Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“I thought we were working.” Luis looked to David. “We only have a week here. And I only brought two tents. They’re not big.”
“We’ll make do.” She had no idea how she was going to convince David to share one with Luis now that she’d introduced herself as his girlfriend.
She wasn’t. She was going to let herself fall into this trap. Now that she thought about it, she worried that maybe that was precisely why she’d done it.
David was looking down at her, his lips curled up in the sexiest smile. “I suspect we will.”
Oh, she was in trouble, but she also suspected he might be in trouble too, and it was her job to make sure nothing happened to Sean Taggart’s stepson. Ian’s nephew. She needed to remember that at all times. Especially when she was in the same room with this man tonight and there was only one bed.
Had she really told him they should throw down? She’d been awfully bold in that moment. Or maybe she’d simply underestimated him.
What had he done with Betsey Ross’s sewing needles? She’d been thinking about that a whole lot, thinking about what the buttoned-up professor did when class was over.
David looked back to his research assistant. “She’s good at entertaining herself. Don’t worry about Tessa. We’ll get everything we need. Where’s Eddie?”
Luis seemed to force himself to focus. “He’s taking a nap. He hasn’t been feeling well the last couple of days. Nothing serious. He’s had some kind of bug, but he’s been better today. He promised to join us for dinner. I can show you around and get you settled in. Mateo prepared two rooms since we were expecting you to bring your brother, Dr. Hawthorne.”
“I dumped Kyle when Tessa said yes. We only need one. Like I said, we’re very affectionate.” David had the sexiest, evilest grin on his face as he dipped his head down and kissed her.
She hated that it did something for her. She could maybe resist the nice-guy professor, but meeting the pervy hottie under the tweed was like finding out not only was Clark Kent Superman, he could also find a G-spot faster than a speeding bullet.
“Well, let’s go and look around the house.” Luis seemed to find his footing. “Although I suspect Dr. Hawthorne could give this tour himself.”
David’s head was back, his eyes taking in the front of the house. “Not at all. I’ve only studied the place in pictures. It’s different being here. Everything is so vivid.”
She liked watching him, enjoyed how curious he was about the world around him and how open he was to learning. Too often lately she’d spent her days moving through like a zombie, doing the things she needed to do to get to the next one only to find herself on a loop.
Meeting David Hawthorne had tossed her off that loop and forced her to think about something beyond getting to the weekend where she could visit with her family and wonder why she didn’t feel like she belonged with those happy people.
David had walked to the edge of what seemed to be a parking circle, stepping over to the place where the jungle began.
“Be careful,” Luis cautioned. “There are snakes out here.”
She reached for David’s hand to bring him back to the house. She rather thought he might need someone to ground him at times. “I’ll be on the lookout for snakes.”
She glanced back at the man who hadn’t left his post and worried more about the predators she might find inside the mansion.
* * * *
David was astounded by the beauty of the home Ricardo Montez had built. From the big mural at the front of the house depicting the jungle and the river, to the skylights that let in sun, every detail had been thought through. Every hall he walked down, room he took in, reminded him that he was walking in the steps of giants. So many of the people he studied about had walked these halls, sat in these chairs. History had been made here.
Too often people only thought of history being made in the big spaces—the White House, Parliament, the world’s battlefields. But so much happened in the private places. In the living rooms and over dining tables, the fate of the world had been decided again and again.
He couldn’t help but wonder if his own personal history would be decided here, too.
“That mural was beautiful,” Tessa said. She’d been great during the tour, asking lots of questions and getting a lay of the land. “I’m glad I got pictures.”
He was fairly certain she’d gotten pictures of everything so she could study the layout and prepare for whatever threat might come their way. But she’d seemed like a happy tourist.
“And this is the room you’ve definitely been waiting for. I saved the best for last.” Luis had walked the halls like a long-time tour guide. “The library.”