Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“I’ve known for a long time,” he says. “Hell, anyone who’s ever seen the two of you together knows that. That’s why when this started to boil over … I don’t know who I can trust right now, Foxx. I especially don’t know who I can trust with my sister.”
My chest squeezes hard.
“But I know I trust you—with my life. So when Landry asked what I thought we should do with Bianca to keep her out of harm’s way, there was only one answer. I had to send her to the man who loved her because he would protect her as fiercely as I would.”
A ghost of a smile touches my lips.
“And that man is you,” he says. “So what do you say?”
“I think you talk a lot.” Just like your sister.
He bursts out laughing.
“You really could’ve wound that up in a sentence or two.” Then I wouldn’t have had to sweat buckets over here.
He settles down. “Does Bianca know how you feel?”
“I don’t know.” “Tell me you’re mine, Bianca.” I smirk. “She might.”
“The sooner the two of you stop playing cat and mouse, the better off we’ll all be.”
“Well, since you know how I feel, I feel comfortable saying this. She can be a pain in the ass.”
“Don’t I know it.”
I grin. “What do you need from me? What can I do?”
“Right.” He blows out a breath. “I don’t want to tell her about Dad yet. She tries to play it tough, but I know it’ll hurt her. And I don’t want her worrying about it until we find him. Then she can deal with it knowing he’s put away and can’t hurt her.”
I pace the room. “But how do we know he won’t send someone else? Where are the Downings in all of this?”
“Well, strangely enough, our attorneys reached out to them about the amendment. They sent a formal reply that they weren’t aware of the amendment and had no interest in pursuing it.”
“And we can believe them?”
“I never believe anyone fully,” he says. “But sending a letter via their attorneys is putting it in writing. If something happens to Bianca, they know they’ll be one of the first persons investigated. I think this is their way of saying their nose is clean, so to speak.”
I lean against the sofa. “So why did your father write the amendment in the first place? I don’t understand.”
“We don’t either. We’re still working on it. But if you can keep Bianca busy and out of the public eye until we find Dad, that will help.”
I smirk. “I think I can do that.”
“I bet you can.” He groans. “Let’s remember she’s still my baby sister, and I will still kick the shit out of you, Carmichael.”
Our laughter blends, easing some of the tension that crept back into my shoulders.
“Tell her I called, okay?” he asks. “Tell her she should check the family chat sometimes. Just because she’s married doesn’t mean we don’t exist.”
“I will. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Hey, Foxx.”
“Yeah?”
I can almost hear his smile through the phone.
“You should make a real go of this,” he says. “You and Bianca. You’re the only man I know good enough for her, and she’s the only woman who’s good enough for you.”
Damn you, Jason. “Yeah.” It’s all I can get out without sounding like a moron.
“Ah, the one-syllable answer. There’s the Foxx we know and love.”
“Fuck off.”
He laughs. “Talk to you later.”
I end the call.
“What is happening right now?” I ask the empty room.
Before I can attempt to answer my own question, my phone buzzes.
Mom: Sorry to bother you. But I was just at Smokey’s, and they found one of your keys. Becca gave it to me. I set it on your kitchen counter.
Me: Another one?
Mom: I know.
Me: Thanks.
Mom: Love you. (And it’s killing me not to ask questions about your honeymoon, but I won’t. Please remember this at Christmas.)
I silence notifications and then toss my phone on the couch.
“You’re the only man I know good enough for her, and she’s the only woman who’s good enough for you.”
I’m in shock. I’m sure that’s what this is. I’ve heard it described before—low blood pressure, altered mental state, confusion, rapid pulse—but I’ve never felt it. Not all those things at one time.
Not like this.
As the incredulity starts to fade, another brand of the same emotion begins.
Could this be the start of something real? If Bianca feels the same way, and I’m not even sure it’s realistic to hope that she does, could we really do this?
Could she really be my wife?
I should be backtracking, finding ways to throw up boundaries and keep this thing in a tidy box all on its own. But the idea of keeping her separate from all other things in my life feels wrong. I’d feel cheated. Having her included in my life is the only option that feels right.