Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 109086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“Fuddruckers.” Clara’s mouth twisted in a pout.
Graham closed the door with a sigh.
Oliver asked, when we all moved to the couches, “What do you think they’re doing out there?”
“Cleaning up those bodies.”
Graham turned Clara’s way. “How long does that take? You pick up the bodies and carry them outside, right?”
She wrinkled her nose, leaning forward on her seat. Both of my aunts were in their sleep kimonos and slippers. Bess was wearing jersey cow slippers with the cow head on top of her feet. Clara was wearing fuzzy flamingo slippers.
She tugged up her kimono end so it draped just above her knees, where she rested her elbows. She looked very take-charge, that fierce expression on her face. “Not if they’re cleaning it like pros. Those out there, they look like pros.”
“What do you mean, pros?” Graham leaned closer.
Her eyes got big, real big, and she made a point of closing her mouth, but she sent me a meaningful look.
Everyone followed, their gazes landing on me. My stomach rolled, but I sat up higher. “What?”
Maybe they hadn’t bought my story. Maybe I should just tell them those guys were Mafia, but if I said that word, that would set my aunts off in a whole different way. Thinking it was a family with a grudge was different than a real-life, official, organized-crime villain.
Just then, the door opened with Jake appearing as Bear and Pooh darted in, running to their dads.
“Oh, Bear!” Oliver opened his arms and Bear jumped up with a big woof. He caught the giant black Lab, falling backward on the couch as Bear began licking all over his face, his tail wagging and hitting Bess in the face.
Pooh did the same to Graham, making it up in one dainty jump, and her excitement was more controlled. She leaned up, one paw to his chest, licking his jaw before jumping down and starting her way over all of our laps. She got to me, giving me one quick lick before Jake moved her, putting her on the next person’s lap. He grabbed my hand, tugging me up with him, and dragged me from the room.
The other two were waiting in the kitchen, both keenly watching me.
“Wait a minute. Where are you taking—” Bess cried out, but all of them clambered to follow us.
Jake stopped them, an arm hitting the doorway and blocking them. “I need to talk to her. You”—he looked at all of them—“stay.”
Clara growled, her head down, and I recognized the look in her eye. She did not like what Jake was putting down, and she sure as shit was about to throw it right back in his face. Only, Jake wouldn’t react in the way Clara was accustomed. She was used to guys from home backing down from her. She was older than them, sometimes bigger, and she had sass. It was known in Bear Creek, Montana, not to mess with Aunt Clara.
Jake came from a different world. He was living in the world Clara sometimes thought she was living in, and the difference between reality and fantasy was sobering. Clara hadn’t learned that.
She wouldn’t, not if I had a say in the matter.
I hurried to get between them, pushing Jake backward as I walked in reverse. I brought my hands together and made a pleading look to everyone. “Give us a minute. Okay?” I didn’t wait for their permission, hurrying forward to shut the door. When it inched open again, I glared at them. “For real, a minute.”
Someone grumbled on the other side and someone laughed.
The door closed that last inch.
I had no doubt they had their ears to the door, listening as much as they could, and knowing that, I whipped back around.
Jake and the other two were watching to see what I’d do.
I didn’t want to talk to them. They were powerful and dangerous and I was suddenly so exhausted from everything that had happened over the course of the week. I dropped my gaze, focusing on Jake. Moving a little closer to him, I didn’t look up. “Can we go somewhere private?”
A strange stillness came over him. He reached forward, took my hand and led me outside. He threaded our fingers as we went down the back stairs.
I stopped after we went a few more steps. “This is good.”
Jake considered me as he stepped close to me, his jeans brushing against mine. He moved our hands to the side, his thumb rubbing over mine. “They’re still cleaning upstairs. We can talk in my truck.”
I shook my head, stepping back. “No. My family will freak, thinking I left again. We can talk here. We just have to be quiet.”
A resigned look came over him as his eyes flicked over my shoulder. “Right.”
There was movement behind me.
I started to look, but Jake held me firm.