Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Two seconds later, he saw the dots signaling she was texting back. She must not be in a place she could answer. He waited patiently.
In a department meeting. Give me twenty minutes?
He answered, Want to call when you’re leaving?
Yes!!!!!
Max smiled. He could imagine her trying to control her wiggles of excitement and then the impatience she would attempt to disguise while she waited for the meeting to end. He headed home to check out what he would need to do if activated. Max rarely kept much in his refrigerator because it would rot if the team headed out on a mission.
Thankfully, he had a neighbor who worked on the base. Max just dropped his trash in their outdoor trashcan before leaving. The little girls usually made the rounds to get rid of milk and other perishables if the team left for an extended time. Max didn’t want them to have to deal with a smelly mess if he could avoid it for them. Saylor wasn’t a big fan of fresh dairy. He could picture her expression when faced with an awful odor.
Max laughed aloud and noticed three twenty-something women waving enthusiastically at him in the car idling next to him at the stoplight. He nodded and refocused on the light. She’d already changed him. Before Saylor he would have rolled down his window to chat with the trio. Now he had something amazing in his life. Random strangers didn’t attract him.
He’d forgotten them by the time the light changed. As he drove forward, the driver honked her horn to attract his attention. Max didn’t hesitate. He headed for his neighborhood. A final blast followed him. They obviously weren’t pleased with him.
A few short minutes later, Max pulled into his driveway and checked out his grass. It would need mowing in a few days. He opened his email and composed a message to his backup lawn care company, activating the mowing service. After saving it in his drafts to send with a click if needed, Max checked to see if Saylor had messaged. Nothing.
Heading inside, Max took a shower with his phone precariously balanced on the shower rail so he wouldn’t miss her call. As he dried off, he double-checked to make sure she hadn’t contacted him. Still nothing.
Her estimate of twenty minutes had come and gone. Max continued to check things off from his get-ready list. He, of course, had his go-bag prepared in the closet. Another sat in the truck in case he was out when the notice came in.
A knock at the door made him sprint to the front of the house. He threw open the door and spotted the three women from the car. They’d followed him home?
“What’s up?” he asked as he checked for messages again.
“Hey. We noticed you looking at us and came to say hi!” one of the brunettes told him.
“I’m sorry, ladies. I’m on a tight schedule today. Have a great day,” Max said and stepped back to close the door.
A white-sandaled foot with pink toenails blocked him from closing the door completely. “Come on, handsome. We know when someone is flirting. Don’t get all shy on us.”
“Yeah. We love men with broad chests and big… big shoulders,” the blonde finished, implying with her hesitation that they appreciated something big other than his shoulders.
“I’m not interested. I have a significant other,” Max told them in a flat tone that showed no interest in his visitors. With luck, they’d decide he was gay and move on.
“We’re okay with sharing,” the last woman suggested, making the others laugh.
“Yeah! That’s great,” the first brunette chimed in and reached out to touch Max’s chest.
He stepped back from her hand. Max was finished with this conversation. Either they were on something or emboldened by the company they kept. “Go home. There’s nothing here for you. Move your foot.”
His hard voice surprised the brunette blocking the door. She took a step back in surprise. Immediately, Max slammed the door and locked it. His phone buzzed.
Almost there. Can’t wait to see you.
Max placed himself out of view where he could look out the window. The women had moved to stand in the middle of his lawn. He could hear their angry voices, but not their words, as they waved their arms around theatrically. Was he going to have to call the police to get them to leave? He hesitated to go out to speak to them again. Escalating this further could be problematic. Thank goodness he had a doorbell camera that had captured the entire interaction.
They turned to flip off his house and stalked back to their car when Saylor’s car pulled around the corner. The women squealed out of his driveway as she approached. As they passed Saylor, she slowed to park, drawing their attention. Immediately, the driver stomped on the brakes.