Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
When Kole got within her arm’s length, she struck out, trying to force him away. He easily controlled her actions, making her even angrier. She was sputtering mad by the time he had her pinned against his hard body with her back against his torso. His hand wrapped around her throat and held her securely against him.
“Stop fighting, Gabby. I’m in your corner, remember?”
“And that corn nut nickname! No one calls me Gabby.”
“I do.”
That simple answer stopped her. “Why?”
“Because a Little girl can’t have a stuffy name like Gabriela. That’s for other people who don’t know you.”
“They took my stuffie,” she whispered as the fight evaporated from her.
“I know, sweetheart.”
“Are you going to get PupPup back for me?”
“I don’t know, Gabby. I’m going to try to solve this mystery. I don’t want to lie to you.”
His soft words completely undid her. Tears coursed down her cheeks.
“Baby.” Kole turned her gently in his arms and scooped her up. Effortlessly carrying her to a chair, he sat down with her cradled on his lap.
Gabriela turned to bury her head against his neck. She inhaled, absorbing the natural scent of his warm skin. Not artificial, like woodsy soap or citrusy deodorant. That was subtly all there. She preferred the scent under all that.
“I’m sorry. I’ll pull myself together,” she whispered, not moving, wishing she could freeze time to capture this moment.
“You don’t need to pretend with me, Little girl. I know you’re hurting. I know you’re scared. Someone out there isn’t playing by the right rules. I’m going to find them. I’m going to stop them,” he promised fiercely.
“Okay.”
He squeezed her closer and pressed a kiss to her hair. “You are very brave, Little one.”
“Why did they take PupPup?”
“That was personal. It wasn’t to resell to some perv out there who collects celebrity underwear. Someone did that to scare you and shake you up.”
“They were successful.”
“I know. You have to keep in mind, they’re not going to hurt PupPup. He’s hidden somewhere safe in case they need him again to get to you. Right now, he’s as scared as you are, but he’s unharmed.”
“Right now,” she repeated, reading between the lines of his statement.
“I’m going to do my best to figure this out before something happens to him.”
“Okay.”
CHAPTER 6
By the time darkness fell, Kole had replaced the lock and added security cameras to the interior and exterior of the trailer. The efficiency with which he worked assured Gabriela he had done this a lot. She noted he avoided installing anything in the bedroom but made sure the hallway was covered. Gabriela tried to memorize where he’d hidden the lenses but despite a few reminders, she kept losing them.
“How can you see those?” she asked as she searched a wall.
“I know what to look for and I put them in. It’s okay if you forget where they are. That makes you less likely to give them away to anyone else.”
She nodded, knowing he was right. “Are you interested in dinner? They’ll still have something hot for a few more minutes.”
“I could eat. It’s important for you to keep your energy up as well.”
“I think I’d just be sick. I’m going to take a shower and go to bed,” she answered.
“I’ll get out of your way.” Kole picked up his duffle and walked to the door. “What time are you up in the morning?”
“About five for makeup and wardrobe. Where are you sleeping?” she asked.
“I’ll find a spot where I can watch your door,” he answered easily. “Lock this after me.”
“What? You can’t sleep outside. There are snakes and wild animals out there. I’m sorry, I’ll call and find you a place.”
“I’m not going to leave the immediate area, Gabriela. Don’t worry about me. I’ve slept in worse places,” he assured her.
“Not going to happen, Kole. I think that table area becomes a bed. It can’t be too comfortable,” she suggested.
“It will be fine. I’ll go grab some food for us.” He hauled her suitcase into the bedroom and heaved it onto the bed so she could unpack.
“Lock the door behind me. When you’re finished in the shower, let me back inside. I’ll watch the outside cameras while I’m away to make sure you’re okay.”
“Thanks, Kole.” Gabriela waited until he shut the door firmly behind him and then locked the door and attached the security chain he’d installed.
She stared at the barrier between them, knowing somehow that he was looking back at her. Pressing her hand to the door, she sent thanks out into the heavens that he was the one who had gotten the call from her agent and come personally.
“Go, Gabby,” he ordered sternly through the door between them.
Delighted that she was right, Gabriela turned and headed for the mammoth job of unpacking. She had packing and unpacking down to a science by now. In twenty minutes, she had finished.