Total pages in book: 190
Estimated words: 185785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 185785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Killian pulls his phone out from inside his jacket pocket and dials while standing there.
I remember to breathe and then I glance at my phone.
8:15.
8:16.
8:17.
He’s finally coming back to the car and he’s still talking, rambling off the address to my office building.
“Okay, Wes, sounds good. Thanks.”
He ends his call and his eyes move to me.
“Ray won’t be back. Or he better not be. He contacts you at work by phone or happens to show up, email, anything at all, please tell me.”
I blink at him.
“Okay, Violet?”
I nod.
“That was Wesley Traynor,” he continues. “He’ll be here today making sure Ray doesn’t bother you. This is Wes.”
He shows me his phone and I see a digital business card with a photo of a very attractive bi-racial man with light green eyes and a killer smile.
Wesley Traynor,
Zack Jacobs Private Investigations.
I nod stiffly.
“Right.” Killian tucks his phone away. ”So you see this guy seem like he’s following you or lingering, you’ll know who he is. Chances are if Wes does his job correctly, you won’t even notice him. Best get inside. Have a good day, Violet.”
I grab my purse and start climbing out of his car.
“You finish at five o’clock?” he asks before I get the car door closed, holding my coffee out for me.
“Yeah. Thanks.” I accept the mug.
“I’ll be here waiting.”
“Okay,” I say. “Have a good day, too. Thanks for the ride.” I close the door and walk to the door.
Debbie, a girl that works two floors above my floor in a law office who always goes for lunch with Cammy my cubicle neighbor stops and waits for me, I think. She’s smiling right at me. She waves at Killian. I look over my shoulder and catch him giving her the finger as he pulls away.
She throws her head back and laughs before sobering and looking me over.
“Violet, right? Did I just see you get out of Kill Coulter’s car?”
“Hey. Um, yeah. Yeah to both.”
“Wanna dish the dirt on him? I got questions.” She winks. “And I might have answers, too. I’m Deb.”
“Um…”
“Met him when I was a teenager. He was good buddies with my ex fiancé. You doin’ him? The guy has a reputation, girl.”
“Not … no. I –” I’m thrown.
My phone rings. Susanna.
Thank goodness. Saved by the bell.
“Sorry, I gotta take this.” I move off to the side and lean against the window. Debbie goes to the elevator, waving bye to me with her long black nails, a smirk on her bright red lips.
That was weird. And rude. Mild annoyance bubbles up because what if I was “doing” him? She’s there trying to talk smack; why? Because he doesn’t like her and gave her the finger?
“Hey Suse,” I greet.
“Hi!” Susanna exclaims. “Oh. My. God. Ohmygod, Violet.”
“What?” I ask.
“Last night! What, she asks…”
“Oh my God is right. Holy moly, right?”
“Ho-lee-moly,” she parrots.
“I don’t even know what to say about all that last night,” I say, my voice just barely above a whisper.
“Me either, girlfriend, but I am very intrigued about this situation. What happened last night?”
I gulp in some air. “He took me to his apartment, set me up and gave me his bed. Said he’d sleep on the couch. Only…”
“Only?”
My face goes hot. I drop my voice to as low as I figure it could go where she’ll still hear me. “He sleepwalked or something and climbed in with me. It was just a mistake and he left, apologizing. Said he’s gonna order a bed for his guest room today for me.”
“Oh my.” Susanna giggles.
“Oh my is right.”
“The plot thickens. Maybe he’s naturally drawn to you.”
“As if.” My face feels like it’s on fire.
“He is gorgeous, girl. Gorgeous. And loaded. And he saved you from Dumbass Deathray.”
“For now.”
“You’ve got two weeks to figure it out. Maybe you should tell Killian that even if Ray pays him back, you want him to do you a favor and get him gone from your life.”
“I’m not sure what sort of debt I’d be in with him for a favor like that, though, Suse. But, hey, I’ve gotta start my day. I’m in the lobby of my office building. Killian dropped me off and Ray was here, so Killian said something to him and made him leave.”
“Even holier moly.”
“Yeah. He’s sending a private eye to watch me.”
“Girl, that’s… wait. A private eye?”
I say nothing.
“Violet, this guy isn’t just interested in getting his money back in his pants. He’s interested in getting into your pants.”
I bite my lip and press the button for the elevator.
“I could see all that last night, even the bed snafu meaning nothing personal but this? Shit.”
“I can’t…” I shake my head and swallow. “I can’t even de-scramble that in my present state of mind, Susanna; I’m a walking disaster. I still have to decompress after all that. I can’t believe all that’s happened.”