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)
“Not too hip on Willow’s tears.” Talon’s brash tone interrupts our moment.
He pulls me from her and takes my face in his hands, assessing me closely. “You okay?”
“I’m absolutely wonderful. These are tears of gratitude and love.”
“The only kind I like to see.” Robbie wraps his arms around Ember’s waist and kisses her neck.
“Your wife is an angel.”
His blue eyes light up with his smile. “I know this.”
“Okay, enough. We’re at a party.” I toast my champagne to Ember’s. “Let’s celebrate Finn and Declan.”
“Now seems like a good time for these.” Presley materializes with three light-up crowns. “Raven ordered these for all the girls.”
Talon takes one and places it on my head, switching the lights on. Flashing colors reflect in his pupils as he grins approvingly. “Every princess needs a crown.”
My heart hammers in my chest and new tears threaten as realization washes through me.
No matter what happens, it will be fine. Material items can be replaced, Wolf will make a full recovery, I have great friends who care, and my family is beside me.
But most of all, I have Talon.
23
TALON
I pass through the lobby, hoping to keep a low profile. No such luck.
“Talon? Is that you?” Taylor, the receptionist, calls out and heads turn.
It’s been a while since I’ve been in the Hayes Security office, but one thing hasn’t changed.
Taylor comes around her desk and rushes over, throwing herself in my arms.
“It’s good to see you. Where have you been?”
I dip out of her hold and flash her a courteous smile. “I’ve been around. Returned to work full-time.”
“I thought maybe you’d be back here to finish up whatever project you worked on.”
She’s definitely fishing for information. Our contracted assignment with Hayes was confidential. Most people didn’t even know we existed.
The first time I laid eyes on Taylor, it was obvious she was interested. She didn’t hide her advances.
Similar to now.
Her eyes rake over me, flashing with hunger. She scales a nail over my shoulder and bicep, trailing my ink. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.”
“Is everything back to normal?”
“Better than they’ve ever been.”
She licks her lip before pulling it between her teeth.
When Willow does this, I’m instantly hard, wanting to be inside her. But with Taylor, I wish I could unsee the whole action.
“Got a thing with Robbie and Max.”
“You still have my number, you should use it,” she purrs with an invitation like a neon sign.
“I’m off the market, sweetheart.” The endearment was meant to help ease any awkwardness, but her face clouds with rejection.
“Are you dating Willow Richards?”
I’m taken aback by her question. “You know Willow?”
“We went to school together. I chat with her sister sometimes on Insta.”
“Better yet, how’d you know I’m with Willow?”
“I saw the pictures posted on Sayge’s social from the party this weekend. She has such a sad story; it was nice to see her having a good time.” Her lack of sincerity burns a trail through me.
“Don’t know what you heard; her story is anything but sad.”
“But her sister and her boyfriend… it’s hard to come back from that. How humiliating.” She twirls a strand of hair around her finger. “I’d hate to see you as the rebound.”
“The ex-boyfriend was a spineless piece of shit. The sister was no better. Willow is fine.”
“I thought you needed time to recover.” She repeats the letdown I used the first time she made her move.
“Recovered a while ago.”
Any hope is dashed as anger sparks in her gaze, before sliding into confusion. “Did you say Max? As in Max Roberts?”
“The one and only.”
“He’s here? I haven’t seen him.”
Smart man must have used the private entrance. “Maybe he hasn’t arrived.”
She straightens, a new determination taking over. “I’ll watch for him.”
Good to know she’s an equal-opportunity manhunter.
I flick a half-wave and make my way back to Robbie’s office. Finn and Max greet me with shit-eating grins.
“How’s Taylor?” Max points to the screen that monitors the lobby.
“On the prowl. She’s got her eyes out for your arrival now that she knows I’m taken.”
Taylor sits behind her desk and unzips the top of her skintight sweater to reveal a peek of lace.
“I let her down easily, but she may need a big, strong Marine to erase the sting.”
“Asshole. Now I can’t even go to the break room.”
“You two run off our receptionist, we got problems. Dad will be pissed.” Robbie shakes his head.
Probably best I don’t mention the conversation about Willow. “Any news today?”
“Rylee was in Willow’s last Friday.”
“You have proof?”
“Lawn service technician knows the family. His uncle owns the company and he’s been working there since high school. He helped get Rylee in the house. She approached him with the story she was surprising Willow with dinner. He blocked the view long enough for her to get in.”
“He bought that shit? Any friend of the family would know there’s a rift between the sisters.”