Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“You owe me.” Hop tried for his usual banter and a light smile, but his voice came out rough and eager.
Rafe’s nostrils flared. “I always pay my debts.”
It sounded like a promise.
And a warning.
Chapter Ten
Thursday morning, Hop showed up at Rafe’s office again. This time he wore a pair of baby-blue jeans and a baggy T-shirt with the words I Piss Off Stupid People in thick black font. It made Rafe grin, but he hid it behind his hand. He’d had days to come to terms with this new Hop. The kid he’d known had become a man of such courage and strength Rafe never would have thought possible. The ease with which he’d stepped up and helped Rafe out was humbling, especially considering how intense his anger had been.
Rafe hadn’t lied when he’d said he looked forward to getting to know him again. A lot about Hop intrigued him, not the least of which was the sneaking suspicion they had compatible sexual inclinations.
“You’re early,” he said.
“I need to be at work soon, but I wanted to deliver this personally.” He placed the contract on Rafe’s desk.
“I could’ve sent a courier.” Rafe flipped through it, noting the signatures and the updated contact list, including Hop’s real phone number.
“We need to get a few things straight before tonight and I thought it’d be better to do this in person.” He looked up and there was a hint of uncertainty in his usually confident gaze. It stroked all of Rafe’s barely suppressed impulses. As stupid as it was, he wanted to see Hop defenseless and willing.
To distract himself, Rafe crossed to the bar to grab them both a bottle of water. “I thought we’d sorted through it all?”
“I’ve hated you for so long.” He took the bottle Rafe held out for him. “That’s a lot of anger. I can’t snap my fingers and get over it.”
“Hate is a strong word, don’t you think?”
“Maybe. But in my mind, you were the obstacle that kept me from knowing Roland.”
“There’s some truth to that, it was my job.”
“One you were forced into, if I’m to believe your story.”
Rafe took a sip. “It’s not a story, it’s the truth.”
“Am I supposed to trust your word now, after everything we’ve been through?”
“It’d be nice, yeah.”
Hop huffed a laugh. “I wish things could be that easy.”
Rafe leaned against his desk and considered Hop for a minute. “Haven’t you ever made a decision that you thought was for the best only to find out later that you’d made a terrible mistake?”
Hop met his eyes. “Like wearing the wrong shoes?” There was a mix of humor and understanding in his tone.
“I was fourteen when my father died. Suddenly I found myself the head of the household, your father offered me a way out, and I took it without considering the consequences because I wanted to help my family. I didn’t know about you until years later. By then I was so far in debt to him that I couldn’t see a way out. Then he gave me my task.”
“Me.”
“Do you remember the first time we met?” Rafe did, clear as day. He’d been told Malcolm had a stalker. Rafe needed to find the person and put a stop to it. Of course, no one had told him that the stalker was Roland’s secret son.
“You threatened to have me arrested.”
“And you told me to go ahead and call the cops.”
“I think there were a few extra curses in there.” Hop’s grin was boastful. “I figured there was no way he could ignore the police knocking on his door asking questions about me.”
“That’s when I realized who you were and what my real job meant.”
“Keeping me contained.”
“Pretty much.”
“Which you were stellar at, by the way.” Hop gave him a slow clap.
“I never lied to you. I never hurt you. I never gave you any reason to doubt my word.”
A shadow passed over Hop’s features right before he looked away. “If you say so,” he said under his breath.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Hop’s shoulders rose and fell then he looked at his watch. “I need to go before I’m late for work.”
“You’re not going to explain?”
“There’s nothing to explain. The first time we met? I knew exactly who you were. I’d been watching the Lockwoods from afar since I was old enough to be outside on my own. That life should have been mine. Even though you weren’t blood, he gave you everything and left me with nothing. You replaced me.”
“That couldn’t be farther from the truth.”
“Fine, but you were still there when I couldn’t be.”
“You were better off.”
“Was I? And who gave you the power to decide that for me?”
“Do you want to confront him? Is that what would make you feel better?”
Hop opened his mouth, shut it, and then headed for the door. “No. I’m over trying to impress a man who never gave me the time of day. I just want to dance.”