Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“I’m glad.”
“You know, I was talking to Gordon, and he said it might be possible for you to get a permit for a stall that could sit on the square.”
Confused, I wrinkled my brow. “A stall? Like at the Christmas fair?”
“Aye, but this would be permanent. There are stalls that look like wee buildings. Gordon said, depending on the design, you should be able to plonk one down near the square. You know, instead of renting a shop to run your bakery from. It would be cheaper to have a bakery stall, hut, whatever you want to call it. You’d have to do most of your baking off-site, but it would get you up and running quicker.”
Excitement cut through my nerves. “Gordon thinks this is possible?”
“Yes. You’ll have to apply to the council for a permit and possibly planning permission, depending on the stall design, but he seems pretty confident they’d be open to reviewing it.”
I didn’t know how much a thing like that would cost, but I smiled brightly at Flora. “Thanks. I’ll definitely look into it.”
She asked me how I’d feel about baking two large cakes for next Saturday that she could sell by the slice. We were chatting about flavors when her shop phone rang.
“One second.” She pulled it off the wall and answered it. I glanced back at Walker to see if he was getting impatient, but his back was to me, his eyes to the street outside. I took in the strong breadth of his shoulders, remembering the feel of his naked back beneath my hands.
Longing and hurt flashed through me, and I turned back in time for Flora to hold the phone out to me with a frown. “It’s for you.”
“Me?” I started around the counter, thinking perhaps it was Callie. “Who is it?”
“He didn’t say.”
That knot in my gut intensified as I took the phone from Flora. “Hello.”
“Well, if it isn’t my rat of an ex-bitch,” Nathan’s voice drawled down the line.
The fluttering rapidity of my pulse nauseated me. “Nathan? How …”
“You think I don’t know every move you make, you cunt?” He chuckled darkly. “I’ve spent the last few weeks watching your every move. You come to this bitch’s place every Saturday before eight. You’re fucking that asshole who won’t let you out of his sight. And I know he got some guys to break Brix and that you know I’m here. So I thought I might as well say hello.”
“Nathan …”
“I used to love the way you said my name, you know. Now you’re going to say it pleading for your fucking life. You know how I know that? Because I know everything. I know our kid spends way too much time with people that aren’t her daddy. Like right now. Got my eyes on sweet Callie as we speak. When did you see her last, slut? Think about it, treasure it … ’cause it was the last time.” He hung up.
Callie.
Fear and rage unlike anything I’d ever felt froze me to the spot.
“Sloane. Sloane?”
Suddenly, hands gripped my shoulders and Walker’s face was in mine. “Talk to me,” he demanded.
Flora’s phone slipped out of my hand as I stared into those aquamarine eyes. “Where are your keys?”
“Sloane?”
“Where are your car keys?!” I screamed in his face.
Walker’s expression tightened with alertness. “Talk to me.”
“Give me your keys!” I lunged for his pockets.
He grabbed hold of my wrists as gently as possible and drew me up against him. His voice was soft, calming. “Talk to me.”
Fear was making it hard to breathe. I panted, “He … he’s near Callie. He’s going to get Callie.”
“Nathan?”
“We have to go, we have to go.”
“Sloane, baby, I need you to take a deep breath. In and out.” Walker demonstrated. “Like this. Come on.”
“Callie.”
“We’re going to get Callie, and nothing will happen to her. But I can’t have you passing out on me right now. You try to calm down, and I’ll call Adam. He’s watching over Callie today.”
I didn’t know that. Why didn’t I know that?
As Walker called Adam, I attempted to breathe slowly, but I couldn’t stop shaking. Flora wrapped her arms around me and tried to help, murmuring soothing, reassuring words even though she probably had no idea what the heck was going on.
“Where are you?” Walker barked at his phone.
Adam’s voice came through the speaker. “Mrs. Adair got up early and took the kids to a morning market in Golspie,” Adam replied instantly. “Got my eyes on them now. Problem?”
“Get to them. Andros is there. He just called in a threat.”
“On it. I’ll let you know when I have them in hand.”
Adam had barely finished talking when Walker took my arm. “Flora, appreciate it if you kept this to yourself.”
“I’m not really sure what I’m keeping to myself, but okay. Let me know Callie’s all right, please.”