Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 307(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 307(@200wpm)___ 246(@250wpm)___ 205(@300wpm)
But now…now everything had changed.
He peered out again, breathing a sigh of relief when he noticed the cruiser had disappeared. He needed to make a run for it. If the patrols turned up nothing, the cops might start searching the area on foot soon, and he couldn’t afford to stay in this damn park all night.
He crept out of the bushes and stayed in the shadows, using the oak trees for cover, his guard on high alert with each careful step. Rocks lined the edge of the playground. He bent to pick up a decent-size one, then kept moving. He neared the sidewalk, his gaze darting up and down the street, and finally he zeroed in on a beat-up old Toyota with rust coating the doors. There was no telltale flash of an alarm as he approached the decrepit vehicle. Perfect car to hotwire.
Fingers tightening over the rock, he glanced around the dark, deserted street, then smashed in the driver’s-side window and held his breath. No alarm sounded.
He was in business.
Rapidly, he opened the door and slid into the car, his hand reaching under the dash and yanking out a bundle of wires. Two minutes later, the engine rumbled and Patrick sped away as if his life depended on it.
Because it kind of did.
He drove fast. His breath came out in sharp puffs, growing steadier the farther he got from Marley’s neighborhood. He glanced in the rearview mirror every two seconds, but no police cruisers appeared behind him. No flashing lights. No sirens.
Relief pounded into him. Shit. That had been close. Too close.
When he decided he was far enough away—he’d driven for a good half hour—he pulled up at the curb in front of a small strip mall and let the car idle.
Then he slammed his hands against the steering wheel in fury.
Damn it. What the hell was he supposed to do? He needed that money.
Then you’re just going to have to get her to bring it to you.
A slow smile stretched across his mouth. Yeah. Yeah, that could work. Marley would have to bring him the money. But how? How could he get her to— He straightened his shoulders, the smile widening.
And just like that, he knew exactly what he needed to do.
CHAPTER 13
MARLEY LIFTED HER HEAD in surprise. Caleb stood in front of her, his broad shoulders squared, his defiant expression making it clear he would not back down.
“I know you’re angry with me,” he began. “And you should be. I lied to you, and I abused your trust. But the only thing I lied about was what I do for a living. Everything else was real, Marley.”
“Forgive me if I have a little trouble believing that,” she replied.
“It’s true. I’m still the same person. I never lied about my background. I never hid my personality.” His voice grew wry. “Don’t you think, if I was playing a part, I’d choose to be someone more charming, more likable? I know I’m flawed, Marley. I’m rough around the edges, I’m too serious, too intense, too…broken.”
Her heart squeezed in her chest. No, she would not allow herself to be swayed by his words, no matter how earnest they sounded.
“That could have been part of the act,” she said, wincing at the feeble pitch in her tone. “Make yourself out to be…to be broken so I’d feel some silly urge to fix you. You knew I was a nurse, that my job means I like to help people. Maybe you wanted me to help you.”
“Remember when you told me it’s okay to talk about things that hurt you? Well, for me, it’s never been okay. Do you think I liked telling you about the day I found my mother overdosed on the floor? That it was all part of some sick game? I’ve never told anyone about that before.” Caleb made a frustrated sound in the back of his throat. “I didn’t plan on opening up to you, Marley. It just happened.”
“Yeah, it conveniently happened.”
He flinched at her harsh retort, but the determination on his face never wavered. “I won’t leave you. Grier will try to get to you, but I refuse to let him. Did Hernandez tell you what happened to the last woman who got involved with Grier?”
She nodded, unable to speak.
“Well, I won’t let that happen to you. You can be angry with me all you like—you can hate me if you want—but I’m not leaving this house. If I left and something happened to you…” Agony clung to his husky voice. “I’d never forgive myself. No matter what you believe, I care about you, and I’m staying right here to protect you.”
She tried to ignore the rush of warmth that heated her belly. There wasn’t a single false note in his heart-felt words. Was Gwen right? Was it possible Caleb truly did care for her? Patrick had covered up the fact that he was a criminal, had lied about his very nature. But Caleb was a cop, a man who’d sworn an oath to protect others, and now he was determined to protect her. If anything, that made him honorable, but did it excuse the lie he’d told her?