Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
There were two full garages on either side of a thick metal gate that split the house into two parts. She counted three cameras and a hefty fence that would keep people out of the yard.
Barry had the Rover’s backdoor open, pulling her two bags out. “Most of these houses have been split up into two to four units and rented out. There are still people who live here, but a lot of our business is tourism.”
“Where is the public access point?” She wanted to know how hard someone would have to work to get to this part of the beach. They’d passed several large swaths of beach where there had been nothing but sand and sun.
“About a mile down the road,” Barry said. “And then there’s another as we were coming in roughly a mile and a half from here. That’s as far as they have to go to get to the beach. Obviously, all they have to do to get to the house is walk up and ring the bell. They park on the street all the time. If it’s too bad, we can get the police to come in and force them to move their cars.”
It would be simple to not answer the door. This part of the house was all garage and long, dark entryway from the looks of it. She would bet that wasn’t true once she was inside. There was no way Josh didn’t have a spectacular view of the ocean. And if he had that, all his “friends” needed was to get to the beach to have a spectacular view of Josh.
And perhaps a shot of him with a camera, or something more deadly.
The heavy iron gate opened and Shane Landon motioned her in. “Welcome. You’re early, and that’s a good thing. I can show you some of the security features. We’ve been upgrading. Thank you, Barry. Mr. Hunt appreciates you delivering her to him safe and sound.”
Barry bowed his head slightly, an almost ritualistic motion that proved there was still a sub deep down in the older man who needed to serve. “Thank him for allowing me to be of service, and tell him I look forward to spending more time with his submissive. Good evening.”
Barry got back into his car and drove off.
“Excellent,” Shane said with a sigh.
“That was another test, wasn’t it?” She should have known. Hunt seemed determined to not take chances.
“Barry is active with the club. If he likes you as a sub, you get to hang with the cool kids,” Shane explained. “From what I can tell, they all think he’s got great instincts when it comes to people.”
“I’m super likable.” When she wanted someone to like her, they usually did.
She was fun. She was perky and peppy, and sure she at times got angry at authors who left her hanging, but for the most part she was the very face of patience and peace. No one had to see what happened under her skin.
“You are,” Shane said, pulling her bags inside. “Which is why I have to ask why you gave Josh the broody act this afternoon. Have you decided to go through a goth phase? Jeez, what’s in this thing?”
“Guns and shoes. The important stuff. And I wasn’t trying to be broody. I was trying to figure out how to handle the man. He’s different in person. I wasn’t sure if my normal sunny self would do it.”
“If you ask me, the man needs some sunshine,” Shane said, hefting the bags up. “But you should know he’s not your type.”
Now she was totally interested. “I have a type?”
Shane’s mouth flattened, but not in a harsh way. More like those lips were saying come on, you know what I’m talking about. “You like overgrown golden retrievers, Kay. You like men who are nothing more than muscular boys looking for a momma. Do you think I didn’t see how you treated Jared Johns today? You have to watch that.”
She laughed because he completely misunderstood her. “I love the sunny ones, Shane. I love them, but I’m not in love with them. They’re like the brothers I never had and yes, I play the big sister. They remind me…”
Shane turned. “Remind you?”
Damn, she hadn’t wanted to think about that. She didn’t want to think about the big sister she’d lost. The mentor she’d lost. So much loss.
“Hey,” Shane said, “I wasn’t trying to pry. I was merely giving you some advice about this guy.”
Good because she didn’t want to go there today. But some of it was funny. She clung to that part. “Does everyone think I’m sleeping with Tucker?”
“I think that is none of my business,” Shane replied. “But I know he’s a good kid.”
And Shane was a good man, giving her space, but still trying to do his job. “Tucker and I are friends. Nothing more. Nothing less. I take friendship seriously, but he needs way more than I could ever give him.”