Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 73192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
With that, I pulled away from Tyler’s arm and stalked out of the house.
My puppy that wasn’t really a puppy anymore followed behind me and I didn’t stop once to look back.
***
Tyler
“I didn’t know,” Way said, sitting up. “I swear, I didn’t know. I thought she was arrested for trespassing. That’s what it said on the county website!”
I felt my stomach sink.
“She was, technically, trespassing,” I admitted, rubbing my hands down my face, relaying just how tired I felt. “Those charges have been dropped now, though. But, you know how she gets. She was there examining a new hydrilla outbreak, or something, I’m not really sure. She was in the boat when someone—IE Dusty—came up behind her. Forced her to get out of the boat. Little prick has been following her around for weeks. And he’s such a smug little shit. Every time I see him, I want to knock his teeth into his throat—not that I’ve seen him since I forced her to press charges.”
Way hadn’t realized the details because she’d just arrived home from college the day before. I’d also done my level best to reduce the charges against Reagan.
“I was able to pull a few strings since I know the sheriff well,” I admitted. “But she still has an arrest record. Each time we try to get a restraining order issued, it’s dismissed. The prick whose property it was saw the error of his ways, but he’s not in much better shape. A judge processed his ass and took him off my hands almost before I arrived back at work the next morning.”
Way was silent.
Bennett, however, was not.
“I should’ve fucking killed him when I had the chance,” he snarled, standing up and starting to pace.
I got up and started to walk outside, but Wade held up his hand. “I’ll get her.”
I didn’t want him to get her.
But I also wanted to have a conversation about this before she got back so nothing else was said that upset her.
Reagan was a hellion. She acted like nothing bothered her, but things did bother her. Deeply.
She just hid it well.
“I’ve fought long and hard to do this the right way,” I admitted, looking at Bennett. “I think it’s time to do it the wrong way now.”
A look passed between Bennett and me.
“I told you I was down with that two weeks ago,” he said.
He had.
I just hadn’t been ready to admit defeat just yet.
But I also hadn’t realized how upset Reagan still was.
She hid everything so well and had been acting so normally, that I hadn’t realized what was going on right underneath my own nose.
“Janie’s been working on some stuff with a buddy of mine, Jack,” Bennett started. “They’re looking into the judge. But, with him running for office this fall, he isn’t likely to allow anything that’ll ruin that to go through the system and possibly taint his chances of winning. Whatever we do is going to have to be big enough that he can’t sweep it under the rug.”
I agreed.
I just hoped that I didn’t lose my job over it.
I liked where I was and who I was with.
And honestly? That was where I’d met Reagan.
I wanted to continue living my life the way I wanted to live it and I wanted Reagan to be there with me.
Speaking of…
“I have one other thing I need to ask you before she comes back…”
Chapter 22
I’m naturally irritated when I first wake up. It’s pivotal that you give me a few days to adjust.
Reagan
I made a decision and it was likely a stupid one.
But I didn’t have a choice.
I needed to do something and it needed to be done soon, otherwise I might very well go insane.
Granted, when I walked into the diner—no one with me but myself and my thoughts—I never expected him to just appear almost as if he’d been waiting for me to arrive. Nor did I consider actually having to do anything today without the support of Tyler at my back.
I narrowed my eyes at the lowlife when he sat in the seat across from me, something calm overtaking me.
“You came at last,” he drawled, eyes on me.
My heart started to pound and things inside of me started to shiver in fear.
“I didn’t know that I was meeting you,” I said sweetly.
I looked around to see who else was in the building and was thankful that it was only the owner.
I’d gotten there early. So early, in fact, that the regular crowd that normally congregated there for their breakfast—the eight old men—hadn’t even arrived yet.
I felt something stir in my stomach and returned my attention to Dusty.
“I kept waiting for you to be alone.” He paused. “I’m glad that you came today of all days. It’s going to be a good one.”
I felt myself tighten in anticipation—and not in a good way.