Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“No ties to head back to quickly?”
“Some friends. My aunt is there. I check in on her every couple of days.” I smiled. “She thought it was a fabulous opportunity and made me come.”
“You’re close?”
“We are. She stepped in when my mom died. She’s in a care home now, but I see her often.”
“Was it a huge decision to accept this project?”
“Aside from worrying about Auntie Lynn, no. But she insisted I come. She knew that I always wanted to see Scotland, and I knew I needed the space—I mean, a break—so I was happy to accept it.”
“Hmmph.” He paused. “Do you like the big city?”
I tensed up a bit, thinking about my life back in Toronto.
“I, ah, lived in a great little house in a suburb. Still busy, but we had a quiet spot on a nice street. Close to the subway, so easy access to and from work. The city is crazy, for sure, and I prefer to live somewhere a bit quieter.”
“Lived?” he asked. “Had? As in used to?”
I took a sip of coffee to give myself a chance to arrange my thoughts. I should have been more careful with my words.
“Yes. I’m looking for a new place.”
He nodded, sipping his coffee and staring into the fire. He didn’t say anything for a bit, so I relaxed.
Then he turned his head and locked his intense gaze on me.
“Why?”
CHAPTER FIVE
SULLY
Iwas an impatient bastard, and I knew it. I had sensed a story last night and, from her fumbling phrasing, knew it was one I wanted to hear. From the way she tensed simply talking about where she lived, I knew it involved something personal. I had no right to ask her—except I wanted to know. I had to know.
Now.
Her expressive eyes widened at my one-word inquiry, and she struggled to remain relaxed. But I felt the tremor that went through her that had nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with a memory.
“It was time to move.”
I shook my head. “Part of my job is knowing when someone is bullshitting me. Like you are now.” I took her hand. “You’re a terrible liar, Autumn.”
She sighed, breaking our gaze.
I squeezed her fingers. “I know I don’t have the right to ask, but I’m asking. Why?”
She tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth, worrying the flesh.
“Tell me, please.”
“I started seeing a guy. We met one night when I was out with friends. He was too, and we all sort of paired off. He was charming, nice. He asked me out and I said yes. But there was no spark, no chemistry. After a few dates, I told him I wasn’t interested in anything but friendship. He said he understood.”
“But?” I asked, already knowing where this was headed.
“He started stalking me. At work, home, the grocery store. If I went to the movies with friends, he’d be in the theater. It got so bad, I filed a restraining order, not that it did much good. The house I lived in was owned by my roommate’s family. Amber got scared by his constant appearances, his demands to see me even when I wasn’t there, and the threats. She finally asked me to move out. I couldn’t blame her. It was awful, knowing you were being watched, followed. And there was nothing I could do about it. He would bother her, asking for information, demanding that she give me letters he’d written. I couldn’t stay.”
“So, what happened?” I asked, feeling rage building. Simply talking about it upset her. She had paled, her voice dropping as if speaking too loudly would conjure him up.
“I stayed in a hotel close to the office for a week, staggering my times so he couldn’t see me. A couple of the people at work walked me to the hotel to make sure I got there okay. I didn’t want her to know what was going on, or for him to start bothering her, so I told my auntie Lynn I had the flu and called her every day to check on her. I snuck over once, but I was so pale, she believed I was sick and insisted I stay home.” She sighed, the sound low and unhappy. “I knew that I couldn’t keep going. Then this offer came up. I jumped at it, hoping if I disappeared, he’d forget about me.” She drew in a deep breath. “So, when I get home, I have to look for a place.”
I couldn’t respond for a moment. I was furious at the unknown man, angry at a system that did nothing to help the victim, and irritated at the roommate who asked her to leave, even when I understood her fear. The thought of Autumn scared, worried, and upset bothered me more than I could explain. I tamped down my fury, keeping my voice level.