Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
His arm hooks around my waist and he tucks me close, inhaling deep into my hair.
“Second time in a week I’ve found you lying on the floor.”
The raw, harsh emotion in his voice has my throat clogging again. “Always rescuing me.”
He squeezes harder.
“Honey, how are you here? Why aren’t you working?”
“Got off half an hour ago. Was about to run when we got the call you were here.”
“Who called?”
“That would be me.” Shayla raises her hand. “You sat in your car for a while so I alerted Ford. He pulled the video footage and relayed to Rowan.”
“Guess I know how you got my number,” I mutter, hiding my face in his shirt.
“Yes, I wanted to approach you, but with what happened…” She leaves the sentence open.
“I was on the phone.” I peek up to see if he believes my excuse. Relief sets in when there’s a slight glimmer of amusement on his features. “Bex was chatty.” It’s a bold lie, knowing my conversation with her was less than five minutes.
“For the record, I was set to let you and Rowan talk it out until we got the alarm something was wrong. Then Rowan messaged that a lady was harassing you.”
I take a deep breath and face the room. “In my past life, that insane being was my sister.”
“We got that,” Rowan says sympathetically.
“She’s never allowed to set foot in Rendezvous again,” Shayla announces.
“We actually owe you an apology,” Rowan offers. “You were assaulted under my roof.”
“If I wasn’t here, none of that would have happened.”
“Add gratitude to that apology. I’m severely allergic to demented, pretentious bitches. Who knows what would have happened if you didn’t decide to come in? My boyfriend hates the idea of bailing me out of jail.”
I flash Shayla a genuine smile. “Glad I could be of service.”
Talon fishes something out of his pocket and sends it sailing into Major’s hands. “Let’s get you home.” He bends as if to pick me up, but I retreat.
“I can walk.”
“You can walk after we’ve had your head examined.” He whisks me off my feet and through the room.
“See you this weekend, Willow!” Rowan calls after me, waving happily like a kid in an amusement park
Not like a woman who recently witnessed a family smack down.
Talon stops by my passenger side. “Unlock the door, beautiful.”
“Aren’t I driving?”
“Not until we know you’re okay.”
“What about your truck?”
“Drove the bike today. Major’s getting it home.”
That explains the object flying through the air. I hand over my fob and don’t argue when he clicks me into my seat.
While he walks around the car, I take the seconds to soak him in.
Yep, totally drool-worthy.
14
TALON
The tug on my shirt pulls my attention from the scene in Willow’s backyard. Wyatt looks at me curiously, slipping his hand in mine.
“What’s up, little man?”
“Daddy said that Lolo got hurt again. Is that why he’s mad?”
I watch Rosie, Lynden, Chase, Sterling, and Willow all motioning in different directions, talking over each other. Given the small size of her yard, it’s a wonder one of them hasn’t gotten a black eye yet. They have two more minutes until I break in. Willow’s had enough family arguments today.
“I don’t think your dad is mad. He’s worried. She hit her head pretty hard.”
“I hit my head last week.”
I raise my eyebrows, sucking in an exaggerated breath. “Did it hurt?”
“Yep, but Daddy said my noggin is hard and I’d be okay.”
“Well, it’s cool to have a doctor as a dad.”
“You think Lolo’s noggin is hard?”
“Oh yeah, buddy. She’s very hard-headed. But her hit caused a big bump.”
“That why she was wearing ice?”
“Sure is.” And she should still be icing it.
“Uh-oh, Grandma Ro looks miffed.”
I bite back my grin at his depiction, but damn if he isn’t right. Rosie’s face is so red, she should blow steam any second.
Lynden releases a loud shout that will have the neighbors coming out soon.
“Let’s get your Aunt Lolo back to the sofa. She needs off her feet.”
I open the door and five heads swing my way. “Princess, time to take a load off.”
Her eyes shift between me and Wyatt. The fiery irritation dies as awe takes over. Her lips part, her cheeks brighten, and everything about her body language relaxes.
“Okay, honey.”
I fully expected a debate, but she comes over, lifts up to kiss my cheek, and tickles Wyatt’s stomach. “You hungry, buddy?”
“Daddy said you get to pick dinner.”
“Why don’t you and I pick together?”
He lunges for her, but I yank him gently back. “Let’s get her seated.”
“Sounds good, Uncle Talon.”
My heart stops as Willow’s small gasp fills the space. Many moments in my life stand out, most of them in the last month since meeting Willow. But right now, this little boy cemented another of those moments.
“Ummm, baby, I’m not sure what you heard, but Talon isn’t related to us.”