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)
“Thanks!” she replies with a beaming smile, reaching to take it from him, and I'm hit with a surge of jealousy so powerful, I barely bite back the roar of outrage blasting up my throat. “Do you want a cup of coffee or something?”
“I—” Stone starts, but I’m not having it.
“He isn’t staying,” I cut in, my sharp tone leaving no room for argument. I know how this looks, but I don’t fucking care. I step forward, my body blocking his path back into my house. “He’s busy.”
My friend raises an eyebrow, seemingly amused by my protective streak. “I can see the water has claimed another victim.”
I shift my weight, the irritation bubbling beneath the surface only making it harder to keep a level head. “Fuck off.”
But before I push him out the door, Stone stops me in my tracks. “We need to discuss the case.”
The change in his tone snaps me back into focus, and the air shifts to something more serious. “Right. Come on.” I gesture toward my home office, irritation fading into the background for now. I stop to give Willow a light kiss on her cheek. “We won’t be long, Spitfire.”
“I’ll be here,” she mutters, confusion over how I’m acting swirling in her gaze.
Chewy follows us down the hallway. As we step into the office, he runs over and plops down on his bed I put in the corner for him. “Take a seat.” I motion toward one of the chairs in front of my desk. The little dog watches over us to make sure his assistance isn’t needed.
“I never thought I’d see the day you were satisfied doing background checks and busy work on the computer instead of working in the field.” Stone sighs sadly.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my girl safe, even busy computer work.” There’s no question in my mind. “Here’s what I’ve found on Cavani’s shit.” Discontent lingers in my chest as I lay out the stack of folders I’ve been using to track down the fugitive connections with Oscar’s crew in my free time.
He focuses on my scribbles and doesn’t even look up. “One of Keller’s CI’s had information on the rest of Cavani’s crew. It looks like they made it across the border so they’re the cartel’s problem now.”
“I wouldn’t want to be them,” I mutter. From the intel we’ve gotten so far, the fucking dumbass was both stealing from his investors and fucking over the cartel at the same time. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“Me neither.” Stone rubs his bottom lip. “Cavani has so many other problems, I don’t think he’s going to be any further risk to Willow.”
Sounds reasonable, but I’m not willing to bet her safety on speculation. “I’m still not ready to believe she’s in the clear.”
“I’ll keep an ear out and let you know if I hear anything new.” He sits back and stares at me for several seconds. “I assume you aren’t returning to the office until there’s some resolution to this shit with Cavani.”
“That’s right.” If they run out of assignments I can do from home, I’ll use my vacation days, but I’m not letting Willow out of my sight until I know the threat is over.
A few days later, Willow and I decide to crash on the couch and watch a movie after dinner. Something mindless, with enough action to keep our focus. As we settle in, Chewy sprawls out at one end of the sofa, falling into deep doggy sleep within seconds. The little guy is a master snoozer.
I sit back, pulling Willow close, feeling the gentle pressure of her body as she leans into me. My cock turns to stone as her curvy body melts against my side. Her delicate floral scent wraps around me, waking up every nerve ending in my body.
As the opening credits roll, I breathe her in, feeling the stress of the day melt away. The world beyond my walls can be too raw sometimes, with too much at stake and too many variables I can’t control. But here, now, with her, I have no doubt. I know what I want, and it’s this. She’s an intoxicating blend of sass and confidence that pulled me in the moment we met.
I glance down at her, her eyes focused on the screen, the corners of her mouth twitching in anticipation of the next intense scene. Fuck. She turns me inside out without even trying, makes me rethink every damn decision I’ve made prior to her walking into my life. And I can’t help but want more.
For a while, we’re absorbed by the movie, and as a particularly thrilling sequence grips the plot, I notice the way her body tenses slightly against mine, her fingers clutching at the fabric of my shirt in reflex. I take advantage of the moment, running my fingers lazily through her hair, feeling the silky strands flutter between the pads of my fingers.