Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 19919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
“Winston, no!” I shout through a laugh, diving after him, but he’s already got one of my favorite pairs in his mouth. He dances around the room, tail wagging, clearly loving the chase. He drops the socks and jumps up on the bed, knocking off two piles of t-shirts I just carefully folded.
Winston’s antics are his subtle way of demonstrating his boredom, and I decide to toss the packing aside for a bit to run off some of his boundless energy. “Alright, buddy. You win. Let’s go for a walk.”
I grab his leash from the hall closet, and the moment the little dog sees it, he practically vibrates with excitement. His excited dancing makes it hard to hook the leash on his collar, but I finally manage it.
Uncle Jasper steps out of his bedroom and leans over to give Winston a pat. “Are you taking the little man out for a stroll?”
I smile down at the little dog, shaking my head. “He woke up ready to play. The little stinker already stole my favorite pair of socks and completely unfolded all the t-shirts I folded to pack.”
“Ouch.” Uncle Jasper winces. “At least he didn’t destroy anything.”
“That’s true,” I agree and reach for my light sweater since the weather is a little cool today.
“Enjoy your walk,” Uncle Jasper calls as we bound outside. The cool morning air and bright sun hit us both with an invigorating blast.
I’m in a world of my own, mentally making lists of everything I need to do when a pickup rolls slowly to the side of the road beside us. As it rolls to a stop, I get a little snippet of Déjà vu, remembering the first day I met Piers. The sensation quickly dissipates as a sinking feeling overtakes me.
The new employee who gave me an unsettling look over lunch a few days ago leans out the window wearing a creepily wide grin that causes the hair on the back of my neck to stand up straight.
“Well, hello.” His overfriendly voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me. The way he leers makes my skin crawl, and I’m already searching for an escape plan.
“Hi,” I reply, forcing out a smile, and trying to stay cool despite my bristling instincts.
“Nice dog,” he sneers, eyeing Winston before his gaze slides back to me. “I’ve got to drop off some tools at Piers’ place. You want a ride back? The walk looks long.”
Winston lets out a low growl, eyes narrowed, and I feel the tension prickling through the air. “No, thanks,” I say, my voice steady but edged with alarm. “We’re going to walk a little longer.”
“C’mon, it’s not a big deal. You don’t want to walk all that way alone.”
There’s something in the way he opens the door and sets one foot on the pavement. Something predatory in his behavior raises all the red flags in my head. “I’m fine, really, but thank you.”
I can’t ignore the warning signs flashing in my mind or the unease churning in my stomach like a bad burrito. Winston’s growl deepens slightly as he stands between us, baring his teeth at the man.
“Why don’t you just get in? I could give you a lift. It’ll be fast,” he insists, ignoring Winston and closing the distance.
I tighten my grip on Winston’s leash, stepping back instinctively. “I said no,” I enunciate, trying to keep my tone polite but firm.
The guy’s smile falters just a fraction, but I can see the annoyance creeping into his posture. “What’s the rush? Are you scared or something?”
“No, I just don’t want to chat with you,” I reply, my confidence rising even as my instincts scream to get away. I turn to walk, ready to leave this encounter behind.
But he doesn’t move, blocking my path, that smile morphing into something threatening. “Hey, don’t walk away from me. I’m just trying to talk to you.”
Winston growls louder, and my heart races. “Please leave me alone.”
For a moment, everything freezes, but then the world turns to black.
Chapter 9
Piers
I’ve spent the whole morning battling the streets of downtown Houston on a hunt for the perfect engagement ring for Remi, but the entire errand has turned into a severe test of my sanity.
Who knew picking out a ring could feel less like shopping and more like a scavenger hunt gone tragically wrong?
Finally, after delving into a dizzying whirlwind of shiny rings, I find the perfect one. After all the wrong sizes and awful designs I’ve braved through, I can’t help but feel like I hit the jackpot. But just as I’m about to bask in my victory, Houston traffic decides to throw a wrench in the works.
I’m stuck on the freeway, inching along at a glacial pace when I realize I’m going to be late. I’ve got to let Daniel know I won’t be there to help with the two yards or grab the tools I’d wanted to pick up from the job site.