Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
“A stroke of luck?”
“Doubt it.” I quirk a quick smile, but then playfully bump into him. “Did you hire a detective to track me down?”
“I’m not that cunning. Deciphering the messages was a challenge. The new hire didn’t include a seven-digit number. To her credit, she got the area code and first five on there.”
I’m not sure if he’s joking or not, but I go with it. “That’s promising.”
He stops and looks at me by his side. “To be honest, I asked a friend to do a search, and Parkdale’s address came up for you.”
I look at him, still stunned to see a rock star of his magnitude walking with me like this is normal. Maybe for him, but it’s not for me. “Well, you found me. What are you going to do with me?”
He studies me out of the corner of his eye before his gaze shifts to the sidewalk in front of him. Sucking in a harsh breath between his teeth, he holds my undivided attention with his hiss. “Don’t tempt me.”
I’ve never wanted to tempt someone more.
I bite my tongue instead, knowing we have other business to tend to first. First? I need to get my mind out of the gutter. Just because Shane is stupidly handsome to the point of making me want to poke him to see if he’s real doesn’t mean I should be having thoughts about him shirtless on a beach or naked on a—stop, Cate.
I need to stop worrying about what happens next with this man on a personal level. There’s time for that if he’s still speaking to me once we’re divorced. “I’m not sure if you’ve had time to think about what we should do, but I have some ideas.”
His brow rises, breaking the evenness of his expression prior to a wry grin sliding right into home base. “I’m hoping Nurse Cate makes an appearance.”
“It’s such a relief to hear you say that. I’ve been worried you wouldn’t include me, do it without me, or want to get others involved.” I breathe easier, the burden lifted from my shoulders, knowing I’m not alone in this mess. “I’m glad it will be just the two of us. Well, us and Roberta.”
His brows are squeezed so tightly together he could juice lemons between them. “Who’s Roberta?”
“She’s the one who can help us.”
Chuckling, he says, “We won’t need help, baby.”
“Baby?” I giggle as if the word commanded it. I hate that I kind of like the nickname. “Do you say that to all the girls?”
“Just the ones I’m going to fuck.” He starts walking, the distance growing when my entire being refuses to take another step.
I’m still choking on his words when he finally discovers I’m not there. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong?” I take a few steps closer, not wanting a scene in front of my biggest job assignment, so I keep a couple of feet between us. For his safety. I cross my arms over my chest, trying to restrain my anger. “Everything about what you just said to me is wrong.”
“Which part?”
“The fucking part, Shane. That’s what part.” I march past him to the corner and nod so hard for him to follow that I might have pulled a muscle.
Shane catches me in only a few strides, but he then lets me stomp my way into the lead. I stop in front of my vehicle, my anger still burning in my gut. I poke him in the chest. “You may be big stuff—” He catches my finger before I land another, taking me by surprise.
“We don’t have to do anything,” he says as if sex is so casual that we’ll be discussing the finer points before hopping into bed. “We can just get to know each other again.”
“We didn’t know each other the first time around. We talked, what? A handful of times and—”
“Kissed.” I hate that his eyes seemed to have softened, reminding me not to jump to conclusions. Although his voice comforts like hot chocolate on a winter’s night, he doesn’t hide what’s on his mind. “I might not remember seeing you at a party, but I remember that kiss.” Releasing me, he runs his hand over his head, then wraps his palm around the back of his neck. “My apologies, Cat. I misread the situation. I assumed you called me to hook up, but there’s no rush to do anything.”
Taking my bag from him, I set it down beside me. I’d rather have it on the sidewalk than in this man’s possession. “There actually is.”
He shifts, confusion narrowing his eyes. “Help me out here,” he says, “I’m getting whiplash.” Keeping his eyes on me, he drops his chin. “You do want to fuck?”
“Stop saying that. Good God, you’re worse than Maggie. There’s no fucking involved.” I wish I hadn’t swung my hands low in front of me to highlight that region of my body. The point could have been made without me redirecting his eyes below my waist. My face flares, and the burn in my cheeks causes me to sweat under the collar. I tug the bow loose and undo the top button of my blouse to cool down, but my mind travels at warp speed, causing chaos to my typically responsible self. “Like, none, it’s been so long that we don’t need to keep going on about the sex I’m not having.”