Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Alright, let me get my coat then. You know it’s cold out there, right?”
“Well, I’ll have you to cuddle up with.”
“Fine, but then, we’re going back to your place so I can cuddle up with you.”
“Okay, it’s a deal.” I grin.
5
TORIN
I hand Tess her piping hot cup of cocoa and take her by the arm. If there’s one thing I can say about these cozy New England towns, it’s that they know how to decorate for the holidays.
Every inch of Main Street is covered in twinkling lights and the storefront windows are filled with winter scenes, Christmas trees, and stockings on cardboard fireplaces. Christmas music plays on speakers hung from utility poles every four feet or so down the street, leading us to the town square’s nativity scene complete with live farm animals.
We pass by a group of men about Tess’s age, and I notice how they all look at her. I get it, but I glare at them until they notice and look away. She may be nice to look at, but I won’t have a bunch of punks drooling over her like she’s a piece of meat.
As we make our way to the town square, Tess begins asking me questions about my life and my work. I wondered how long it would take. She’s a smart girl and I’m sure my behavior over the past two days has been cause for concern with her.
“Do you have family in the city? Could that be what the man in your mom’s yard was referring to?”
“No, sweetheart. The only family I have is right here.”
“So no wife or kids either? Not even a fiancé?”
“What is this, baby girl? Jealousy? No, not even a close friend. You and my mom are the only women in my life.”
“So, tell me. What is it, then? I know you said you’d handle it and I trust you, but I’d feel better knowing what’s going on. I know you lied when you tried to brush it off with your mother.”
“I don’t want you or her to worry about anything. You don’t have to.”
“I think I’d be less worried if you just told me what was going on. I have a pretty active imagination, you know.”
“That’s good to know,” I joke but she frowns and looks down at her feet.
“Does it have to do with your work and why you need a sabbatical?”
I sigh and rub my forehead. I don’t want her to feel like I’m shutting her out, but keeping her in the dark is as much for her protection as anything else. While I would love to put my foot down and tell her that my work is a private matter, I see a real future with this girl and I can’t hide my lifestyle from her forever. Maybe it’ll be a deal breaker for her, and she’ll run for the hills. But no, she isn’t like that. I can tell she’s just as invested in me as I am with her.
“Alright, I’ll tell you about my work but not out here like this. Let’s finish our walk and go back to your place. When we get there, I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”
We continue our stroll down Main Street, and I try to be discreet as I peer around corners and into alleys, making sure there’s no sign of danger. She senses the tension all the same and asks, “Did I do something wrong? Do you think I’m prying?”
I stop and take her in my arms. “No, sweetheart. You haven’t done anything wrong. Why don’t we cut this short and head back now? I think the sooner we get this out of the way, the better.”
“Oh boy, now you’ve got me worried. Maybe I don’t want to know after all.”
“It’s too late for that now, little girl. You asked me for the truth, and you’re gonna get it.”
We take her car to her house, and I scan the exterior for anything that looks out of place. Thankfully, the sleepy neighborhood is quiet so I get out and open Tess’s door for her.
“Make yourself comfortable,” she says. “Can I get you something to drink or eat?”
“No, I’m fine. Just come and sit with me.” I wring my hands together and consider the best way to start the conversation. She stares at me wide-eyed and completely engaged. “Here it is. When we met, I told you that I worked security for a business and that I was recently promoted.”
“Right, but you never said what company or what you got promoted to.”
“The business is the family business.”
“But you said your mother was your only family.”
“Not my family, baby girl. The family. The Russian Mob.”
Her face grows pale and her mouth falls open as she scans my eyes for any sign that I might not be serious.