Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
“Don’t be too impressed. I can make pancakes, spaghetti, grill most anything, but that’s about it.” He clears his throat. “My mom and dad taught me. You and Eli will meet them when they come back.”
I finally look at him. “Come back from where?”
He settles into his seat. “Well, since they’ve retired, they travel a lot. That may change now that—” He stops, and I can’t help thinking that he’s wondering if his parents will accept Eli as a grandchild. “What do you want to do today?”
I take another bite of the pancake and then get up to start straightening the kitchen. “Well, I’m going to go out and try and find some work. Usually I have spring pictures at the schools, but they froze my contract. They said something about budget cuts, but I know there’s more to it.”
He scratches his hand across his face. “I thought we talked about this. You were going to focus on Eli and not worry about work for awhile.”
I stop what I’m doing and stare up at him. “I have to work.”
He nods in understanding. “I know you want to work, and I want you to do whatever you want to do, but I want you to wait until I have this handled with the Davenports.”
I eye him suspiciously. “What are you not telling me?”
He puts his hands on his hips. “Zach and Logan are looking into the Davenports, but I also had them look into Tammy’s car accident.”
I feel the blood drain from my face. “And…”
He runs his hand across his beard. “Well, the report says she ran off the road, but when Logan inspected the car, he found that the brake line had been cut.”
My mouth drops open, and my hand flies to my chest. “What?”
He walks toward me with slow movements. “Yeah. They are still looking into it, but it looks like it wasn’t an accident.”
I shake my head slowly. “But… how… why?”
He puts his hands on my shoulders. “I dunno, but we’re looking into it, and until we figure it out, I want you to stick with me.”
I’m in shock, trying to make sense of all this. “But Eli?”
He runs his hands up and down my arms. “The Davenports wouldn’t hurt Eli. I think they’re doing this to get Eli.”
My eyes widen. “You think they killed Tammy to get Eli?”
He shrugs. “Nothing is definite, but until we know, I’m going to make sure you and Eli are safe.”
I feel like the world is spinning around me, but I nod as if it all makes sense. “Okay, I’ll stick around here.” I search his eyes. “I’m so sorry that I got you mixed up in this, Miller.”
He pulls me to his chest. “I’m not. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” He looks at the clock on the wall. “The housekeeper is going to be here soon. I’m going to have her move all your things to my room.”
I rear back and look up at him. “You have a housekeeper?” and just as quickly, I nod my head. “Of course you do. Let me clean. I can cook. I have to earn our keep somehow.”
He smiles. “It’s fine. I promise. Brianna has worked for me for ten years, and she enjoys this job.”
I back away, still trying to process. “Uh, okay, well, I’m going to go up and start unpacking all of my and Eli’s things. I think they brought everything.”
He nods. “I told them to bring everything except for your furniture. It’s in storage. I didn’t want to touch anything at Tammy’s until you went through it, so I paid the lease up for the next six months to give you time.”
My head drops. “Storage fees, lease, I already owe you so much.” I suck in a breath. “And I called the funeral home. They said the bill had been paid.”
He puts his hands in his pockets. “I’m just trying to make this easier for you, Linds.”
My eyes widen. “That’s what Tammy called me.”
He puts a hand to his chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I can—”
I stop him. “No, it’s okay. I like it. I like you calling me that.”
He nods and puts an arm around my shoulders. “Why don’t you go up and lie down? Take a bath, maybe read.”
I shake my head. “No, I’m fine. Really. I’m going to go put things away.”
“Do you want me to help?”
“No!” I say, and then softer, “No, I’m fine. I’m sure you have work to do. I got it.”
I turn on my heel and walk out of the kitchen. It takes everything inside me not to ask him to come with me.
CHAPTER 18
MILLER
She’s been upstairs all day.
Brianna has come and gone, and I asked her not to worry about upstairs today. I wanted to give Lindsey time to herself. Her life has been a roller coaster lately, and I’m sure she needs time to process it. I checked on her a few times, and as the day wore on, she seemed more and more like herself.