Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“Here?” Kyle moved for the door. “This is not a remote job. I don’t want to use anything that requires long-range contact. You’re coming with us. I’ve decided that’s the best way to keep you alive. It’s what I should have done in the first place. I should have faked both our deaths and then you could have learned how to run a fryer, too. We still might have to do it. Think about how you want to fake die. I’m going to grab some lunch. I saw the pizza guy dropping off a bunch of pies. Is Boomer here?”
“Boomer took the day off to go to his daughter’s science fair,” Charlotte said as she started out the door. “I ordered the pizza because I thought it would be easier for you guys to eat here.”
“Come on, babe.” Taylor took Drake’s hand. “Let’s get you some lunch and then we’ll figure out where we’re staying tonight. I have to admit, I’m intrigued by the princess castle. I think you’ll look good with some glitter.”
She’d expected to be stuck at Sanctum for the time being, but she hadn’t counted on having roommates. She’d honestly expected him to lose his shit and storm out when he realized she wasn’t going to fall in line.
Instead he moved into her space, one hand coming up to brush her cheek. “I want you to think about letting me stay with you tonight. I’ll be a good boy and not kidnap you, but I will sleep outside your door if you don’t let me in. I meant what I said. I made a mistake and I’ll do anything I can to fix it. Can I kiss you? It’s been an awful couple of days, and all I want to do is kiss you.”
Her wall of ice threatened to melt completely, and she stepped back, shaking her head.
She didn’t owe him anything. Not one single thing. Not comfort. Not a kiss. Nothing. He’d left her alone and he had to deal with the consequences.
“Okay.” He looked so sad, his shoulders curved slightly inward. “I’ll go get some lunch and then I’ll get to work.” He turned and started out the door as a familiar man walked in. “Hope there’s some sleeping bags at the club.”
Kai Ferguson did a double take as Kyle walked by. “Hey, welcome back from the dead, man.” Kai was Sanctum’s resident therapist. He also ran the Ferguson Clinic which was housed in the building next to Sanctum. “And if you need a sleeping bag, check the second-floor closet. Also, there are still some nap mats in the kid’s room.”
She tried to envision Kyle napping on mats meant for toddlers. He would need at least three of them.
Was he going to sleep outside her door again? What would he do when they were out in the field?
The idea of being in the field sent a thrill through her. She could do something active to bring down her tormentor. She didn’t have to sit and hide and feel utterly helpless.
If he was telling her the truth.
She started for the door. She wasn’t hungry, but she would force herself to eat something. She would take it to her desk because sitting around a table with Kyle and Drake and Taylor would make her feel too much like a part of the team when she knew damn well she wasn’t. Kyle needed her technical expertise. That was all.
“MaeBe, could I have a minute of your time?” Ian asked.
She turned and realized he hadn’t moved an inch. Kai shut the door behind him, closing the three of them in.
Suspicion played along her brain. “What’s going on?”
Was she about to get a lecture on why she shouldn’t go on this op? Or worse. Was Ian going to find a way to gently tell her she needed to find a new job because Kyle was coming back?
“I want to talk to you, and I’m hoping you’ll listen,” Big Tag said.
She would do almost anything this man asked of her. Even leave if he needed her to. She wasn’t actually family. He’d done everything he could to help her, but his family had to come first. “Of course. Did you need to bring in Kai? I’m not going to lose my mind because you let me go. I’ll be fine.”
“Let you go?” Ian’s head shook. “I was serious. I’m not letting Adam poach my employees. I know you think it’s nice down there, but only if you like the smell of lemongrass and douchebaggery. You won’t get any adrenaline rush working for Adam. I thought you wanted to go into the field. He does not have a field.”
“Ian, she thinks you’re going to bring Kyle back and let her go.” Kai had taken a position on Ian’s right side.
Ian snorted. “Yeah, like I’m going to pick Kyle over her. Let’s see. Kyle lies a lot and has so much fucking baggage he needs his own private jet to carry it all. And he randomly dies and comes back. It’s obnoxious.” Ian sobered. “But he’s also a great guy who will someday make someone special an amazing…” He sighed. “I can’t say that with a straight face. He’s such a bag of cats, but he’s my nephew and I have to try.”