Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“Mom, this is Gabe,” Abbie says. “Gabe, my mom, Shannon. Mom, Gabe is going to help us out.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
“Nice to meet you, too.” She looks at me. “He’s who?” She looks at me and presses her hand to her forehead, her gaze moving back to me. “Sorry. I’m rude.” Her hands go to her hips. “It’s been a rough day.”
“I’m dating your daughter,” I say, “and helping you both any way I can.”
“Oh,” she says, glancing at Abbie. “Well, this is new. He’s new, and your ex was just here.”
“I know,” Abbie says. “He and Gabe just went to war.”
“And who won?”
“I did,” I assure her, wrapping my arm around Abbie. “And I’ll continue to do so. Now. Tell me what you need.”
“A place that can house at least fifty dogs. I can’t lose them. I can’t.”
“And you won’t,” I promise.
“Gabe!”
I rotate to find my sister and her husband Reese headed this way, both in jeans, boots, and hoodies on as coats, and even with the hoodie, I can see my sister’s growing baby belly. The very idea of my baby sister being a mother does funny things to my chest. Babies are a tough topic that hits a little too close to the KM threat as it is, but right now, I’m focusing on Cat. We did so much to protect her that actually hurt her as a family, and now, there’s a baby to protect. We can’t fuck this one up, too. I won’t fuck this one up too.
Abbie and I maneuver to allow them to join us and I do the introductions, making Shannon the focus. “We’re eager to help,” Cat says, holding up the boots in her hand for Abbie. “Your feet are rescued and I have to say, I wish I still looked as good as you in those clothes.” She touches her belly. “I’m fat.”
“You are not fat,” Abbie exclaims. “You’re a gorgeous blonde with a baby on the way.”
Cat snorts. “You and all that red hair and tiny little body saying that is priceless, but thank you.”
“You’re pregnant,” Reese announces firmly. “Stop calling our baby fat. Understood, wife?”
“Yes, husband,” she says, smiling and it’s a smile that goes to her eyes, and spreads love over her face. The kind of smile I want Abbie to give me, and holy fuck, where did that come from?
What the hell is this woman doing to me?
“Where do you want us?” Cat asks, looking at Shannon.
“Preferably helping to get us to another location,” Shannon says. “The animals are all safe right now, but they need dry ground. We have to move them to repair the property. So far I have nowhere to send them.”
“I have an idea on that,” I say. “Give me a few minutes to make some calls. Go take care of the animals.”
Shannon lights up her green eyes so like Abbie’s they’re stunning. “You really think you can help?”
I don’t hesitate. I want to come through for her and Abbie, and I will. “I know I can.”
“Then you’re a better man than the one before you.” She eyes Abbie. “He did this. You know that, right?”
“I think that’s a safe assumption.”
Cat gives me a curious look, and I respond with a returned look that says “I’ll explain later.” She nods and holds out her hands. “Put us to work. What do we do now?”
“Follow me,” Shannon says, and she, my sister, and Reese fade away as Abbie steps in front of me.
“There are regulations for buildings and rescues,” she says. “We can’t just move them to someplace random.”
“Trust me, Abbie. I got this.” I pull out my phone and dial a large client of mine, billionaire Grayson Bennett, who unlike most billionaires I know, isn’t a pretentious ass. He answers on the first ring. I explain the situation, including the regulations. “Give me half an hour. Mia and I,” he adds, speaking of his fiancée, “are in town. We’ll come help. Text me the address.” We disconnect.
Abbie gives me a hopeful look. “Anything?”
I tell her who I called and why. “I’ve heard of him. Of course, my ex was competitive with all those who might be considered a threat.”
“Like me? Because I’m the one who gets to fuck you now?”
“He barely fucked me when he had the chance. I don’t know why he would care now.”
“Men tend to want what they can’t have. The challenge stirs that primal side of us. He’ll come for you again, now that he knows I’m in the picture.”
“I don’t want him, Gabe if that’s what you’re asking me again. Because you asked in the car.”
“What do you want, Abbie?”
“What I shouldn’t want.”
I snag her waist and pull her to me. “What do you want, Abbie?”
“You, Gabe. I want you, but you have to see now how dangerous he is. He threatened you and I saw your face. He hit a nerve. Whatever, or whoever KM is, is a problem for you.”