Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“You bought me a restaurant,” I repeat.
“I’m giving you a chance to be who you’re meant to be. What you do with it is on you. You cook like shit, on you. You decide to turn it into a meth lab, on you.” I snap out of my shock long enough to smack him in the chest. “My point is, I love seeing you in your element. I want you to be happy.”
“You. . .” I still don’t know what to say. Tears rush down my cheeks. “You bought me a restaurant?”
“Again, only if you want it. Are those happy tears or mad tears? I’m not sure how you’re taking this. Shit, you’re mad. Fay, this isn’t me controlling you. It’s me offering you a stepping stone—”
“Shut up.” Shit. My emotions are running rampant. I close my eyes, my heart slamming against my chest. I hiccup a sob and throw myself at him, jumping into his arms. He stumbles backward, almost falling over. “I love you, Theo Monroe. For being so brave and strong. Gentle and caring. And seeing me for me.” I press my lips to his and kiss him until I make myself dizzy. “Thank you for believing in me. My cooking. That I could even conjure up a potential meth lab.” We both chuckle, and I brush my lips back over his. “I don’t know how to react to this. It’s crazy and scary and exciting and what if I fail?”
“I believe in you.”
“Even if it’s a meth lab?”
“Even if it’s a meth lab.” He pulls me closer, tightening his grip on my butt. “It’s all yours, but I will tell you there’s one stipulation.”
“What’s that?”
“You bring up the goddamn bills one more time, and this all goes away.”
I, Fay Evans, have my own restaurant. Or bakery. Or meth lab!
“Gah!” My giggly voice echoes in the stall. I hear the door open and cover my mouth. Flushing, I head to the sink to wash my hands, smiling and thinking about my future. Our future—
“That’s the smile of someone who thinks they’ve won.” My head whips up, and I see Alana Hill in the mirror’s reflection. I spin around, grunting as my casted leg is slow to follow.
“What, are you here to take me outside and throw me in traffic again? Finish the job?” How the hell is she here? And I’m no medical professional, but she doesn’t look well. The word unhinged comes to mind. My gaze drops to the ankle bracelet that’s beeping and flashing red.
“You’re a little bottom-feeder whore who thinks this will end well for you. You don’t get to just show up and mess with my entire life. My plans.” She takes a step toward me. “I’ve worked too hard to have someone like you take everything away from me.”
“Like what? A man you tried to trap? Wow, congrats on everything you’ve worked so hard for. If anyone’s the whore—”
She lunges at me.
I have enough time to shield my face before she tackles me to the ground and grabs my hair. “You bitch.” She yanks my head, banging it on the ground, and white spots flash in my vision. “I’m going to tear your eyes out!” she yells, slamming my head again. I claw at her face, and she screeches at the pain. I try to flip us, but the restriction of my cast makes it difficult, so I thrust my knee upward, hitting her in the gut. She grunts, momentarily easing up on her grip, and I thrust my head up and headbutt her. I knock her off-balance, but the problem is, I do the same to myself. I scramble backward to get out from underneath her, but she grabs at my dress. I elbow her in the chin to release me and scurry to my feet.
“You’re dead, whore. If you think—” She reaches for her purse. I dive for it at the same time, but she’s quicker and pulls out a gun, aiming it at my face. “I told you to go away. I warned you this wasn’t your place. But you had to stick around. Theo is mine.”
“Theo was never yours. He was a prisoner in your little game.”
Her laugh is cynical and manic. “And what are you? His savior?”
“I’m the one he loves. The one he’s going to marry. The one who will have his children.” Maybe baiting her while she’s pointing a gun at my face isn’t the best idea, but it’s the only option I have to stall her. Theo will get impatient and come looking for me. Someone will have to pee. Someone had to hear the yelling and call for help.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” she says, her voice suddenly calm. Shit, that backfired on me. Her finger caresses the trigger.
“Alana, please. You don’t have to do this. Think about your baby. You’re going to be a mother.”