Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
“You’ve still got several pieces to work on, dear. You’re running close to the wire as it is.”
She knew she was. And the urgency was riding her hard.
“I know you’re busy, Devi. Let me help. Please.”
Michelle was always so kind to her. Devi had always loved working with clay. Her mom had scraped together some money for lessons with Michelle. After her death, Derick had seen it as a waste of money. But Michelle had let Devi take lessons in return for cleaning up her studio.
Michelle was the closest thing she had to an aunt or grandma.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you overdoing things.” Michelle was getting older and she had to get a lot more rest lately.
“Don’t worry, dear. There’s still life in these old hands.”
“I know there is.” Devi hugged her old friend carefully.
“Now, it’s time for you to go home. Surely, you have other things to do than spend time in this studio.”
She really didn’t. However, she was exhausted and as she looked out of the window she saw that it had gotten dark. While she didn’t want to go back to the trailer and risk seeing Derick, she knew that Michelle was likely exhausted and wouldn’t leave until she did.
“I do. I’m going to head home and take a shower, watch some television, and go to bed.”
“Good. Make sure you eat too.” Michelle waved a finger at her. “You’re looking thinner than last week.”
“I will,” she said, crossing her fingers behind her back. There was nothing in the house at the moment and she didn’t get paid until Thursday.
At least when she was at work she ate two meals a day.
Well, unless Aaron was being an asshole.
And, generally there was some bread or something in the house. But Derick must have come home at some stage yesterday and cleared the place out of food.
Asshole.
It was weird that he hadn’t stayed, but when she’d gotten home from visiting Rohan, the place had been empty.
Of Derick and of food.
She’d found a few dollars in her handbag and grabbed a stale bun from the bakery on the way here. It always sold yesterday’s bread cheap.
After saying goodbye to Michelle, she headed toward the bus stop to wait in the cold. A shiver ran through her. Her coat was getting more and more threadbare with each year.
You could dip into your savings.
Buy a coat.
Get some food.
Ahh, those were some nice dreams. And one day, she’d be able to do that. When things were more stable.
But she needed that money to pay the company transporting her pottery to the gallery.
This was her future. This was why she worked so hard. To finally be free of Derick. To be free of Aaron.
Although she couldn’t move too far away. She would never leave Rohan.
That part was going to be tricky.
Getting off at the stop closest to the trailer park, she wrapped her coat around herself tighter. For some reason, she felt like there were eyes on her again.
What the heck? Since when did she become so paranoid?
“Cold out tonight,” a voice said from behind her.
Letting out a scream, she jumped and stumbled over her own feet. Shit!
“Not this again,” the person muttered and reached out to grab hold of her arm. Only he grabbed hold of her too hard and she let out a whimper of pain as he tugged her against him.
“Hello, Mouse,” he murmured.
A shudder of horror went through her and she felt her stomach pitch.
Shit. Fuck.
How had she not noticed him sneaking up on her? It wasn’t like he was a small guy.
Don’t show any fear.
“Have you been watching me?” she demanded as she attempted to wrestle her arm away from his hold.
To her shock, he let go of her immediately.
Of course she overbalanced and immediately started falling again.
Why? Why her? Why did she have to be born so clumsy? Why couldn’t she be elegant and graceful? Like a swan but without the long neck and feathers.
Rohan never tripped over his own feet. He also didn’t let bullies push him around. And that’s what Vega was.
A bully.
Who was really, really big.
Which was something she noticed rather keenly as he grabbed her once more by the arm and tugged her next to him.
Ouch.
Sure, she was grateful that he stopped her from falling over, but did he have to also bruise her?
Then again, a guy like him probably got off on leaving people with bruises.
“What are you?” she grumbled. “Like six-foot-ten and three hundred pounds?”
“I’m six-foot-three and two hundred and twenty pounds,” he replied dryly.
“You sure?”
“Last time I checked, yep.”
“Maybe the scales were off.”
“Are you calling me fat?” he asked in a low, dark voice that had her heart skipping a beat.
Right. She had to remember who this guy was. He was the creep who had been watching her.
“You’ve been watching me, haven’t you?”