Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
“She’s a beaut. I’ll give you that.”
He was right. She was beautiful, smart, creative, and everything in between. I knew when I was a kid that she was the only one for me, and that hadn’t changed. I wasn’t so sure she still felt the same about me. If tonight was any indication, things weren’t looking so good.
We’d just gotten back out to the truck when I heard Tallie call out to me, “Holt!”
I turned, and my pulse started to race when I saw her running toward me. Before I could process what was happening, she had thrown her arms around me and was hugging me with all her might. I couldn’t imagine a better feeling.
She buried her face into my neck, and I could feel the warmth of her breath as she whispered, “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
I slipped my arms around her waist, inching her closer.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered, her voice muffled against my chest. “More than you’ll ever know.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut—the kind of punch that leaves you breathless and aching all at once. I wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn’t come. All I could do was hold her and relish the sensation of having her in my arms again.
Just as quickly as she’d come, she pulled away. Her eyes met mine for the briefest of moments, and there was something in them—something raw and broken and beautiful.
“See you soon,” she said softly.
Then she turned and ran back up the stairs, her long, red hair flying behind her. I didn’t move. I just stood there and watched as she disappeared upstairs. After several moments, Goose broke the silence by saying, “Well, damn. I didn’t see that coming either.”
“That makes two of us.”
We all piled back into the truck and started home. Memphis was riding shotgun and silent for once, and Goose was sprawled out in the back, flipping through his phone. I had no doubt that they both had plenty to say, but neither of them spoke. Instead, they gave me some time to sort through all the thoughts barreling through my head, and I was thankful. I was a goddamn mess and needed a moment to collect myself.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the way Tallie felt in my arms. It had been eight years, and yet, she still fit against me like she’d never left. That hug damn near knocked the wind out of me, and I’d been holding my breath ever since. There was something about the way she looked at me before she ran back to her apartment. There was a longing in her eyes that was mixed with relief and fear.
The fear stuck with me. It made my chest tighten and my jaw clench. Someone had been following her. Someone had broken into her parents’ house. That wasn’t random, and it sure as hell wasn’t okay. I kept my eyes trained on the road ahead as I muttered, “Doesn’t sit right.”
Knowing exactly what I was talking about, Memphis asked, “Her being followed or the break-in?”
“Both.”
“Is it just me, or do you think it has something to do with her father?”
“Don’t know, but I intend to find out.”
“Maybe Shep was able to find something.”
“I certainly hope so.” Tallie wasn’t the type to scare easily, not the girl I used to know anyway. Whoever this was had managed to rattle her, and that made my blood boil. “Either way, I don’t want to take any chances. If there’s even the slightest chance that she’s in danger, I want her covered. Someone needs to be on her, twenty-four-seven.”
“Understood.” Memphis’s expression was grim as he added, “Gonna have to run it by Prez, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I’ll speak with him as soon as we get back.”
I didn’t know what was worse—the thought of her being afraid or the fact that I hadn’t been there when everything had gone down with her father. Maybe then, those assholes wouldn’t have followed her or broke into her folks’ house. Regardless, I was here now, and I had every intention of making up for lost time.
As soon as we got back to the clubhouse, Goose and I went to track down Shep while Memphis filled Prez in on what we’d found out about Tallie. When we got down to Shep’s office, the lights were out, and he was kicked back on his sofa with his computer resting on his stomach. “Hey, brother. You find anything more on Tallie or her dad?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“Good, let’s hear it.”
“Okay, but I gotta warn ya.” He sat on the sofa as he said, “You aren’t gonna like it.”
“I had a feeling I wouldn’t.”
“So, what do you want first?” He grimaced. “The maybe not so good or the definitely not so good.”