Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Maybe it wasn’t healthy to want to be Little all the time. But she felt like she needed more of a respite from everything going on.
There was the sound of the door opening and then Rhodes strode into the living room. He looked slightly wild as his gaze moved around the room before zeroing in on her. He stormed toward her and she felt Ethan move closer to her as though he thought Rhodes was a threat to her.
Just as she braced herself for Rhodes to come into contact with her, he stopped and held his arms open.
Even in this state, he was trying to respect her boundaries.
She threw herself at him. He was careful not to hold her too tight, but this was her brother. Her Rhoddy.
By shutting out everyone else, maybe she’d been pushing him beyond her barriers too. She’d let him in more than anyone else, but not fully.
Always protecting herself from hurt.
“I love you, Rhodes.”
He stiffened, then he drew back, staring down at her in amazement. “What? Did you just say . . .” His eyes glistened.
Oh no.
Was he upset?
“I’m sorry!” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean to make you cry!”
“I’m not crying.”
Was he lying to her?
“I feel happy. I love you too.”
“Rip!” Samantha yelled as she stomped into the house. “I can’t believe you just left me in the car.”
Cate winced at the sound of her voice. She could feel a headache coming on.
“I needed to see my sister,” Rhodes replied.
Now, she wasn’t the best at reading body language and tone, but she thought he seemed tense and sounded cold.
Rhodes hugged her again, then turned them toward Samantha.
“But you’re all right, aren’t you, Cate? I mean, surely we didn’t need to come home on an earlier flight when you’re unharmed. It was just a small fender bender.”
“She was nearly run off the road, Samantha! And photos of her were plastered on the internet when she values her privacy. Frankly, I’m not sure I like this attitude you’re showing about my sister.”
Tears filled Samantha’s eyes as Cate stared at Rhodes in shock. She’d never heard him talk to Samantha like that.
“Trouble in paradise,” Ethan whispered to her.
Oh, good, she’d read the situation correctly.
“How can you talk to me like that? You are just being so mean.”
With a cry, she ran off and Cate jumped as a door slammed.
“I apologize for that,” Rhodes said to them both tiredly.
“Is everything all right?” Cate asked.
He sighed. “I’m just seeing a different side to her than I have before. Samantha can be very selfish.”
Wow. He was finally seeing that about her?
“You can always tell her to get lost,” Ethan said.
Rhodes turned to Ethan, his gaze narrowed. “I can tell you to get lost too.”
“No, you can’t,” Cate said. “Ethan doesn’t work for you anymore. He quit.”
“Ink told me. This is still my house.”
“Isn’t it my house, too?” she asked. “I mean, I guess technically, it isn’t.”
Rhodes scowled. “Fuck. Of course it is, honey. This will always be your house.”
“Then I can invite whoever I want to stay?”
“Yes,” he said in a low voice. “Whoever you want.”
“Good. Because Ethan and I are together. And you will deal with it.”
Rhodes gaped at her and she thought she heard Ethan muffle a laugh. But that made no sense.
None of this was funny.
Rhodes let out a deep sigh. “You’re sure about this, Cate?”
“I am. When have you ever known me to do something big that I haven’t put a lot of thought into?”
“You’re right. You’re the most logical, least emotionally driven person I know.”
That sort of made her sound like a robot.
But was that accurate? In a way, she guessed she had been rather robotic.
“Jesus, man. What the fuck? Don’t talk to her like that,” Ethan growled at Rhodes, stepping toward him. “She has emotions and feelings.”
Something filled Rhodes’ face as he gaped at Ethan, then her. “Fuck. I’m messing this all up. Fuck, Cate. I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to imply that you didn’t feel things. I just—”
“It’s all right.” She reached out and squeezed his hand. “I understand. I’m not upset. I’ve always struggled with my emotions and it’s been easier to try to shut them down so I don’t get hurt.”
“Can I have another hug?” Rhodes asked.
She nodded and let him hug her tight. When he set her back, he looked almost happy. Maybe relieved? She wasn’t sure.
“I just want you to know that I’m not going to let this scumbag stalker hurt you anymore. We need more bodyguards, so I think we should look at a local team.”
Ethan nodded. “I agree, especially as I’m now officially on leave so I can devote myself to Cate. You’ll need someone else for Samantha and to relieve Seth. Ink is trying to work on freeing up someone else to come out. But until they can get here it would help.”