Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
“No, I just arrived.” She slides over the menu.
“Good. How was work?” I ask.
“Busy. The bakery was swamped as usual, but it was fun. Did I tell you that Holiday has found a replacement for me.”
“No, how are you feeling about that?”
“It’s awesome. As much as I love working with Holiday and Glenn, it was never my ultimate goal, so I’m happy. I’m actually training her throughout this chaos.”
“Yikes, that’s pretty difficult.”
Susy comes over and takes our order, halting our conversation for just a moment. She leaves and then they bring us some white wine.
“What are your plans once you graduate?”
“I don’t know. It’s a long way off and someone just changed my plans, so I’m going to take time to reconsider my options. There are a lot of choices in the city.”
“There are.” We talk about our Christmas plans with our families when all I want to do is spend time with Bethany. We’ve missed so much time together. Our food arrives and it smells delicious, but I can’t take my eyes off my future wife.
A message pops up on my phone during the middle of dinner and I wonder if it’s a last-minute business issue, so I check it.
Alex Dunning has been spotted in Holly Hills.
Masking my expression, I fire one right back. Where is he?
I don’t know. I’m trying to track him down now. The Russians are assisting.
Why are they involved?
They say they owe you for protecting Milana.
“Everything okay?” Bethany asks, looking concerned over her glass of white wine.
“Yes, my love. Just work stuff.”
She tosses her napkin down. “Don’t lie to me, Colter North. I know you love me, so I’m hoping that you mean that and it’s not another woman.”
I tilt my head and stare at her in complete disbelief. After the fact that I saved myself for her, she’d think that or even consider that. Maybe her trust in me isn’t fully restored. Hell, lying to her isn’t going to help either way.
“Fine, but I’m just trying to protect your sanity as well as your safety.”
“What is it?”
“That fucker from your school was spotted in town.”
She gasps, pressing her hands to her face and knocking down her glass. It spills on the table, but I quickly picked it up before it got everywhere.
“Bethany, are you okay?” Suzy asks, bringing another cloth napkin to dry up the spill.
“Thank you, yes. I’m fine.”
“Would you like another glass?”
“No, actually. Just some water, please,” I answer for her.
“Perhaps, we should just leave.”
“I don’t want to ruin our dinner. Besides, I don’t want to take you out in the open. They are looking for him now.”
“They?” she asks. I’d call my brother, but with the Russians on it, I don’t want my brother anywhere near the crazy.
“The guard that keeps an eye on you and…the Russians.”
“You employed the Russians?” Her panic is only growing with every word that comes out of my mouth and I regret saying anything.
“I didn’t. They say we protected Milana, so they’re returning the favor.” The Russians’ involvement surprised me, but I need someone to protect my future even if they don’t do it legally.
“What? I thought Milana ended up not needing protection because they weren’t out to harm her.”
“Yes, but we didn’t know it and we still helped her.”
“I suppose you’re right.” She brings her napkin to her face, wiping the tears that filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry he’s after you.”
“Babe, the boy was obsessed with you. My guard informed me that there were a couple of guys who were interested and he was one of them, but we didn’t know he was quietly planning something.”
“Still, I…”
“No, Beth. Listen to me. I was so focused on you, I didn’t zoom out and look at the bigger picture to all the men in the background. Fuck for all I know you could have had ten guys lurking in.”
“Shit, don’t say that,” she gasped, pressing her hand to her chest.
“I’m kidding. The likelihood of that is improbable if not impossible.”
“Holiday had that problem.” She had to fend guys off all the time. Although she’s pretty, I was never interested in her. My heart has always been set on Bethany from day one.
I remember when I first had her sign for a package. She answered the back door with a rolling pin in her hand just in case I was trouble. Her brow was raised and there was a smear of flour on her cheek. I wiped it off and even caught a slight smile before she glared at me.
“Yes, but it was only a couple of crazies after Holiday, and that’s because she’s sweet and unassuming.”
“True. Besides, I’m the one who’d hit you with the rolling pin for speaking to me.” So she remembers it, too.
“And that’s why I love you so much.” I reach over the table and kiss her, and that’s when I feel the burning sting and the scream before my world goes black.