Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 95273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
He deserves a nice, long shower to wash it all away. He was way too dirty for me to even think about joining him in there.
No thanks.
There’s a knock at his door, and when I open it, Erin’s standing there holding a pan and wearing a knowing smile.
“I brought dinner to you,” she says and wrinkles her nose. “I saw the lusty looks you were sending his way at the barn, and I can’t blame you. There’s just something extra sexy about a dirty cowboy. Trust me, I know.”
“In more ways than one,” I reply with a wink and earn a laugh from her. “And thanks. I know he has to be starving.”
“There’s half a pan of lasagna here, some salad and bread, too. Listen, why don’t I keep Daisy through the weekend?”
“Erin, I know I’m horny and all, but you don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t, but really, she’s no trouble. If she wants to go home, I’ll let you know. Oh, and I’ll swing by after school tomorrow to grab her stuff from you.”
“Seriously, if you change your mind, no harm, no foul. And I’ll come get her Saturday afternoon. I don’t want to lose the whole weekend with her.”
“That works for us. We’ll just play it by ear. Is he still in the shower?”
“I think it’s for mental health more than dirt.” I shrug, looking toward the bathroom. “It was a lot of peopling today.”
“Yeah, I get it. Rem is the same way. I think all the Wilds are just wired that way. Okay, have a fun night, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, friend.”
As soon as I’ve closed the door and set the pan in the oven to keep it warm, my phone rings, and when I see who it is that’s calling, my blood runs cold.
How could I forget? I’ve settled in so well here, become too comfortable, and it’s easy to forget that there’s a reason that I ended up in the Middle-of-Nowhere, Montana. And that forgetfulness is dangerous. I know better.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Ms. Abbi, it’s Jerome. Been a while.”
“It has, yes.” I swallow hard at the sound of the private investigator’s voice, dread sitting heavy in my stomach. “I take it something’s happened?”
Please tell me she’s dead and I don’t have to worry anymore.
“It has.” His deep voice is thick with his North Carolina accent, and for about a heartbeat, it makes me just a little homesick. “It seems she’s started putting feelers out again, trying to find you. Lots of Google image searches. Now, you and I both know that your appearance has changed somewhat over the past six years, and I don’t think she’ll come up with a recent hit.”
“But?”
“But she could. You know that I keep an eye on you, mostly so I might see something before she does.”
“Yes, I know, and I appreciate that.”
“And while you don’t have social media of your own, you’ve been in some photos recently. Your friends post photos, and it looks like you’re doing some important stuff there in the community.”
“I know, but like you said, they can’t tag me, and I don’t look the same. And I never let images of Daisy show up online. My friends know that I don’t want that, and they’re very respectful of it.”
“That’s smart. Keep doing that. As of right now, I don’t see anything to be worried about, but I wanted to give you the heads-up, just in case something slips by me. How long do you plan to stay in Montana?”
Forever.
The thought of leaving this town, where Daisy and I finally fit in and feel at home, is devastating.
But we’ve never stayed anywhere longer than a year.
Of course, that was before she was in school and made friends and we both became entrenched in a community that we love, and that loves us back.
“I don’t plan to leave any time soon. We’re very happy here, Jerome.”
He sighs on the other end of the line. “I’m happy for you, Abbi. I really am. You’re far enough away, and in a small enough town, that I think you’re fine. Like I said, I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate you. You’re doing well?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I hear the smile in his voice now. “I’m doing just fine. You go enjoy your evening.”
“Thanks. You, too. Bye.”
I hang up and lean heavily on the kitchen counter, feeling sick to my stomach and just so…tired.
So fucking tired.
I wish she’d just forget about us, but as long as she’s alive, that’s not going to happen.
The shower has stopped, so I scrub my hands over my face and redirect my energy to the man down the hall. Because if I let myself dwell, I’ll have nightmares tonight, and I don’t want that.
I don’t want to put either of us through that.