Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“I’m so sorry, Jared. I’m so sorry.” Her fingernails lightly scratched over my nape and I reached for her, my hands light on the outside of her thighs as she continued to caress me. Soothe me.
Fucking comfort me.
It felt better than it should.
“I’m going to kill whoever did this,” she vowed vehemently. “And we’ll figure out together who was behind it. I promise.”
Unbelievably, a smile tugged at my mouth. I lifted my head to look at her and the urge to kiss her was so bloody overwhelming, I knew my control had slipped. I felt myself moving toward her—
My ringtone screamed from my arse pocket. It was like a lasso around my torso, yanking me back from Allegra and into reality. Shit. I’d almost kissed her.
“Sorry. Might be the police.” I stood abruptly to pull out my phone. Sorcha’s name and photo was on the screen. Beneath it were several texts from her I hadn’t opened.
Not really in the mood to talk to anyone but seeing it as an opportunity to avoid fucking things up with Allegra, I answered.
“Oh my God, Jared, thank God,” Sorcha’s frantic voice cut down the line.
My first thought was that something had happened to Brechin again. “Everything all right?”
“No, no. I’ve just gotten back from a hair appointment and my door was ajar. The wood is splintered and Brechin won’t stop barking. I’m afraid to go inside. I think someone broke in.”
What the … could this day get any worse? “Did you call the police?”
“Aye, they’re on their way. I just … I’m scared. Would you come? Please.”
“Sorcha, it’ll take me an hour to get there …” I sensed Allegra standing behind me.
“Please, Jared. Please.” I heard sniffling and stiffened. I’d never heard Sorcha cry.
“Okay. I’ll be there. But wait outside. Do not go in until the police get there.”
What a bloody day. After I hung up, I turned to Allegra with an exasperated sigh. “Did you hear that?”
Her expression was unreadable. “Something wrong with Sorcha?”
“She thinks someone broke in. The police are on their way, but she’s shaken up. I’m going to check it out.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip and then gestured to my phone. “Doesn’t she have anyone else she can call? I mean, you’re having an awful day yourself, Jared.”
“I’ll be quick.” I patted my pocket for my keys and realized I’d left them in the kitchen.
“Why—” Allegra slammed her mouth shut and sat down on the chair.
“Why what?”
“Why are you the person she called?”
She wouldn’t meet my eyes as I stared down at her. I wondered if she was put out about this. “We’re friends.”
“Oh.”
“Just friends,” I offered. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.” She wouldn’t look at me. Instead, she picked up her sketch pad and proceeded to ignore me.
Unease churned in my gut.
Fuck.
This was all I needed.
Sorcha’s place was wrecked. Whoever had broken in had locked Brechin in the bathroom (thankfully hadn’t harmed the wee man), and not only stolen anything of any value but the arseholes had trashed the place. The police had already been and gone by the time I arrived, and I found Sorcha crying on her sofa surrounded by the mess.
“I’m sorry, Sorch.” I sat down beside her, clapping an upset Brechin with one hand and putting my other arm around Sorcha. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Is it?” Sorcha wiped at her nose as she looked at me. Her pupils were huge with shock. “Jared, I live alone. On a teacher’s salary. I can’t afford this emotionally or financially.”
“You have insurance, though, right?”
Her jaw slackened. “Insurance?”
“Insurance.” I rubbed soothing circles on her back.
Some of her tension eased. “Jared, insurance. Of course, I have insurance. I completely forgot about that. Oh, that’s something.” She leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder. “I’m going to be too scared to go to sleep tonight.”
“Is someone coming to fix the door?” The doorjamb had been busted open.
“Later this afternoon.” She lifted her head, expression pleading. “But maybe you could stay tonight.”
I stiffened. “You know that can’t happen. Why don’t you stay with Donna?” I referred to one of her closest friends.
Hurt flashed across her face. “I keep forgetting you’re married. I just … I miss you.”
Discomfort shifted through me as I removed my hand from her back and stood.
Sorcha grimaced at the sudden physical distance. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be weird and awkward. It’s just this …” She gestured to the flat. “Most of the time I’m pretty happy on my own. Truly. But then something like this happens, and it makes me feel lonely.”
Shit. Compassion filled me, but I forced myself not to embrace her. I didn’t want to give her the wrong idea. “I get it. I’m sorry.”
She studied me thoughtfully. “Do you really love her, then?”
I lowered my gaze, staring at Brechin who was giving me the same big puppy dog eyes as his owner. “Sorcha …”