Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“She’s hot,” Riggs says to me before leaving, his eyes roaming over Briar’s body. “Have fun with her.”
I’ve always gotten along with Riggs, but right now I’m feeling murderous when he stares at her a little too long. “It’s a job,” I say, my voice rough and hoarse from anger.
Riggs laughs, slapping me on the shoulder. “Dean’s never given me a hot as fuck assignment before.”
“Maybe because you suck ass, and he can’t trust you to get the job done. I don’t fuck clients,” I say, which he knows. Everyone knows. It’s one of the major rules I’ve followed since I started with Maddox Security. One I’ll never break, no matter how tight Briar’s little body is, and how badly she tempts me with every smile she casts my way.
“Hey, neither do I,” he hits the key fob on Briar’s car and opens the door, “but for her I’d make an exception.”
Briar’s sitting in the front seat of my SUV, unable to hear our conversation which I’m grateful for.
I glance at her before returning my focus on Riggs. “And this is why I get the hot as fuck assignments.”
Riggs laughs as he hops into her car.
The drive is easy, though I’m already mentally mapping out the best escape routes, just in case. Riggs follows closely behind. When we arrive, I park and step out, taking in the building—cozy, with a charming, lived-in vibe. Riggs hands off the keys, and heads to the corner of the major intersections waiting on a pickup.
Briar leads me up a narrow flight of stairs to her apartment.
The second I step inside, a voice calls out from across the room, “Intruder, who are you?”
I freeze, eyes darting around the space, my hand already reaching for my gun in the holster at my hip. “What the—?” I start, trying to locate the source of the voice.
Briar laughs, walking over to a large birdcage near the bay window. “That’s Jeb,” she says, pointing to a gray-colored bird with a striking red tail. “He’s a Congo African Grey. And yes, he can talk.”
Before I can respond, Jeb squawks again, louder this time, “Jeb can talk!”
I blink, staring at the bird. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter under my breath, marveling at the sass radiating from the little creature.
Briar grins, clearly amused by my reaction. “He’s quite the character. Likes to announce visitors. Sometimes he even tells people to go away.”
“Charming,” I say, my eyes still fixed on Jeb, who’s giving me a scrutinizing look as if he’s deciding whether I’m worthy of being in his territory. “I take it I need to win him over?”
“Pretty much,” Briar chuckles, scratching Jeb’s head through the cage. “He’s a tough critic. But if you’re nice, he might say something nicer next time.”
“Noted,” I reply, shaking my head. This job just keeps getting more and more interesting.
I peer at the bird closer as Briar opens the cage, and Jeb climbs onto her finger. “Jeb here is one of the smartest talking birds in the world.”
“Jeb smart,” he repeats a few times.
“That’s very cool.” I glance around her apartment, taking in her eclectic style. Her apartment is a cozy blend of mismatched charm. The walls are painted in soft shades of lavender and cream, with vintage posters framed along one side. A mix of mismatched furniture fills the space: a velvet armchair in deep emerald green, a weathered wooden coffee table, and a quirky, overstuffed couch covered in a colorful, patterned throw. “You should get packing.”
Briar goes into busy mode as she reaches under her sink. “I’ll need to get Jeb’s food. I’ll also need to pack a few of his medications to give him.”
I watch as she prances around the kitchen.
“I sometimes pack some music when we’re staying away from home. He gets nervous.”
Wait. “Huh?” I ask her. “He’s not coming with us, is he?”
Briar stops moving and just stares at me. “Well yeah, silly. I can’t leave him here to fend for himself.”
I shrug. “Why not? He’s a bird. Just toss enough food in his cage while we’re gone.”
Briar looks horrified at my words. “I know you’re joking.”
I wasn’t.
“The bird will come with us?” I can’t understand why I can’t wrap my head around this idea, but what do we do with a bird?
“Either he comes, or I stay. Take your pick.” She crosses her arms across her perky tits.
I growl under my breath a bit and finally agree to the bird. “I was not expecting on protecting a bird as well.”
The bird squawks loudly, like he’s offended at my words. “Jeb protect Briar.”
I smirk, crossing my arms over my chest. “I highly doubt that, bird.”
“Jeb protect Briar,” he screeches louder.
“You’re upsetting him.” Briar smiles and it nearly takes my breath away. “You should consider yourself lucky. Jeb’s a gem.”
I stare at the bird, looking right into his little eyes. “Are you going to pack any of your own things, or only the birds?”