Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“Nothing’s going to happen as long as you stop harassing my girl,” Keane replied. It looked like he might have to have that talk with Olivia sooner rather than later. The deputy was studying him like he’d be running a check real soon.
The deputy frowned. “Olivia ain’t dating no one. If she is, it’s real early, and she and Scott nearly got married.”
“Nearly being the right word to use,” Garrett said as he stepped back in. He gave Scott a bland smile. “Mr. Whittiker, I’ll be serving as counsel for Barnes-Fleetwood during the negotiations. I’m afraid we’ve run into a small problem. We’ll need to take the day to secure the office and find another suitable place to meet.”
“Your friend was threatening Scott,” the deputy said.
“Did you hear the threat?” Garrett asked in what Keane thought of as his lawyer voice. “Are we going to bring my client in for questioning? What are the charges? Could I have the name of your supervisor? I like to go straight to the main source. Saves us time. I’m going to need the report, and I’d also like a full breakdown of what you heard and when you heard it. Are there security cameras? If so, I would like to see the footage.”
The deputy’s eyes went wide, and he took a step back as though completely overwhelmed. “I…I…didn’t hear it. He seems like a guy who would threaten someone. I heard he scared the crap out of Jason Hart last night.”
Garrett’s head shook. “No, that was me, and I merely explained the way the world would work if he kept going after my girlfriend. Do you want me to put it on the record? I would like you to cite the particular laws you believe we’ve violated.”
“Gil, what’s going on?” Deputy Morgan stepped out of the building with Olivia following her.
Gil sighed. “Honestly, I’m not sure. I was just bringing the coffee.”
Poor guy. Garrett could tie a person up.
Maybe he should tie Garrett up. It might be fun to see how he would react since he’d seemed happy to kneel beside Olivia the night before.
“Olivia.” Scott dropped his expensive bag to the ground and rushed over to her with what seemed like well-feigned concern. “Are you okay? You weren’t in there when the fire started? I can’t stand to think about what could have happened to you.”
She waved him off. “Nah, when it started I was getting railed by my two boyfriends, so I was not in here. I was probably in a sex swing.”
He was so crazy about this woman. “Nah, that was earlier in the evening. We were in the bed by early morning. I think Garrett was licking whipped cream off your… Well, he was having a treat.”
Deputy Morgan snorted. “Good to know, friend.”
“But I do wonder where Mr. Whittiker was,” Garrett said slowly.
Scott’s face had gone a florid red. “I was in my motel room after having dinner at my friend’s house. And I suspect Olivia might be covering for you. She’s not that kind of girl, no matter what the town says.”
“Oh, I am totally the kind of woman who enjoys raunchy sex with two hot guys,” Olivia said.
“Who isn’t?” Deputy Morgan asked and then sobered. “Gil, thanks for the coffee. We should secure the building and wait for the arson inspector to come.”
“So you think someone did this?” Scott asked. “You don’t think someone left a candle burning? Or it was an accident?”
“Unless someone accidently poured gasoline on Olivia’s desk and then whoops, set the whole place on fire, then no, it was not an accident.” Deputy Morgan looked down at the pad she was carrying and checked something off on her form before looking to Olivia. “Given that someone slashed your tires yesterday, I’d like you to be vigilant, and let me know if anything out of the ordinary happens.”
“Well, I told you about the sex swing, right?” Olivia said.
Deputy Morgan snorted and grinned. “Yeah, girl, but I’m talking about bad things. As for the other, let’s grab margaritas and you can go into as much detail as you like.”
“Olivia, I think you should take this seriously,” Scott said, a stern look on his face. “If someone is trying to hurt you, I think you need a man who can protect you.”
She threaded her arm through Keane’s and reached out for Garrett. “Good thing I have two men who can protect me. I don’t think we’ll be meeting today. I have to call my father and convince him not to break his vacation plans and get the insurance started. Come out to the ranch tomorrow morning and we’ll meet in my dad’s office.”
“Or we could have dinner tonight,” Scott began.
Olivia shook her head. “Nope, I am dinner tonight, and you are not invited. I meant what I said. I’ll work with you, but I won’t let you convince me to give you another chance to use me and leave me the minute you think you don’t need me anymore.”