Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Why were they so loud?
Or maybe it was her. Was she in shock?
She turned and glanced at the food that the server had dropped off before.
Ew. That was spinach in her omelet. Gross.
Who did that?
And why was she so focused on the omelet when there had been an armed robbery in front of her?
Several police officers entering the diner. People were in a state. Crying. Hugging each other. Then some paramedics entered. They rushed behind the counter.
“Ma’am? Ma’am, are you all right?”
She looked up into a younger police officer’s face. She shied back. She didn’t trust the cops.
He held his hands out. “Whoa, you’re all right. We need to get you checked over and take your statement.”
She shook her head. “No.
He frowned. “No? But you have to.”
“Stay away from me.”
“What’s going on here? Why are you scaring her?”
Relief flooded her, and she shot out from the booth, past the shocked young officer, and into Hack’s arms. She climbed up him, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
Later, she might be embarrassed.
But right now, she needed him. She pressed her face into his neck but had to stop herself from putting her thumb in her mouth.
Not the place.
Shit. She wished she had grabbed Wally.
“Well?” Hack demanded.
“I wasn’t doing anything,” the officer replied. “I was just asking her questions and she kept refusing to answer them. I could ask you who you are?”
“I’m Doctor Elijah Anderson. We were passing through on my way back to Billings. We were having breakfast when we were held up at gunpoint. Then, I was helping Marge through a panic attack.”
“Oh. Uh. Thanks. I know Marge. It’s good you were here.”
“It is. And I had to leave my girlfriend sitting alone after a traumatic incident. But I figured she would be safe from being harassed. Seems I was wrong.”
“I . . . I wasn’t harassing her!”
“No? Then why is she so upset?”
“I’m all right,” she whispered.
“Hush, Greer,” Hack commanded. “No, you’re not. I can feel you shaking, and the way he’d treating you isn’t good enough.”
“We need to ask her questions, though,” the police officer insisted.
“If you all have questions, you can ask me. But no one will be speaking to her on her own. Understood?”
The police officer must have left because Hack sat at the edge of the booth seat with her still held on his lap. He ran his hand up and down her back.
“You okay, baby?”
“Your name is Elijah?”
“Not what I thought you would focus on, but yes.”
“I like it.”
“Uh, thanks. Did he upset you? Asshole.”
“You were a little harsh on him. Not his fault I’m a mess.”
“Stop it, Greer. You just lost the right to pay for your own boots.”
“That seems an overreaction.”
“Hush. I could have lost you. I don’t like that.”
Neither did she.
“I wasn’t the one at risk. I was hiding away like a coward. You were the one in danger. You could have been really hurt.” She tightened her hold on him.
“That’s it. Now I’m buying your new coat.”
“What? Why?” She drew back to look up at him incredulously.
“For calling yourself a coward,” he said in a voice that told her he thought it was obvious.
“You can’t buy me stuff.”
“We’ve had this conversation. If you hadn’t earned yourself some punishment, you could buy your own things. Now, I’m going to buy them and you won’t argue. Understand?”
Lord. He was out of control.
18
Hack pulled up outside the hotel.
Today had been a complete shitshow.
First, the robbery at the diner had sucked hours of their day. And although she was trying to put on a good front, he could tell that Greer was done in. The stress and anxiety weren’t good for her and he wouldn’t be surprised if she had new nightmares tonight.
He’d had to cancel all his cards. He’d gone into a local branch of his bank and spent over an hour there before he was able to get a new debit card issued.
Luckily, the asshole hadn’t taken his phone.
By the time they’d finished everything, it was too late to grab her car. The mechanic had agreed to keep her car there, so they’d pick it up tomorrow.
She’d been far too quiet these past few hours. Not to mention he’d nearly tripped over her a few times because she was sticking so close.
Which suited him just fine. If he could have picked her up and carried her around all day, he would have.
Secured her in a front pack.
Now, there was a happy thought.
Coming around to her side of the truck, he opened the door and lifted her down. He was starting to get worried about how quiet she was. She’d done everything he’d asked of her since the robbery.
Even when she’d had to pee, she’d put up with him coming into the restroom with her. The woman waiting outside when they got out hadn’t been so understanding.