Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Sorry, only got one,” he says with a shrug, holding the door open for us. When we step into the hall, my stomach knots as we wait for him to move ahead of us. I don’t know what just happened, but my heart is pounding so hard I can feel its relentless thump, thump, thump in my throat.
“I can’t believe you never mentioned living next to a hottie who knows how to use a set of cuffs,” Libby whispers loudly, leaning into me as we follow Levi and Officer Jinks down a long hall while they talk quietly.
“Shut up, Libby,” I hiss, trying to keep up with Levi’s mile-long legs in my heels that are now killing me.
“Just saying, I totally understand now why you didn’t want me to hook you up with anyone.”
“Libby,” I warn, watching Levi’s shoulders tense as my sister continues talking.
“What? I’m just saying, if I had a guy like him living next door to me, I wouldn’t look elsewhere, either.”
“Please.” I look at her and jerk my chin toward Levi’s back, hoping she will realize he can totally hear every single word she’s saying.
“Oh yeah, sorry,” she mumbles, having the audacity to look contrite. “You probably don’t want him to know that you want him.” My teeth snap together, and I glare at her, letting her know silently that if we weren’t in the middle of a police station I would take her to the ground and force her to be quiet like I’ve been doing my whole life.
“Libby, stop being a pain.” Mac laughs, tucking Libby into her side, forcing her to walk next to her a few feet ahead of me. Thankful for the reprieve, I drop my eyes to the ground and wrap my arms around my middle as I walk behind them.
“Fawn,” Levi calls, and I stop walking and lift my eyes to his staring back at me.
“Levi?” I prompt when he does nothing more than scan my face.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Uh, sure.” I nod, gaining his chin lift in reply before he and Jinks disappear behind a closed door at the entrance of the station.
Feeling Mac and Libby get close, I pull my eyes from the door to look at them. “Someone’s been holding out on us,” Mac says, and I shrug.
“He’s my new neighbor. I don’t really know him.” Her eyes search mine, and a slow smile spreads across her face like she knows something I don’t. “I’ve only talked to him once before today,” I continue, and her smile broadens.
“Sure,” she says, like she doesn’t believe me, and I bite my tongue, refusing to let her bait me into an argument, which is something she does often.
“Ready?” Levi asks a few minutes later, and I let out the breath I’ve been holding.
“Yep.” I start for the door behind my sisters, who have already stepped outside ahead of us.
“Hold up.” His voice slides over me as his long, warm fingers wrap around my wrist and tighten when I try to tug free.
“What?” I look up at him, hating how breathless I sound.
“Paper.”
“What?” I repeat, getting lost in his gaze and touch as the fingers on his other hand slide up my temple and through my hair.
“You have paper in your hair,” he says, gently flicking his fingers out, causing a small scrap of white paper to float to the floor.
“Oh.” I drop my eyes from his and shake my head, trying to get rid of the dizziness and the feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“Come on, let’s get you home.” He drops my wrist and moves his hand to my lower back, where it burns a hole straight through his jacket and my dress into my skin, until he finally drops it away so he can help me into the front seat of his SUV. He makes sure I’m settled before he slams the door.
“So are you going to tell us who this guy is to you?” Libby asks from the backseat as I put on my seat belt.
“Leave her alone, Lib,” Mac says quietly, and I watch in fascination as Levi moves around the hood to the driver’s side. I’ve never really noticed the way a man walks before, but his walk is confident and sure.
“I’m just curious,” Libby grumbles right as Levi opens his door.
“Are you all going to the same place?” Levi questions, sliding in behind the steering wheel, putting the key in the ignition, and starting up the engine.
“Yes, and thank you for giving us a ride. We really appreciate it,” Mac says from the backseat as we pull out into traffic.
“It’s not a big deal. I was heading home anyway,” he replies as we stop at a red light.
“What are you doing?” I tense as he reaches across the middle console between us.
“No need to yell fire, babe,” he jokes, reminding me of our first encounter, and my cheeks heat as something in my stomach twists on the word babe. Holding my breath, I watch him adjust the heater vents on my side to blow directly on me before turning up the warm air.