Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
“How do you know you can trust Sam, Stella?” Raine asked unexpectedly. “How did you decide that you would believe in him? You have no way of knowing that a few years from now, he won’t totally betray you.”
Harlow wanted to hold her. Raine was the youngest, and no matter that she was absolutely brilliant, she was alone and held herself very carefully away from everyone. Her family had not only thrown her out; she was also considered dead to them. When she was very young, the man she thought she was falling in love with had betrayed her and helped orchestrate the murder of several of her father’s men. Eventually, her father was murdered. How could Raine ever feel as if anyone would stand by her? Would stay? Her own parents and brothers had thrown her aside, blaming her for the death of her father.
Stella took her time before answering, clearly thinking it over before she responded. “Raine, you and I both know there are no guarantees in life. No one can say what will happen in the years to come. As to that, I will say, both Sam and I talked about what we wanted in our relationship and how best to keep it. But how do I know I can trust Sam? How do I believe him? I’ve never once caught him in a lie. He shows me every single day that he thinks of me first. I do my best to give him the same respect and loyalty. It’s impossible not to love him when he’s so devoted to my happiness and care.”
“How do you put up with him being so bossy?” Raine switched her gaze to Shabina. “And Rainier, he’s as bossy as it gets. How do the two of you manage?”
Harlow was happy Raine was asking the very questions she wanted answers to.
“Hey,” Vienna said. “Don’t forget to include Zale in the bossiness. I put up with a lot.”
“That isn’t helping, Vienna,” Stella said. “We’re discussing the pros of being with bossy men, not the cons.”
She said it so seriously that Harlow burst out laughing. “Do you hear yourself, Stella? You’re always so like, ‘Sam is perfect,’ even if we’re trying to decide how to put up with bossy men. Maybe Sam isn’t as bossy.”
Stella made a face. “Okay, he isn’t. Well, until he is. But he’s so sweet it doesn’t matter.”
That brought another round of laughter, even from Raine. Harlow would have let Raine’s question go, but she was interested in the answer. Every single one of her friends was independent. They didn’t need a man to support them financially. They had their chosen hobbies and were great at their jobs, yet Stella, Vienna and Shabina had found very dangerous and dominant men to be their partners. How could they possibly make a success out of their relationship, given their personalities? Not that she was thinking about actually trying to have a relationship with Wilder. She wasn’t capable, no matter how tempted she was.
“Shabina, you’re married to Rainier. What’s that like, living with him? How did you know you could trust him to look out for your best interests?” Harlow asked.
Raine looked grateful. She hadn’t wanted to ask the question again, but she wanted the answer. Harlow didn’t really understand why. Raine avoided dating. Like Harlow, she avoided entanglements. She used the excuse of her job, but Harlow knew her reasons went a lot deeper. If your own family turned their backs on you, you didn’t believe too much in human beings.
“I knew exactly who Rainier was before I married him. If he weren’t concerned with my happiness and willing to put me first, I wouldn’t have gone through with it, but I’ve known him for years. I know his character. His first thought is always for me, and I’m very aware of it. Do I protest some of his decisions? You bet I do. He never interferes with the café, but he does help out there. It’s mainly security we disagree on.”
“What happens when you disagree on security?” Raine asked.
“I never win that battle,” Shabina admitted readily. “Rainier knows when there are threats, and he always acts accordingly for not just me but all of you. He considers you family. He always has men in training, and if the threat is low, he has them here.” She glanced at Harlow. “He’s a bit snarly right now over security, and he’s using his most trusted men.”
“Have you received more death threats, Harlow?” Raine asked, intercepting and interpreting the look.
Harlow shrugged, doing her best to look nonchalant. “Trust me, Rainier’s on it. He has the file.”
“File?” Zahra protested. “Just how many death threats have you received?”
“I come from a political family,” Harlow said. “Many politicians and members of their families are threatened. It just so happens the senator always made it public that he intends to run for the White House. He made a point of staying in the media, and he did so on very conservative family values. He portrayed himself as a good, God-fearing man with the perfect family and preached his values to everyone who would listen. He has charisma and good looks. Women fall for his bullshit lies. He makes enemies right and left with his rigid policies, which, by the way, he doesn’t follow.”