Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 39250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
I narrowed my eyes. Was she making fun of my hobby?
“Doing puzzles is badass,” I told her. “It’s relaxing, and it’s good for your brain.”
“I wasn’t teasing you!” Except, her beautiful grin was back. “I actually like puzzles myself. And crossword puzzles and sudokus…”
Oh. All right.
“So, about the food?” she prodded. “Based on the ingredients I saw, I can make a loaf of bread…?”
If she wanted to cook, by all means. I sucked at it. I nodded with a dip of my chin and gestured at the bird. “There’s a box of supplies behind my seat too. It won’t be enough to last us all week, but I’m pretty sure we’ll have pheasant tomorrow. Knock yourself out.”
“Oh, exciting. I didn’t know about the box. Lunch coming up in a moment, then. Go sit down.”
I just might.
We parted ways, and I—
“Oh, one more thing, pilot guy!”
Jesus, what now?
I looked over my shoulder.
“It would be nice to know your name,” she said.
Shit. I hadn’t introduced myself.
I scratched the side of my head. “Everyone calls me Hyatt.”
“What does your mama call you?”
Damn. I couldn’t help but smirk. “Sugar.”
Kiera laughed. “Goddammit, Hyatt, tell me your first name.”
Oh, fine. “James. Happy now?”
She beamed. “Very. I’ll let you know when the food is ready, James.”
Uh-huh. I nodded once and headed off, 100% certain now that she was trouble.
The outhouse was ready. It took some dusting and cleaning out of a few spiders, but we were good to go. Before I ducked out of there, I placed two toilet paper rolls next to the shitter and poured a bottle of disinfectant in the tank.
“James?”
“Yeah?” I trekked back to the cabin and arrived just as she came out of there.
“How did you bring so much?” She was holding two handfuls of spice bags and stock cubes—and one jar of strawberry preserves. “I thought the hot sauce and salt were luxurious enough, and then I saw a pouch labeled ‘Kitchen’ attached to your rucksack. I hope you don’t mind that I snooped. I didn’t touch anything else.”
It was fine. I could go with I have my orders again, but that might get repetitive. “I didn’t bring all of it. We have people like your friend’s husband in all countries we work in. Nobody knows everything, but each one knows something. One guy will keep supplies stocked for us. Another will act as a courier. Someone will…you know, be in charge of surveillance at a safehouse.” I lifted a brow at her.
She smiled sheepishly. “I’m guessing you know Noura’s husband by name now.”
I did. “He won’t get into trouble.” We wouldn’t be using that location again anyway. “As for all this—” I gestured to her hands. “Call me comfortable. I don’t like my fish bland.”
It wasn’t technically a lie, but I wasn’t about to divulge that I was preparing the location for two operators who were going to spend three months here soon. The helicopter had way more supplies in the cargo; it just wasn’t for me to use.
Kiera squinted up at me and tilted her head. “I think you’re withholding something, but I’ll allow it. I’m just curious. Food’s ready soon.” She turned and headed back inside.
Her ass was still too sexy for her own good, but I’d allow it.
One would think a fantastic meal would silence just about anyone. And if that didn’t do the trick, then how about the view?
Kiera had a nice fire going in the pit a few paces away from the camp, and we were currently eating soup and freshly made bread in front of it. Plus, the view. Did that shut her up? Not one bit. She hadn’t been lying about being curious.
“Siblings?”
I shook my head and dipped the bread into the soup. It was fucking amazing. She’d turned canned tomato soup into something worthy of a restaurant menu. She’d used rice, green lentils, freeze-dried chicken, and chili. And the bread was fantastic. I tasted olive oil and rosemary.
“Small family, then?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Not really. My grandparents had two boys. One had one child—me—and the other had eight.”
“Wow. So a lot of cousins. Are you close?”
“Not really,” I repeated, even though I hung out with a couple of them from time to time. “I’m close with my folks. That’s plenty.” I shoveled more food into my mouth and eyed her. Family was important to her—that much was clear.
My folks were about as married to their careers as I was. Even now when they were getting closer to eighty, Ma was involved with activities for the children at her church. She’d always loved being a teacher. And Pop could be found under the hood of a car.
It made me think of something, because there was one more.
“You haven’t asked about my grandparents,” I pointed out.
She widened her eyes, and it was fucking funny.
“I-I’m sorry,” she said. “They’re alive?”