Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 75754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Bile rose in my throat, but Ruthie’s words stopped the panic attack before it started.
“My husband beat me so badly that I lost our baby in the back of our Corolla,” she whispered.
I blinked, turning to her sharply.
All of my problems were gone in the wake of what she’d just revealed.
“I think Corolla’s are bad luck,” she choked.
I made to move forward, but she held up her hand to stay my movement.
“One day I’ll tell you more, but I felt that you needed something personal from me after what I just witnessed,” she explained. “Just don’t ask for information unless I tell you. Because it’ll set off a panic attack that’ll blow the socks off of your panic attack.”
I laughed.
“We sound pretty fucked up.”
She nodded, agreeing.
“I am. Fifty different ways, but they have two way streets and side streets, as well as under ground garages of crazy to add to the mess,” she expanded.
I snorted. “Maybe one day we can compare notes. I’m not sure you could handle mine, though.”
She gave me an offended look.
“I can handle just about anything. Trust me. Even alpha men like you who think they know more about what I want than I do,” she shot back.
I winked at her.
“Hit a nerve?” I asked, smiling inwardly and trying my hardest not to laugh and make her think I didn’t have a heart.
She shrugged. “I spent eight years trying to outtalk guards. Trust me, you’re a piece of cake.”
This time I really did laugh, unable to hold my façade of indifference.
“You can’t handle me.”
She raised a brow.
“I can’t?” she challenged.
I crossed my arms and didn’t flinch as the tractor trailer passed by us in a rush of air and thunder.
She, on the other hand, flinched, throwing her hand up to cover her galloping heart.
“Yeah, I can handle anything you got,” she nodded.
“And how do you propose to do that?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Is this something you show me while we play a round of mini golf…or laser tag?” I asked.
I was happy now.
Really happy.
This sparring we were doing was like verbal foreplay.
And I liked it.
A lot.
“I don’t do mini golf,” she said. “I’m more of a hot dog eating competition kind of girl. Or a monster truck rally.”
“Those sound like dates…not challenges between me and you.”
She smiled. “I’m sure we can find something to challenge your mind, if you need it.”
I grinned. “Okay. How about two days’ time? Friday at seven.”
She shrugged, acting like it was no difference to her what I chose. “Okay.”
“So…is this like a date?” I asked, smiling.
She patted the motorcycle seat directly in front of me.
“Dates are for teenagers,” she answered.
I nodded. “And what do you call it when adults go on ‘dates?’”
She grinned. “Foreplay.”
Chapter 4
“I can’t eat anymore. I’m full.”
“Do you want dessert?”
“Yesssssssss.”
-Text from Ruthie to Sawyer
Ruthie
I got ready for our date, butterflies swirling around in my stomach like bees swarming their hive at a disturbance.
My hands were jittery.
My feet were bouncing, making the process of putting on mascara rather trying.
Once done, I smoothed my hands down my sides, surveying my appearance.
“Jewelry!” I exclaimed, almost as if I’d solved the world’s hunger problem.
I closed my eyes and choked back an excited squeal as I fit my earring into my ear, finishing off the final touches of my ensemble.
I studied myself in the mirror.
I was wearing my tightest pair of jeans that I owned, which meant I probably couldn’t sit down, but that was neither here nor there.
I couldn’t believe I was actually going on a date with him.
It went against every ingrained protection that I’d instilled in myself.
Don’t put yourself out there, and you won’t get hurt.
It’d been my motto since the day I was sentenced.
I smiled at myself, leaning forward to check my teeth.
Finally happy with my appearance, I walked out of my bedroom stiffly, rethinking the whole tight pants thing.
But I decided to keep them on.
I liked the way my ass looked in them, and I assumed he would too.
That was, if he ever came.
Two hours later and there was still no Sterling.
Resigned that I waited for over two hours before I realized he wasn’t coming, and when I finally did, something inside me, the only thing happy left, died.
The old Ruthann was no more.
In her place was a bitter bitch who knew she shouldn’t rely on anybody.
Shouldn’t have been surprised that a man like that wouldn’t be interested in a woman like me.
I closed my eyes and reached my hands up to my earrings, the only ones I had left that was worth something to me.
Once they were both off, I walked to the back yard and threw them hastily in the grass.
Fuck the earrings.
Fuck my life.
Fuck everything.
I didn’t care anymore.
Why bother?
Because I was only a worthless piece of shit like he’d always accused me of being.
The lowliest of the low.
I closed my eyes, sank down to my knees on the back porch, and cried.
***
Sterling
“Come on, come on,” I growled as I called Ruthie once more.
“Shit!” I yelled, pulling my teammate’s attention from their own musings to me.
“What the fuck?” Beacon, the weapon’s specialist for our team, said.
“I can’t get her to fuckin’ answer. Do you realize what’s going to happen? She’s never going to give me the time of day again. Goddammit. Motherfuckin’ piece of shit!” I seethed, pressing redial on my phone once again.
Once again, I got seven more rings before it went back to the generic voice message of a woman said, ‘you have reached the voice mailbox of 9-0-3-7-7-7…’
“Motherfucker,” I growled, hanging up before the numbers were finished. “Motherfucker!”
When I went to call Silas, the sign on the plane went on indicating that all cell phone devices should be turned off, and I realized I was out of time.
Goddammit!
Seems that was my favorite word for today.
As well as all the other words.
I’d been called in less than an hour before on a mission that was ‘paramount’ to national security.
Seven hours before my date with Ruthie.
I’d totally forgotten about her in my haste to get my things packed and get to base.