Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Nicole leaned against the sofa cushion and pulled her knees to her chest, her gaze never leaving Sam’s. “For two men raised in a loving home, you two sure go out of your way not to believe in the notion.”
Well, that was a fast turnaround, Sam thought and squirmed, being under the spotlight. But she had a fair point. “I guess it’s your own personal experience that defines a person more.”
“And what about your mom? She married Simon for security. Did she fight the whole love thing because she’d been hurt and abandoned by Mike’s real father?”
Sam’s head began to pound. “Not according to the legend of Ella and Simon,” he muttered, trying like hell to find a way out of this conversation.
“Interesting.” Nicole eyed him with curiosity but didn’t utter another word.
He decided conversation was preferable to this silent scrutiny. “Are you hungry?”
She laughed and rose to her feet. “Might as well eat. I told Aunt Lulu I’d be in this afternoon if I was up to it. But we aren’t getting deliveries until Monday, so I should be okay to rest up today.”
Subject dropped just like that. Damn woman confused and confounded him. She told him, in so many words, she was in love with him; she asked pointed questions about his family and how he ended up not trusting in the notion, and then she left him alone with his thoughts.
“Crafty,” he muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He followed her to the kitchen, but the doorbell rang, interrupting her chance to eat. Again.
“Expecting anyone?” he asked.
She shook her head.
He made it to the door first and looked out. “Stanton,” he muttered, letting him in.
“Tyler! What are you doing here?” Nicole asked, coming up behind Sam.
Tyler pushed past Sam and headed straight for Nicole. “His brother called asking questions,” he said, glancing at Sam. “Mike told me you were in a car accident, and they needed to rule out foul play.”
Nicole took a step back. “I’m okay. You didn’t need to drive all the way here to ask me that!”
“I also needed to come here and tell you that I’m going to wear the wire with my old man. Not you.”
“What wire?” Nicole asked, still in the dark because Sam hadn’t thought it was the right time to tell her yet.
Sam pinched the bridge of his nose and wondered if he’d go to jail if he decked Nicole’s ex. It might just be worth it.
Sam cleared his throat and both Tyler and Nicole turned to face him. “We hadn’t had a chance to discuss that yet,” he said pointedly.
“Shit,” Tyler said, realizing he’d spilled those beans.
“Yeah.” Thanks a lot, asshole, Sam thought. Though it was his fault Nicole didn’t know yet.
He’d wanted to spare her the worrying until there was a reason, but from the furious look on her face, she didn’t appreciate being left in the dark.
“What’s going on? What do you two know that I don’t?”
“The feds—” Tyler began, but Sam held a hand up, interrupting his explanation.
“I’ve got this,” Sam said.
“Now. You’ve got this now,” Nicole muttered. “But you’ve had plenty of time to tell me . . . what?” She perched her hands on her hips and glared at him.
“When Mike and Cole spoke to the feds, they said they wanted you to wear a wire to get information from his father so they could implicate Romanov. He’s a major drug dealer and money launderer,” Sam explained as Tyler remained silent.
“And you didn’t think I needed to know about this?” she asked, her voice rising.
Sam set his jaw. “I didn’t think you needed added stress right now, no.”
“Tell me you didn’t make that decision for me.” Her eyes grew dark and stormy, along with his mood, and a beat of silence followed.
They both already knew the answer.
Tyler swore out loud. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”
Sam ignored him, drawing a calming breath. “Can we discuss this later? In private?”
Nicole nodded, but her pain-filled expression told him she wasn’t up to the news. And he’d known that.
The doorbell rang again, and Nicole threw up her arms, wincing in agony. “What now?” she asked, her voice rising. She glanced through the door before swinging it open wide. “Am I glad to see you,” Nicole said.
Macy walked in with a cake box in hand. “I was coming to bring you a get-well present from my family. Then I saw the car in the driveway.” Her voice darkened as she narrowed her gaze on Tyler, who’d clearly been caught back in town visiting his ex—before he’d told his current . . . whatever Macy was to him that he’d returned.
Now it was Tyler’s turn to be in the doghouse, Sam thought, taking no pleasure in anyone sharing his predicament. Having Nicole mad at him ruined his damn day.
“Might as well come in and join the fun,” Sam said to Macy.