Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“It’s on schedule,” I murmur in amazement. Christmas is just a few days away, and my gifts to myself—some new living room and bedroom furniture—are waiting at the store, ready to be delivered.
I do a little dance before crossing the big space, past my gorgeous kitchen, complete with new appliances and sage-green cabinets, and open the door to the mudroom.
“They even finished this.”
I’m in awe of the beautiful built-in space to hang coats and stow boots and shoes and bags, and the deep sink that’s next to the brand-new washer and dryer. It’ll be the perfect spot to walk into after a long and dirty day at work to shed my filthy clothes, wash my hands, and tidy up before walking through the rest of the house, so I keep my mess in one spot, near the back entrance.
The floor of the mudroom is a gorgeous black-and-white mosaic tile that looks fantastic against the same sage-green of the built-ins and kitchen cabinets.
At least this is all done before the baby is even close to being here. I won’t have to worry about trying to finish my own house before he or she arrives.
With gratitude and love taking up residence in my chest, I pull a deep breath into my lungs and open the door to the basement.
Nothing about this has changed.
“You can do this. It’s only a basement.”
I flip the light switch and start down the stairs.
“Sure, it’s creepy as all get-out, but there’s absolutely nothing down here that can hurt me. It’s totally fine. Just go in there and look for a Francine Brown who would be about the same age as Grandma, and then get the hell out of here. I’m a badass, and I’ve got this.”
The pep talk doesn’t really help, but speaking out loud takes the edge off the silence and helps to soothe me.
Once the heavy door to the body room is open, I step inside and flip on the light. The hair on the back of my neck immediately stands on end.
“Fucking creepy as hell,” I mutter, beginning my journey through the room, scanning all the nameplates. “I have to set some boundaries.”
“Do you often talk to yourself?”
“Shit!” I turn, my hand on my chest as my heart kicks up into overdrive, and find Eric, the stupid asshole from New York, standing in the doorway. “What are you doing here? This is private property. Get the fuck out of here.”
“I came to talk some sense into you,” he says as he slowly walks into the room and looks around. “Man, it’s pretty fucking creepy down here, isn’t it?”
“I want you to leave.” I need to keep the fear from showing on my face. Keep my badass attitude in the forefront, and do not let him see that I’m scared to death here. If I wasn’t pregnant, I’d just kick his ass, but now I have a baby to think of.
“Too fucking bad.” His eyes flash as he glares over at me, and I curse myself for not bringing anything down here with me but my phone, which is next to useless as a weapon. He could do anything down here. No one would hear me scream.
Hold it together, June.
I don’t say anything as he continues to walk around and then circles back to the door.
I should have walked through that door when he wasn’t standing in front of it, and now I can’t.
I am not holding it together.
“What would you like to discuss, Eric?” At least my voice isn’t shaking.
“The property. Don’t act fucking stupid. It’s not cute.”
“I wasn’t trying to be cute. I just don’t see how you have any business asking questions about things that aren’t any of your concern. Even if it were, do you really think acting like this is any way to go about getting me to talk to you about it?”
“I think you’ll do exactly what I want you to do.” He smiles, but it’s a sinister, gross twist of his lips that makes a shiver run down my spine. I want him gone. “Because if you don’t, I’ll burn this place to the fucking ground. Literally. I will burn that inn, your grandmother’s house, and every other pathetic structure in this godforsaken town that means anything to you. I’ll ruin it all.”
“Because of a city-block worth of land?” I shake my head. “That’s ridiculous. It’s not that valuable. There is property in any town up and down the West Coast that you can invest in. This isn’t the only place in the world.”
“It’s the principle of it!” The scream echoes through the room, making me flinch, and the asshole has the gall to look satisfied because of it.
He’s nothing but a fucking bully.
“So, at the heart of it, if you peel back all the excuses and stuff, you’re pissed because I won.” I tilt my head and watch as a muscle in his jaw twitches and his hands ball into fists. “Are you going to hit me, Eric?”