Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 146107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 731(@200wpm)___ 584(@250wpm)___ 487(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 731(@200wpm)___ 584(@250wpm)___ 487(@300wpm)
Hearing a sobbing cry from the other end of the call, she waited patiently for Leighton to begin speaking again.
“Gilbert and I had a terrible fight last night. I thought he was going to kill me right before Desmond came knocking on the door. He stayed with Gilbert while I packed the boys and my things. He drove us to the airport and flew us to Kansas City. We’re staying with Nadia and Dante until she helps me find a safe place for us to stay.
“I’m sorry for rattling on, telling you what you already know when you’re the one who set it up. How can I ever repay you?”
“Leighton …” Haley waited until Leighton quit crying so hard. “You’re going to get the hiccups if you don’t stop crying,” she teased. “Listen, I’ll get Desmond to fly me there, and we can figure out—”
“No, stay wherever you are. I don’t want to interrupt your weekend with Desmond after he’s done so much for us. He said you’re only going to be gone for three days and that it was safer for us to stay with Nadia and Dante, anyway. It won’t be safe for you to stay at your apartment, either. Gilbert has lost it since the reunion party.”
“I didn’t mean to make it worse for you.”
“Haley, it was already bad. Everyone else at the party ignored that I was there with two black eyes. Only you and Desmond were the ones concerned for me. He gave me his private number after lunch when you were talking to your mom and told me to call him if Gilbert raised a hand to me again. I couldn’t call him last night, though, because Gilbert has the only phone.”
“I’m glad Desmond was there for you and the boys.”
“Me, too. I’m not going back ever.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“I’ll let you go. The boys want me to watch a movie with them. I just wanted to thank you.”
“I’ll pass it on to Desmond. Take care, Leighton.”
“I will. Goodbye.”
Disconnecting the call, Haley returned to the table.
“I put your omelet back on the tray to keep it warm.” Desmond opened the top of the dish and put the omelet back on her plate.
Haley placed her hand over Desmond’s arm when he went to resume eating. “Thank you.”
Desmond raised his brow at her soft tone, dropping his eyes to the cell phone in her hand.
“I don’t have to guess who just called.”
“No, it was Leighton. Thank you for helping her.” Leaning to the side, she pressed a fleeting kiss on his cheek. “My hero.”
Desmond turned red, and Rhone pretended to gag on his toast. Haley shook her head at the men’s reactions.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Desmond hedged, shooting Rhone a dirty look.
“I wouldn’t, either,” Rhone said blithely. “You told me I was your hero when I stocked your grocery store.”
Haley picked up her orange juice, tilting it toward each man. “You both are superheroes in my book.”
Appeased, Rhone raised his own glass. “We’re not superheroes. We’re knights seeking to appease our lady.”
Haley playfully hit Desmond on his back when he pretended to start gagging.
Coming to Rhone’s defense, she gave Desmond a reproving glare. “Cut it out. It’s sweet. I, for one, think it’s refreshing how he talks to me. Makes me wish I lived in the time period where men behaved courtly to women.”
“You would have hated it,” Desmond surmised.
“I wouldn’t have minded being Queen Guinevere.”
“You have a round table here, and two knights at your Beck and call.”
Haley found herself on the receiving end of Desmond patting her on her back when she choked on her juice.
Rhone cracked up at the pun. Desmond, on the other hand, didn’t find it amusing. To make matters worse, Haley couldn’t stop laughing at Desmond’s pained expression.
“If you’re Queen Guinevere, then I’m King Arthur … which means you both have to follow my orders. Haley, finish your breakfast. I want to go for a swim.”
“What are my orders, Your Majesty? Get lost?” Rhone joked.
“No. Go bring me that cheese tray in the entry then go sail the seven seas.”
Twenty-Nine
“Do you need to take a nap?”
Desmond looked up from unwrapping the charcuterie board. “No, why?”
“I was wondering if that was why you were being so rude to Rhone.”
Placing several cheeses on his plate before focusing on Haley, he said, “Rhone was hitting on you in front of me. I shut him down politely. If I had acted any other way, he would have been suspicious.”
“Rhone was not hitting on me,” she protested.
“You’re not that naïve. When I fired you, you had no problem calling me out for my motives, yet when Rhone is sitting there, telling you he’s looking for a wife then asking how many children you want, you deny he’s fucking hitting on you. I called him out. End of story. You should get some food in your stomach. I want to go explore the island when we’re done. We only have two and half days to find out if any of the Clindale islanders are here.”