Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“That’s me. I’ll move it in front of that planter. My helmet’s upstairs. I’ll help you unload the car, then grab it.”
“Okay,” he agreed.
We moved in slow motion. Every task seemed to take twenty minutes. Moving the motorcycle, parking the car, schlepping the cooler. Lo followed me downstairs to retrieve his bag and stood next to me, twisting his key ring while I fiddled with the strap on my helmet. I finally set it on his trunk and opened my arms.
“C’mere.”
We swayed and held each other tight, forgetting we were supposed to be vampires.
Lo swiped at his eyes. “I wish we were still in Carmel. Or somewhere on the road. Real life sucks.”
“Sometimes…yeah.” I caressed his chin soothingly. “But sometimes, it’s not so bad.”
He tugged my neck and pulled me to his height, sealing his lips over mine.
Minutes passed, maybe quite a few minutes. Everything about the moment felt raw and real—like life and death, beginnings and endings. Holding him close was my best bet.
He was my safe harbor and I was his.
If only for now.
16
LORENZO
Someone was following me. I could feel it. At first, I thought I was being paranoid, but I’d learned the hard way to listen to my instincts.
I left my apartment at 7 a.m. and dragged my ass to the gym. Ew, I know. But my membership was about to expire and I hadn’t set foot in that sweaty dungeon in months. I decided a spin on a stationary bike would ease my guilty conscience about wasting money. Better yet, I hoped it would clear my head.
Part of me was still on cloud nine after a fabulous beach weekend getaway with a handsome, sexy, fun man. The other part of me was crushed that he was leaving next week. I wasn’t sure what that meant for us. Probably nothing good.
I looked up to the heavens and sent a quick prayer that—
What was that?
I stopped in my tracks at the sound of rustling in the bushes next to my carport.
Someone was there. I couldn’t see anyone, but I could feel a presence. Okay, maybe not someone, maybe something like a family of ducks or a raccoon. But on the off chance there was a murderer on the loose, I tossed my bag onto the front seat, hopped in, and sped away.
I was jumpy all morning and I couldn’t shake the eerie sensation I wasn’t alone.
When Tony texted me around noon, I chalked it up to premonition. As if the universe was trying to warn me to keep my guard up.
We got a great offer. Fifty thousand above the asking price. I’m assuming you’re okay with that. If so, can you meet to sign the paperwork to get the ball rolling?
I pursed my lips. Yes, I’m free anytime today.
I agreed to meet Tony at a coffee shop on Melrose during my afternoon break. That gave me one hour to untie the last string binding me to my ex. I should have been over the moon, but I felt more nervous than anything.
I scanned the board behind the register, then cast a glance toward the entrance. I still couldn’t shake the creepy sensation I was being watched. I’d mention it to Pierce when I saw him tonight and—
“Lorenzo. Hi.”
I did a double take and turned slowly to greet my ex-boyfriend.
“Tony.”
I hadn’t seen him in two years…maybe longer. He looked good.
Tony was a big Latino man—six feet, muscular bod, olive skin, brown eyes, short dark hair, a sexy cleft in his chin. I eyed his well-fitted uniform and the gun holstered at his hip.
Déjà vu hit me like a bolt of lightning. I remembered the day he pulled me over, the day the judge ordered me to pay the ticket he’d given me. I remembered fuming in the elevator, poking at him for a reaction, and asking if he was worried he’d shoot himself in the foot. I remembered his laugh—deep and rich. I remembered loving the way he looked at me, as if he thought I was funny or sexy or just…someone he wanted to know.
We’d known each other well for so many years, and I’d been so grateful to be the person he loved.
I remembered how devastated I was when that changed.
This was the man who’d broken my heart. No wonder I felt I’d been walking through spiderwebs all morning. This was going to be awkward.
Or was it? I didn’t love Tony anymore. I wasn’t angry, I wasn’t hurt, I was…ambivalent. And I really wanted this to be over once and for all.
“How are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m doing well. You?”
“Same. I’m…in West Hollywood now.” He lifted his left hand and gestured toward the coffee shop window. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, glinting on the gold ring on his left ring finger. “Are you still working for Bran?”