Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 127715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
But twenty to thirty extra minutes in any day was a boon.
Lillian took him out of his thoughts when she made a move, saying, “I’ll go first in the bathroom so I can brush my teeth, then make you coffee.”
He kept her where she was.
When her gaze landed on his, he ordered, “You stay here and try to sleep more.”
“Harry,” she said quietly. “I’ll never get back to sleep, and I’m better when I’ve got something to do. Let me make you coffee. And toast? Maybe some eggs?”
Since he already knew this about her, he acquiesced. “Something in my stomach would be good.”
She nodded, moved in for a swift kiss, then she rolled out of bed.
Harry didn’t.
He used that time to fully take in her space. The wanton femininity of it. The muted floral pattern of the curtains at the window. The ornate gilt on the small vintage mirror on the wall. Not one but two dried flower arrangements on the white chest that served as her bedside table. The big, soft spray of the massive dry bouquet in its creamy pot on the windowsill. The elegant sweep of wispy white drapes that hung on the wall at the sides of the headboard to frame the bed.
The soft sheets.
The plethora of pillows.
Lillian made every inch of her space…Lillian.
It was her, so easy to look at, so pleasing to the eye, you missed how much work she put into making it what it was.
Harry was a guy. He didn’t want to worry about taking off his boots or smoothing a bedspread just right.
But somehow he knew he’d break his back to keep what Lillian made Lillian just as it was supposed to be.
On this thought, he heard her call, “I’m out,” and he knew the bathroom was free.
He rolled out of bed.
Rus hadn’t only packed Harry’s toothbrush, paste and floss, he packed his shampoo, shower wash, shaver and comb.
Definitely a deft hand with a go bag.
Harry took his uniform and an extra pair of skivvies to the bathroom, did his morning thing, dressed, left his bathroom stuff where it was, took his pajamas back to the duffle, shoved everything in, pinned on his badge and tucked his pens in his breast pocket, grabbed his boots and duffle and walked out.
He dumped his stuff by the couch and moved to the kitchen.
Lillian had a mug waiting for him by the coffeemaker.
He claimed it, took a sip and headed to where she was scrambling cheesy eggs at the stove. There was a plate with buttered toast at the ready.
“Looks good,” he said.
“I like that you’re here and I get to cook for you.”
Harry accepted that velvet blow gladly.
She tipped her head back to look up at him. “But I’m going to lose my feminist card having said that, so don’t tell anybody.”
“Are you a feminist?” he asked.
She appeared confused. “Well…yeah.”
He smiled at her. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I liked you at my place so I could cook for you too. All equal.”
“Shoo,” she joked.
He kissed the side of her head.
She let him, then took the skillet off the burner and scraped all the eggs on the plate by the toast.
“None for you?” he asked.
She handed him the plate and reached for her mug. “I’m just going to have toast.”
He didn’t argue, it wasn’t the time. And anyway, Ronetta would soon be in the picture, the handoff complete, and she would look after their girl.
He took his food to the table. Lillian came with him.
He ate. She sipped coffee.
He used that time again to savor. Savor having someone close as you went about your morning. Savor sitting at a table eating while she sipped her coffee. Savor the fall of her hair on her shoulders and the way her cardigan had slipped off one.
But Harry knew this was something else for her, having him there.
And he savored that too.
She waited until he was done and washing it down with the last of his joe before she asked, “When can I get them back?”
He reached out and took her hand before he told her about the rest of the conversation he had with Lynda.
“The police have processed everything they need to process, and they’ll be released within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. The minute we get word, I’ll be dispatching Wade Dickerson, one of my best deputies, to go get them.”
Wet trembled at the edges of her eyes, as did her voice, when she said, “Thanks, Harry.”
“They’re also investigating this.”
“Okay.”
“We’ll be giving them everything we have, and we’ll be investigating here.”
She nodded.
“And I have Jason and Jesse Bohannan in Idaho. They’ll be turning over rocks too.”
Her brows slid up. “Cade Bohannan’s boys?”
“Yes. They’re private investigators. Sometimes, they work as consultants with my crew.”
That last wasn’t a lie, it was just that it wasn’t the department that was going to pay their invoices this time.