Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 131916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Did it anyway, though, because I couldn’t sit back and be complacent, and I dialed Cash’s number.
He answered on the second ring. “What’s up, brother?”
“Need you to dig something out for me.”
“Yeah?”
“Need all the information you can get me on Charleigh Lowe.”
TWENTY-NINE
CHARLEIGH
“Is there a restroom I can use?”
Call it deflection, but I needed a second to gather myself. My body still burned from River’s overpowering kiss, burned from the direction I’d been sure we’d been heading.
Then River had just left without an explanation, and I wasn’t quite sure what to say or do with the way Raven was studying me right then.
“Right this way, Miss Charleigh!” Nolan sprang into action, grabbing my hand and hopping backward as he hauled me past Raven and back through the kitchen archway, down the hall, and to the door across from the laundry room.
“Here you go!” He pulled me inside the small powder room. “There is toilet paper and soap and a towel and every single thing you need but if you can’t find somethin’, you just let me know because I’m always at your service. I gotta take good care of our special guest.”
He said it in his adorable lisp, and my heart rattled in my chest, taken by this child.
“I’m very happy to be your special guest,” I told him, unable to do anything but run my fingertips over the dash of freckles on his chubby cheek.
“It’s not even a little problem because I’m really glad you’re here.”
A clogged chuckle climbed up my throat. “I’m glad I’m here, too.”
Without saying anything else, he went bounding out, and I closed the door and moved to the sink. Inhaling a steadying breath, I turned on the faucet and splashed water on my face, hoping the cold water would put out this fire.
I wasn’t sure it was possible when I shut it off and looked at myself in the mirror. My cheeks were flaming red, and I was pretty sure the scuff of River’s big hands was written all over me.
I grabbed one of the hand towels that were perfectly rolled on a shelf. I had it pressed to my face when the door suddenly burst open. I gasped, whirling that way to find Raven pushing through. She shut the door behind her, boxing us in, her voice dropped when she pressed, “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
No. I absolutely didn’t. I’d revealed enough today, hadn’t I?
I placed the hand towel on the pedestal sink, focusing on it for a second before I turned to my friend who had her head cocked to the side.
Both curious and impatient.
My first friend I’d had in so long that she almost didn’t seem real. One I’d been afraid of making for this very reason.
Because it exposed me.
Made me vulnerable.
Or a liar.
But I didn’t want to be one of those. Not after she’d been so kind. Not when she’d come to mean more to me than I’d ever believed she could.
I blew out a sigh. “I thought I was being followed after work today, so I went to your brother’s shop.”
“What?” She screeched it as she flew forward and grabbed my hand, then she cringed and lowered her voice as she continued, “Someone was following you? Who?”
This was the part I didn’t know how to answer. “I’m not sure. I just…got a sense that someone was watching me.”
Her brown eyes widened as she was hit with the realization. “Is this what happened a couple weeks ago at the festival? You got that same sense when you were giving me that ridiculous line about going hiking because hello, who would go hiking when you could be hanging out with me, instead?”
I gave her a wary nod, and in return, hers was affirming. “I thought something more was happening than you were letting on.”
I wasn’t surprised.
I thought both she and her brother could see right through me.
Concern twisted her brow. “Is this something that’s been going on? Is someone stalking you?”
I warred before I was whispering, “I got out of a bad relationship a while ago. It messed me up pretty badly, and I’ve always been afraid that it is going to catch up to me.”
It was the truth without revealing too much.
Sorrow pulled through her expression, and I swore I saw her own ghosts flicker through her eyes. “I’ve been worried that’s what it was. The reason you’ve been alone and afraid of trusting anyone. But you’re not anymore. You’re not alone.”
She reiterated what she’d said at the café a couple weeks ago. Then speculation crowded into her expression. I couldn’t tell if it was glee or disapproval. “And you ran to my brother so you wouldn’t have to be alone.”
It wasn’t even a question.
My teeth clamped down on my bottom lip. Undoubtedly, the action served as a confession. And admission.