Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
I eased the rest of the way to where he left the items, and I poured coffee to halfway then dumped creamer in to fill the rest. Then I dosed it with three tablespoons of sugar. The spoon clanked against the ceramic as I stirred, and I bit at the inside of my cheek since I could feel the heat of his gaze burning into me.
The man stoic and hard as he lifted his cup and put it to his plush lips.
His thick throat bobbed as he swallowed.
The air crackled around him.
I swore, every move he made hit me like a landslide.
A churning tide that rose too high.
I struggled for breath then lifted the cup to my mouth, peeking over at him as I did.
“You were out late,” I chanced. Maybe that would open a line of communication since the man basically refused to speak. Except for when he’d opened up to me for a flash last night.
When he’d called me his Wallflower and grazed the pad of his thumb over my wrist.
Gentle the way he used to be.
But apparently that man had walked out with Cash last night since right then his entire body tightened in a fist.
Like I’d delivered some sort of wound-inflicting blow.
He warred, his strong jaw tight before he finally rumbled, “Had some business to attend to.”
“At two in the morning?”
Damn it, I was about the shyest person around, but I never could keep my mouth shut around him.
He shifted toward me.
A tidal wave of animosity.
He leaned in my direction.
He smelled of the woods and fresh, clean soap.
I bet if I ran my fingers through his hair, it would still be damp.
“Don’t try to dig inside me, Daisy. You aren’t going to like what you find.”
I lifted my chin, hoping it wasn’t shaking. “I always liked everything about you.”
He barely shook his head. “I’m willing to bet that is about to change.”
He seemed…angrier this morning. As if something had cracked between when he left last night and right then.
Maybe it was me having the audacity to touch myself in his bed. What kind of houseguest was I?
“Never,” I rushed.
Cash might have been staring me down, but something in those hazel eyes shifted. Something soft cloaked in the hard edges that had shaped him.
Intensity billowed in between.
Uncertainty and old, old dreams.
He suddenly pulled away, and he shifted to plant both hands on the island counter. “Spent the morning trying to track down your ex.”
Spite poured from his mouth, while a gush of dread spiraled through the middle of me.
Terror at the thought that Ethan could be anywhere. Right here, lurking in this place that somehow made me feel sheltered and secure. Knowing he wanted me dead. Not sure the lengths that he would go to achieve.
But I was also caught up in wondering how in the world Cash would track him down?
I gulped, before I forced out craggy words. “Did you find him?”
The shake of Cash’s head was sharp, and his tattooed hands turned into fists against the stone. “No, but I will. I promise you.”
My brow pinched. “How?”
“Have my ways.”
My stomach tightened at the way he said it. It was almost a threat. An innuendo. Like he was trying to tell me something that he couldn’t.
“Did you think about what I asked you?” I choked it out, turning to what was most important.
The laugh he released was hollow. “It’s the only thing I’ve been thinkin’ about, Daisy. That and how when I’m finished it’s not going to be necessary. Until then, you and those kids stay here.”
It’s not going to be necessary.
What was he implying?
I should be scared of it.
Of him.
But I…wasn’t.
“Cash—”
He shot upright and turned his back to me as he started for the front door. “I have things to do.”
Right.
Okay.
He’d somehow lost his knack for deep conversation, and I guess that subject was closed.
Temporarily because I wouldn’t be swayed so easily.
“All right, then,” I said, as bright as I could when I wanted to press him for being a dick.
But I guess I had imploded his quiet little world then turned around and asked the world of him.
I needed to cut the guy some slack.
“I need to go into town and get some things for the kids. I’m going to walk to where I left my car then—”
I reared back when he whirled around. “You don’t go out that door without me.”
“I—”
He shoved out his hand.
I stared at it blankly.
“Keys,” he grunted.
Oh, right.
I shuffled around him and headed into his room, fumbled through my purse and found my keys, then came rushing back out.
I managed not to stub any toes going either direction.
One small miracle at a time.
I dropped them into his palm. “I parked it in the campground to the north of your land. It’s a white BMW SUV.”
“Is it your car?”
“No, it’s a rental. I didn’t want him to track me.”