Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 41105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41105 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
“I went ahead and made you a fifth one on the house.” The bartender taps my shoulder. “I make a pretty decent Moscow mule if you’re interested.”
“Maybe later.” I bring the first glass to my lips.
“Stressful day?”
“Something like that.” I’m too on edge to have a conversation. “I’m fine, though.”
“Good to hear. I’ll need your car keys for at least two hours.” He points to a “Drink Safe & Wait to Drive!” banner on the wall. “Company policy.”
While I’m pulling them out of my purse, he leans closer. “If you want me to personally drive you home when you’re done, just let me know.”
“I’ll have two hot coffees and a glass of ice water for my friend whenever you get a chance.”
“Fuck you, too then,” he laughs and tends to another customer.
In the middle of a metal serenade, and when my liquor is long gone, I head to the restroom and lock the door.
My chest is burning, and the room is starting to spin.
Grabbing the edge of the sink, I stare at my reflection. My eyes are filled with worry, and my cheeks are flushed red.
Calm down, calm down…
I splash my face with water again and again.
Someone knocks on the door, but I keep splashing my face until the room stops moving under my feet.
By the time I step out into the hall, no one is waiting, and no music is playing.
Returning to the main room, I notice it’s empty, and the bartender is long gone.
The only other person here is a salt-and-pepper-haired man in a suit. He’s adjusting his cufflinks while standing in front of my seat.
“Hello, Autumn.” His eyes meet mine, and a chill runs up my spine. “Are you having a good time tonight?”
What the hell? “Who are you?”
“Wrong question.”
“Where did everyone go?”
“Wrong again.” He steps forward. “Allow me to help you ask the right one.”
“I think I need to—”
“Go?” He holds up my car keys before slipping them into his pocket.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up one by one, and I glance at the exit.
He moves directly in front of it, blocking my view and giving me a close look at a jagged scar on the left side of his face.
“Tell me something.” His piercing grey eyes dare me to make a run for it. “Do you really think you can dance with the devil and walk away without getting burned?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about…”
“You have no idea what the fuck you’re doing either, do you?” His voice is terse. “You think you get to do a little crime on the weekend and then dash off and do whatever you want after that?”
“With all due respect—” I notice another exit to my right. “You must have me confused with someone else.”
“No, Autumn Jane.” He steps closer. “I know exactly who the hell I’m talking to right now.”
Run in twenty seconds, Autumn.
“Given who the hell you now work for, you’re not allowed to take random drives in the middle of the night, get drunk or tipsy around people we haven’t approved, and you damn sure don’t trust fucking strangers with your car keys.”
“In that case, I need to reconsider my employment.”
“Your chance to do that was back in Miami.” He flexes his hands. “If you want to go out drinking or partying, I suggest that you save my number and let me know ahead of time so I can make arrangements.” He pauses. “But fair warning, your new boyfriend won’t appreciate that.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Then please call and let him know so I don’t have to deal with your fucking foolishness anymore.”
“Enough.” Ryder’s deep voice suddenly fills the room. “I told you I’d handle Miss Jane myself.”
I look over at him, and my nipples harden at the sight of him in an open-button grey shirt. No matter how often I see this man, he always makes a new first impression.
“I heard you mention that, Mr. Rochester.” The man in front of me rolls his eyes. “I was simply making sure that no one we needed to worry about was here putting Miss Jane at risk.”
“Was there?”
“No.”
“Good to know,” Ryder says. “Anything else?”
“She’s been drinking.” The man finally walks away from me and toward the door.
He stops at Ryder’s side, whispering words I strain to hear. Ryder keeps his eyes on me, a soft smile tugging at his perfect lips.
The man steps outside, and Ryder locks the door behind him. Then he crosses the floor and moves toward me.
“I could’ve sworn you told me that you were sleeping, Autumn,” he says.
“I didn’t know I needed to report my every move when I’m not at work.”
“You don’t need to lie to me either…” He caresses my cheek, sending every nerve in my body into overdrive.
“How’d you find me?”
He drops his hand from my face, offering a smirk as the answer. Giving me nothing more, he moves behind the bar and picks up a bottle of bourbon.