Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“I know you will.”
He gave me a quick pat on the back, and I took it as my sign to get going while the going was good. I got in the van, and once I’d started the engine, Gary gave me a quick wave and headed back inside.
As soon as the doors closed behind him, I reached into the glovebox and pulled out the yellow envelope where I’d put the rest of the cash. I slipped the remaining money inside and tucked it back inside the glove box.
That was it.
I’d done it.
I’d managed to get every dime of money Lila Kate owed. Now, I just had to get it to Davis. I didn’t bother calling him. I knew he was at the clubhouse, so I drove straight there. When I pulled up to the gate, one of the brothers came up to my window and asked, “Can I help you?”
“I’m here for Davis.”
“He isn’t here.”
“Oh.” I knew it was too early for him to have left for work, so I asked, “Do you have any idea where he is?”
“Nope.”
“It’s important,” I pushed.
“You could see if Goose knows where he might be.”
I heard the guys refer to Luke as Goose several times, so I asked, “Is he here?”
“Yeah. Pull up to the back, and I’ll have him come out.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
I did as he said and parked around back. I’d just gotten out when the door opened, and Luke stepped out. He was wearing his leather vest, and his hair was a mess, like he’d run his hands through it too many times. And he couldn’t have looked hotter.
I just didn’t get it.
There was something about this man that undid me, and he did it without even trying. I’d never been drawn to a man like I was to him, and it scared me because I didn’t know what the hell to do about it.
When he approached, I forced a smile and said, “Hey, Luke.”
“Hey, Presley. Whatcha need?”
“I’m looking for Davis. Do you have any idea where I might find him?”
“Don’t have a clue.”
“Oh, okay. Well, maybe he’s on his way to work or something.”
“Maybe.” He crossed his arms and scowled. “Thought you two ended things.”
“We did.”
He didn’t respond.
He just stood there staring at me with those gorgeous hazel eyes that seemed to pierce straight through me. My nerves were already shot, and his staring at me was only making it worse. “I just… I just need to see him… I have something to give him.”
Damn.
It was official.
I was literally the world’s worst liar.
Luke’s posture shifted, and his gaze hardened. “It’s time to cut the bullshit, Presley. You need to tell me what the hell is going on between you and my brother.”
And just like that, the weight of every secret, every lie, every withheld detail came crashing down on me. I couldn’t have been in a worse spot if I tried.
“Just tell me,” Luke pushed.
I froze.
I should’ve turned around.
I should’ve gotten back in my car and left.
Instead, I lowered my head and said, “There’s nothing to tell. I just need to find Davis.”
“That’s funny, because nobody ever needs Davis,” he snarled. “Not unless something’s gone sideways.”
I looked past him and out toward the lot. Then, out to the trees. The road. Anywhere that wasn’t his face. That didn’t stop him from pushing, “You show up here like this, asking for my brother like he holds your fate in his hands, and you think I’m not going to know something is up?”
“I can’t.”
“You can.” He slipped his hand around the side of my neck and used the crook of his thumb to gently lift my head, forcing me to face him. “Just tell me what’s going on, and then I’ll help you find Davis.”
“If I tell you, it will change everything.”
“Okay. Not sure that’s a bad thing.”
“But it is.” I let out a defeated sigh. “You’re going to hate me.”
“Doubt that.”
“You will.” I leaned back against the hood of my car, and the fight drained out of me all at once. “Lila Kate ran into some trouble…”
He didn’t speak.
He just stood there and listened as I told him everything.
His jaw flexed from time to time, and I knew he was getting angry. But he remained silent, even when I said, “He said he could help. I just had to pretend to be his girlfriend. I didn’t know what his plan was. He didn’t tell me anything, just that I had to do what he said, and he’d get the money.”
Luke looked away, but I saw it.
The anguish in his eyes was impossible to miss, and it only grew more intense as I said, “I played along with it because I was desperate. I was terrified that those men would come after Lila Kate. I had no choice but to come up with the money, and Davis… he just seemed so sure that he could get it. I didn’t know what else to do.”