Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
The best, best things! Oh my gosh, we could be clingy together!
I cleared my throat and sat straighter. “In that case, I think our best course of action is for one of us to pack an overnight bag—and that’s a three-night minimum, according to federal law—so we don’t have to say goodbye until never.”
He smiled with his eyes, and I liked that. He was happy. “You know, I think I read that law. We should always follow the law.”
Totally!
We actually went into work way earlier than necessary, because I admitted I wanted to see him in action and have fun in the kitchen, which seemed to make him very happy. I couldn’t help it. Food was my life, and since it was his too, I figured, let’s spend our time in a proper kitchen!
When we arrived, I found an upbeat playlist and cranked up the volume.
Veggie prep was something we could do on autopilot; I could do it on autopilot and eye-fuck my Daddy, ’cause he was so hot with his knives. I bobbed my head to the beat and side-eyed him as he started to julienne bell peppers for our fajita barbecue wrap. It was very popular.
“Do you like this music, Daddy?” My job was less fun, but those onions needed to be chopped.
“Not at all.” He smirked to himself, then sent me a quick wink. “But I like seeing you shake your cute butt. Bein’ ear-raped by club music is a small price to pay.”
I laughed at his silliness—and I shook my cute butt.
To be fair, it wasn’t exactly club music. It was a club-friendly remix of a country song, so that was totally different.
Over the next couple of hours, I felt like my whole future became a sealed deal. Griffin and I found a rhythm and suddenly worked like a well-oiled machine, and I loved, loved, loved seeing him smiling so much. He was practically a new man.
We prepared the onions, the bell peppers, the breading for the zucchini fries, said zucchini strips, tomatoes, pickle spears, marinades, lettuce, and the dry rub for Adam’s garlic chicken. Griffin also prepped his chili marinade for his signature shrimp dish, and I was treated to a live porn show the whole time.
Oh, we also talked.
He wanted to cover some concerns about tomorrow’s Primal Pursuit, and I assured him I’d read Mister Madigan’s email about the terrain. Lots of soft moss, which could feel great, but it posed extra risks too, because the moss could conceal sharp rocks and branches. I promised I’d be careful when I ran through the woods. I knew the area fairly well, having hiked plenty up in Westslope.
We’d technically be on Master Ryan’s land, just in case we needed medical assistance. His cabin would be close, and his brother-in-law was a field medic or something like that. Apparently, they were neighbors. Additionally, his property was fenced off, because wildlife was a thing, and between Master Ryan’s family and his brother’s family, they had several children and animals.
“Have you decided what you’re gonna wear?” Daddy asked.
Griffin! This is work, dude! You don’t wanna slip in front of the others!
“Yes, Chef,” I answered. “Sorry, I just have to get into work mode. Otherwise, I’ll be hollering for Daddy when I come out with tickets.”
He rumbled a laugh and gave my cheek a smooch as he walked by. “That’s fair.”
“Jeans, hoodie, and sneakers made for trekking,” I replied. “I bought them because it’s practically impossible to slip. And also, I have wrist guards because I can’t injure these babies.” I flashed my hands.
He nodded his approval. “Great thinking. Are you gonna wear a head lamp? Some of the brats were talking about that in the server.”
“Oh no, I’ll wait for my eyes to adjust,” I said. “Those guys are gonna be so easy to track down.”
We were already going to wear trackers that showed up on a screen and revealed our location somewhat. Not who was where, just that someone was in that area. For safety reasons, but also to give the Predators a clue. It was a big, big chunk of forest.
“I reckon it brings comfort,” he said. “Some are afraid of the dark—or get more scared when they’re on their own.”
And they had a point. I would undoubtedly be scared too. But… “I wanna get scared,” I admitted with a shrug.
He picked a new paring knife for his next task and slid me a quick glance. “You’re a little too perfect, boy. Can we discuss your flaws?”
Aw, shucks!
I blew him a kiss. “You’ll discover plenty, I’m sure.”
I felt like I was high.
“We’ll see, I guess,” he muttered. “Anyway. Madigan messaged me this morning about this interrogation play a few of the boys wanted to explore—Abel and the East Coast brat included.” He definitely had my attention. “We can put that back on the table if we remove the risks of you regressing.”