Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
He rubbed the back of his neck, exhibiting palpable discomfort from my questions. Aside from Jessica, I was the only one he would talk to about her—not that he did it willingly. I was pretty sure he felt I was genetically entitled to the information.
“Yes. I was crazy about her. And protective … well …” He shook his head. “That’s an understatement.”
I gathered the bags of clothes from the living room while Dad stood in the entrance with his hands casually in his back pockets. “Did you ever punch anyone to defend her honor … like a true Knight?”
“I did whatever it took to defend her honor and protect her.” He grabbed a few of the bags when he realized I wasn’t going to be able to carry all of them.
“And what did it take?” I led him to the back door, leaving the key on the table that Slade left for me. Clearly, I wasn’t going to need it anytime soon. Not with protective Papa in town.
“Why are you so curious all of a sudden?” He opened the back to his rental vehicle.
“I don’t know … I guess the fire has made me a little sentimental and a walk down memory lane is what I need.”
That … and I wanted to know if he would have killed a man to save her. Like Slade did for me.
We loaded the bags and climbed into the SUV.
“Do you think you have what it takes to kill another person? I mean … I know you teach self-defense classes, but you know what they say. Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.”
Before he backed out of the driveway, he gave me a side glance with the most unreadable yet disturbing expression I had ever seen on his face. “If what you’re really asking is … will I kill this guy Slade to keep you safe and out of harm’s way? The answer is yes. I have what it takes.”
I snorted a laugh. “I’m not sure you could take on Slade. He’s younger and very strong.”
“You realize … I’m not exactly weak, Livy. And strength is only one factor and not the most important one. Skill and mindset are the most dangerous weapons.”
“Wow … Jessica said the same thing.”
His forehead wrinkled. “She did?”
“Yeah … uh … I think it was when she gave me the rest of her good advice before I left for college.”
It wasn’t then … it was weeks earlier when we were sparring, and she was kicking my ass with one hand tied behind her back.
“Where to first?” he asked.
“Phone. I need a phone. Then I need a new computer, and I sure as hell hope I can figure out how to retrieve my important files and school stuff from the magical cloud. Oh! And I need keys made for my Jeep. They were in the house.”
Dad took care of everything, including finding all my computer files on the cloud and downloading them to my new computer. We enjoyed dinner at a great Ethiopian restaurant. Then we settled into our hotel room for the night.
I focused on my new phone, searching social media sites for Slade Wylder. No luck.
No phone number.
No way to contact him without going to his house—I didn’t foresee my dad being cool with that.
I should have left him a note. After threatening to leave because of his mysterious female friend, then up and leaving with all of the things he bought me looked like that’s exactly what I decided to do. I thought about his secrecy—his leaving without saying where he was going, what he was doing, or when he’d be home. And … well … I thought he could come home to a place without me and just deal with it.
Chapter Fifteen
As it happened, I didn’t see Slade until Monday morning in the lecture hall where he strategically planted himself and Jericho where there were no empty seats around him … and the asshole didn’t save me a seat.
Apparently sucking dick didn’t earn reserved seating.
Noted …
He didn’t leave class early. Maybe he felt trapped in the sea of students. Maybe he fell asleep. I’d noticed him drifting off several times. The downside to not making the early exit was the throng of students made it really hard to find him after class.
Staying true to the I-don’t-owe-you-anything attitude, I didn’t spend more than ten seconds looking for him before heading to my tree. I approached it with my head down, reading a text from Aubrey.
Her: They salvaged a handful of things from the fire that are yours. Possibly too damaged by smoke??? Go by the house after class and look through things.
Me: K. Thx
When I glanced up from my phone, Jericho trotted toward me with that irresistible smile as the light breeze caught my hair … blowing in my face. The sexy man behind him … not smiling so much. He sat with his back against the tree trunk, jean-clad legs stretched out and crossed ankles. His brief glance returned to the computer on his lap.