Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“Why won’t mine go down?” he asked.
“It doesn’t work. Here, I’ll turn on the a/c.” She turned the fans toward him and blasted the air into his face.
He wiped his streaming eyes. “There has to be something wrong with that dog. Are you sure he doesn’t need to go to the toilet? That was putrid.”
“Hey, careful, you’ll hurt his feelings. He’s not putrid.”
Eli shot her a look. “I didn’t say he was. But whatever just came out of him was next level. I don’t even know if I can wash the stench from my clothes. I might have to burn them.”
She rolled her eyes. “That seems dramatic.”
He sniffed at himself. “It’s not. It’s definitely seeping into my clothes. I might need to shave my hair too.”
Dear Lord.
Although it would be a shame to shave that gorgeous brown hair. It looked thick and had a slight wave.
“Did you say you were an FBI agent or a drama queen?”
“Ouch. That hurts.” He clutched at his chest.
“No, it doesn’t,” she muttered.
Why was she having such trouble looking at him? She’d met a lot of beautiful people. Gorgeous men. Yet these two men sent waves of arousal through her. She wanted to throw herself at him.
What was wrong with her? She’d never had this sort of reaction to anyone.
And now she was having it to this bossy, demanding guy?
And his terrifying, colder brother.
“Why aren’t you driving . . . ?” There was a pointed pause as he seemed to wait for something from her.
Shoot. Her name.
“Arabella,” she replied, deliberately not giving him her last name. She didn’t need the attention of being Hank Bridges’ daughter.
A shiver raced through her.
“Hey, Arabella? You okay?”
She startled. Shit. How had she forgotten that she was in a car with a stranger.
“Is Kellan your brother?” she blurted out, trying to distract him. He had to be. They looked so familiar.
She didn’t want him to ask her what she was thinking about.
“Yeah.”
“Twins?”
“Nope. We’re eighteen months apart. Are you going to drive?”
“What? Oh, right. Yeah.” Embarrassment filled her as she started the car up and backed out. “Where did he go?”
“He’ll run back to the hotel.”
“You’re staying there?” she asked.
“Yep. Going to need you to find the name of that rental agent.”
“Why?” she asked suspiciously.
“Because I’m going to call her.”
Yeah. She wasn’t giving him that information. Not happening. But she also wouldn’t tell him that. Arabella knew all about how to keep people happy. About saying what they wanted to hear . . . then doing what had to be done.
“Sure, I’ll find that for you.”
He was silent as she parked in the hotel lot. When she turned to look at him, he was staring at her.
“What?” she asked.
“I don’t know you well, but I’m pretty good at reading people. Not as good as Kellan, but better than most.”
“Right. Why are you telling me that?”
Once more, Horse stuck his head out between them. He licked her on the face and she tried not to react.
But, damn, his breath really did smell like he’d eaten something dead and rotting.
A choked noise escaped her.
“Because you just lied to me. You have no intention of giving me the rental agent’s name, do you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t know me well enough to say that.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s two lies now. So lie to me again and you will find out what happens to naughty little liars.”
She stiffened. “What?” Who knew what this guy might do?
“Oh, you’re not ready to know just yet. Grab your smelly dog. Which bag are you taking in?”
“There’s no point in taking anything in with me,” she said with exasperation. “Because there’s nowhere for me to stay.”
They didn’t think she would stay with them, right? Because that wasn’t happening.
They were strangers.
Strangers who you could slip into bed with for the night . . . have a bit of fun.
Like she knew anything about that.
Having fun or having sex. She’d had sex once and it had been a complete disaster that had scarred her for life.
And fun? Well, she didn’t know much about that either.
Eli just shot her a look. “Wait there.”
Where was he going?
Well, if he was leaving it would give her and Horse a chance to slip away. Although that felt rude when they were trying to help her.
Help her or boss her around? It seemed to be a fine line.
But instead of running into the hotel, he came around to her door and opened it.
She stared up at him in surprise. “What are you doing?”
“Opening your door.”
She undid her seatbelt and climbed out.
Eli opened the backdoor to let Horse out. He gave a warning bark and she immediately got between him and Eli.
“Hey! What are you doing?” Eli said, grabbing hold of her. He didn’t grab her hard, but Horse obviously didn’t appreciate him touching her. As that warning bark became something deeper.