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)
He glanced at the picture she’d been sketching. It was of the man at the counter.
“That’s a really good sketch.”
“Thanks.” She turned the pad over.
Perhaps she didn’t like compliments?
“You sure you’re friends with Aidan?” she asked.
“Last time I checked. Why is that?”
“You seem to have manners, that’s all.” She managed a small grin.
Ahh.
Smartass.
He took a chance and sat across from her.
“When he was younger, he could never remember to take off his muddy boots. Or to shut a door. Or put the damn toilet seat down. Although, he’s probably learned to do that now. At least, I hope Livvy makes him. Nothing worse than getting up in the middle of the night to pee and falling into the toilet.” He let out a surprised bark of laughter as red filled her cheeks. “Crap. Sorry, sometimes I overshare.”
“No problem. Falling into the toilet doesn’t sound like much fun.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Nope. It really isn’t.”
She might be trying to sound happy and relaxed, but he could see how tightly she was holding on to her pencil. Her other hand was in her handbag. Which was odd. Did she have something in there she wanted quick access to?
Mace? A Taser? Her phone?
Although her phone was on the table. It had a glittery purple case.
“Why are you called Hack? I get why Aidan is Sav . . . unimaginative as it might be.”
“I don’t know, I think Sav kind of suits him.”
She snorted at that. A small delicate sound that made her cheeks redden further.
He grinned.
So damn cute.
He wondered what she’d look like dressed in lace and tulle . . . and no. Nope.
She is Sav’s sister.
Not someone for you to find attractive.
She was pretty. But not for him.
Off-limits.
So stop looking at her.
He moved his gaze over her shoulder.
“What is it?” she asked.
“What?”
Don’t look at her.
“What’s wrong? Has it started snowing? Is that why you’re looking out the window? Or is there someone behind me? Are they wearing a mask? Have they got a machete?”
His gaze instantly went to her. “What?”
“There is . . . isn’t there?” She gulped.
“Why would you think that there is someone standing behind you wearing a mask and holding a machete?”
“Just tell me there isn’t before I pee myself.”
“You need to go to the bathroom?” he asked.
“Dude, listen to what I am saying,” she begged.
Right. Idiot.
“There’s no one in a mask carrying a machete,” he reassured her.
“Promise?”
“I promise.” He couldn’t believe they were actually having this conversation.
She slumped in her seat with a sigh. “Thank goodness. Because that would have been terrifying.”
“Have you been watching scary movies?” He couldn’t stop the stern look he gave her.
“Umm . . . maybe. It was all that was on last night. I swear. Okay . . . I won’t swear because that would be a lie. Of course it wasn’t the only thing on last night. But it was all I wanted to watch. Oh, shit! That’s not true, either. I know it was stupid. I was all by myself, and it was dark . . . it was the last thing I wanted to watch.”
“Then why did you?” he asked curiously.
“I don’t know, really.”
Except he thought that she might. But he wasn’t going to push her right now. Because she seemed so fragile. Her eyes had a haunted look that he really didn’t like.
“All right, Peaches. You don’t have to tell me.”
“Peaches?” She wrinkled her nose.
“Don’t like that nickname? Hmm, I suppose I can do better.”
“We’re at the nickname stage?” she asked.
“Well, we’re about to go and get a hotel room together . . . I thought a nickname might help break the ice.”
“Break the ice? I guess. Does that mean I get to give you a nickname too?”
“Sure. But Hack is my nickname. So, you could just call me that.”
“Do I want to know why?”
He shrugged. “I’m a surgeon.”
“A surgeon called Hack? That sounds like a terrible nickname for a surgeon to have.”
He grinned. “I haven’t had any patients complain about my skills. Well, none of the ones that survived anyhow.” He winked at her. “All right, Sugar Plum, do you think you know me well enough after ten minutes of talking and some awful nicknames to get a hotel room together?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been asked that before.” She looked slightly overwhelmed, and he felt terrible for pushing her. But they had to get moving. The storm was going to hit soon.
“First time for everything, I guess. I’ve got chocolate in my truck, if that helps? And I just realized how that sounds.”
Idiot.
“Chocolate, huh? What’s your favorite?”
“M&M’s.”
“Good answer. That’s acceptable.”
“I’m glad.” He grinned. He felt lighter than he had in a long time. Since before he’d found out that his aunt had a stroke.
“That does go a long way in helping me trust you. I suppose I could come. But only because of the M&Ms.”