Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 132892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
None.
Damn.
“We were just going over some stuff for the building before you leave on your trip,” Cooper said. Dad smirked.
“I’m old, not stupid,” he replied, laughing. A knife twisted in my gut, because Dad was the strong one. He took care of things, and whenever something was really wrong, he fixed it.
This. Sucked.
“Guess you caught us,” Cooper replied lightly. “I was just heading out, though. Tinker, you need help loading anything?”
“No, we’re fine,” I told him. “You can text if anything comes up. Dad, we need to pick up Randi soon, so go throw your stuff in Carrie’s Suburban, all right? She’s letting me borrow it.”
“Sure thing, baby,” he said, smiling at me fondly. “It’ll be fun, taking a road trip together. Just like when you were a little girl. I know you’ll be busy with work, but maybe we can go up the Space Needle while we’re there.”
“That’d be great, Dad,” I said, sighing. “I love you. I hope you know how much.”
He gave me a funny look. “Love you too, baby. Forever and ever.”
GAGE
Guess I wasn’t the only one with a complicated life. I’d started working on the roof again, but my mind was racing. The situation with Tinker’s dad wasn’t good, but there was definitely more going on here.
Talia. Had to be.
I debated calling Picnic to discuss my options, but decided I needed more information first.
Tinker and her dad pulled out around four that afternoon. Marsh texted me at five, asking if I’d meet him out at the Nighthawks’ clubhouse that evening. Apparently he had “business” to discuss, which was a good sign. The sooner we got his shit sorted, the sooner I could end this fucking farce with Talia.
Taking a fast shower, I rode downtown to grab some dinner down at Jack’s Roadhouse. I figured I’d grab a burger and collect any available gossip before heading out to the clubhouse. That was the best—and worst—thing about a town like this. People stuck their noses in their neighbors’ business.
I’d just passed the old library when a cherry red Mustang jetted past, going in the opposite direction. Then I heard the squeal of tires and the roar of an engine as I watched the driver pull a U-turn, coming right at me. What the fuck? She was honking the horn and flashing the lights, obviously trying to flag me down. I realized it was Carrie, Tinker’s best friend. They must’ve swapped vehicles, which explained the SUV she’d been driving.
Pulling over, I swung off the bike and walked over to her, wondering what the hell was going on. Jesus, it’d been only a couple hours—hardly enough time for something else to go wrong.
Carrie ripped open the Mustang’s door, marching toward me with fury written all over her face. Seeing as she was about a foot shorter than me and close to a hundred pounds lighter, she came off more like an angry pixie than a true threat, but the rage in her eyes . . . that was definitely full-size.
“You!” she snarled, stepping into my space and poking her finger right into my chest. I stared down at it, wondering whether she had the slightest clue how easy it’d be for me to snap it off. “You’ve got a lot of fucking nerve, asshole.”
“Hard to argue with that,” I said casually. “But you’re gonna have to narrow it down a little. What’d I do this time?”
“Your girlfriend threatened Tinker with a fucking knife this morning,” she snarled. “Said she’d cut her if she didn’t stay away from you, and then she destroyed an entire week’s work of chocolates. Now Tinker has to go to Seattle and try to make up those orders before she loses all her clients. I don’t know what sick games you’re playing with Talia Jackson, and I don’t care. Tinker’s my girl, and I’m gonna protect her. We clear?”
Jesus. I’d suspected Tinker wasn’t telling me the whole truth, but hearing it was something else. Sudden, furious rage filled me, because Talia had stepped over the motherfucking line and there was no going back. Something dark must’ve shown in my expression—Carrie’s face faltered, and she took a step back.
“When did this happen?” I snapped out. “Tell me. All of it.”
Carrie’s eyes flashed with something. Surprise, maybe? Like she thought I’d defend Talia. Fuck that shit—this ended, and it ended today.
“Tinker was alone in the shop this morning,” she said. “Packaging the shipment for her Seattle delivery. Talia showed up and cornered her in the kitchen. Threatened her with a big fucking knife and destroyed almost all of her product. Now she’s got orders she can’t fill, which means she’ll be working night and day trying to catch up. To pull it off she needs her kitchen in Seattle. That means staying in the same house with her asshole of an ex, who’ll probably try to convince her to come back to him. I lost my best friend to that bastard once, but I’m not going to lose her again. I don’t know what happened last night and I don’t give one flying fuck. This is your fault and you will fix it. Clear?”