Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
As we enter, I can't help but steal a glance at her, wanting to see her reaction. Her eyes scan the room, taking in the earthy tones and the abundant sunlight cast through the windows across the open space. It's been a long time since I cared about someone else's opinion of my place, but with her, it matters more than I'd like to admit. Her presence is like a sweet, slow burn I just can’t shake, one that’s been simmering under the surface since the first time I laid eyes on her.
“Your home is gorgeous,” she says, her voice cutting through my reverie. Her tone sounds genuine and makes me want to show her more, to lay out the parts of myself I usually tuck away.
“Glad you think so,” I reply. “I bought it when I moved to town a few months ago, so I’m still getting everything the way I want it.”
She glances over her shoulder at me. “Where did you live before?”
“Up until six months ago, I was a Texas Ranger down in Houston. I got tired of the hustle and bustle of the huge city and decided to switch gears a little bit. When a position with the FBI office here in town opened up, I jumped on it.”
“I can see why.” She smiles at me. “I fell in love with Silver Spoon Falls the first time I visited. I really think that’s why I overlooked all the warning flags and took the job with Cavani Investments.”
“Sometimes the worst things turn out for the best.” It wasn’t the most romantic way for us to meet, but I’ll take it. Needing to lighten the mood a little, I gesture to the wide-open living area. "Make yourself at home.”
She laughs softly, that wicked smile of hers making my damn heart do a little flip inside my chest. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
After I double-check all the locks and set the alarm, we wander through the connected dining area to the modern kitchen. It’s a place built for comfort rather than show. My fingers twitch with the urge to reach out and touch her, guide her through by the small of her back, but I keep my hands firmly in my pockets and remind myself to take things slow with her.
Down the hallway, I pause in front of the bedroom right across the hall from mine. “This is all yours while you’re here,” I say, pushing the door open to reveal a sunlit retreat with a soft, quilted bedspread and expansive views. “I’m right across the hall if you need anything.”
She smiles and steps into the room with Chewy following close on her heels. I lean against the doorframe, watching as she moves around, taking in her new surroundings. I'm entirely too fascinated by the sight of her in my space, setting her things down, making herself at home. I’d kill to have her unpacking her things in my room, but I tell myself to be patient. We’ll get there.
“Thank you,” she says, briefly meeting my eyes with sincerity. “Now that Oscar’s been arrested, I should feel relief, but I’m actually terrified. From what I saw, my former boss isn’t too smart, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who turned them in.”
For a beat, I’m caught off guard. The admission that she’s worried about her safety hits me like a two-by-four between the eyes. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.”
She nods, her eyes still scanning the room, half-hidden thoughts flicking across her face. I leave her to it, striding through the house with Chewy on my heels. The moment I open the back door, he’s off like a shot, bounding across the back yard. It’s easy to see the little shit has the typical Shih Tzu unpredictable energy combined with a nose for trouble.
Out back, the sun hangs low in the early evening sky, casting a golden hue over my manicured lawn. Chewy is a ball of fluff and determination as he sniffs every goddamn blade of grass, fully immersed in his canine quest for the “perfect spot.” I watch him with an indulgent grin, arms crossed over my chest, letting the peace of the place seep into my skin.
It’s damn near impossible to lose myself in the moment though. All I can think about is Willow unpacking in the room across from mine. I’ve spent years ignoring distractions, staying focused on the mission, but my priorities changed the second I laid eyes on my little spitfire. First, I’m going to make sure she’s free of this fucking mess her boss caused, then I’m going to make her mine forever.
The moon hangs high in the Texas sky, casting a silver glow through my window as I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling wide awake. It’s too goddamn late, and I should be asleep, particularly since the day’s adrenaline rush has faded, but I’m still wired as hell. Willow’s only been here for a few hours, but she’s already turned my entire world on its ear.