Right. “Um, right. I don’t mean I’d pay you to be in a relationship with me. I just meant if I paid you, then you could stay. I don’t want you to suffer just because you’re in a relationship with me. I don’t think I’m saying this very well.”
“No, you’re not,” he agreed. “But it doesn’t matter. Because under no circumstances will you ever be paying me. Not to be in a relationship and not to protect you, understand?”
“But won’t you need the money?”
“I’m not going to go broke, baby.”
“All right. As long as you promise to tell me if you need money. I have plenty.”
“You shouldn’t go around telling people that you have money.”
“I shouldn’t?”
“No. It’s not safe. Although now you have me to protect you, it’s not such an issue. So, I’m going to call Ink and tell him. Then we’ll talk to your brother.”