Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“How about if you don’t ask? If I just do it? Well, I’ll try to. Sometimes I might forget.”
“Oh, are you becoming forgetful? Do you need some supplements to help you? Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be very helpful.”
“I’m about to smile because you’re being cute again.”
Hmm. This was confusing. “I am?”
“You are. And it’s even cuter that you don’t realize you’re being cute.”
“I’m starting to think you might need more help than with just your memory.”
There went that smile.
“Am I being cute again?”
“You are.”
“Seems I do that a lot. Or perhaps you just smile a lot. Telling me why you’re smiling could get tiresome.”
Most people eventually found her tiresome.
“I can assure you I don’t usually smile a lot. I’ve been likened to a boulder before.”
“That seems rude. Although you are very large. But you are not without emotions. You are very calm, though. I suppose that could be considered boulder-like. However, I don’t think it’s a negative.”
Quite the opposite, really.
“Good to know. How about this? Every time I smile at you, you assume it’s because you’re being cute unless I tell you otherwise.”
“That’s acceptable.” She nodded.
“Now, I want to see you finish that sandwich. Please.”
“When you say please it doesn’t sound like a request.”
“Good. I wasn’t trying to make it a request. Eat.”
They ate in silence for a few moments.
“All right. What is going on?” Cate asked, unable to wait any longer.
Ethan sighed and took a sip from his own bottle of water. “I’d rather wait until you stop eating. I don’t want you to choke again.”
“That was a one-time thing. I never choke on my food.”
“Still. We’ll wait to be sure. Keep eating.”
Cate finished her sandwich, making herself chew properly even though she wanted to just gulp it down. “You’re a very stubborn man.”
“Thank you,” he replied.
“Oh, that wasn’t a compliment.”
“I think I’ll still take it as such.”
“I don’t think stubborn can be a good characteristic.”
“It can. If there’s a problem you can’t solve, or something you want to achieve that will take a lot of time and perseverance. Then being stubborn can be a good thing.”
“I suppose that’s true. Still, in this instance, being stubborn isn’t a good thing.”
He laughed.
“Cute?” she asked.
“Definitely.”
15
Hmm. Cate seemed to be far cuter than she’d ever realized. She might need to get a handle on it. She didn’t want to be too cute.
“Please tell me. And that please was a command, not me asking.”
“Noted,” he replied. “It seems that the stalker left a note on Rhodes’ windshield while they were eating brunch.”
Shoot. She’d thought it might be something like that.
“I’m surprised you can eat a sandwich after having brunch,” she commented.
He stared at her for a moment before smiling. “I didn’t eat brunch, I was working.”
“You don’t get to eat while you’re working?”
“Not when we’re out in public. I need to be on alert at all times. Hard to do that if I’m tucking into eggs benedict.”
“Huh, I thought you’d be a big breakfast kind of guy.”
“I’m an equal opportunist breakfast eater,” he replied. “I like lots of breakfast foods. I’m also fond of pancakes and French toast. Oh, and omelets too.”
“I like those things.”
“I’ll remember that,” Ethan said in a quiet voice.
“Why would you need to remember that?” she asked curiously.
“In case I ever make you breakfast.”
“Oh. I can’t see why that would happen, but in that case, a bagel with cream cheese and strawberry jelly is my favorite breakfast. And I’m sorry you didn’t get to eat brunch.”
“Don’t be. I’m enjoying this sandwich far more.”
Hmm. He actually seemed sincere when he said that.
“So the stalker left another note?” she asked, returning to what he’d initially told her. It wasn’t that she hadn’t heard him. Or was ignoring that part.
But she needed a moment to think about it. And this whole stalker situation scared her. The one thing that frightened her more than anything else was the idea of something happening to Rhodes.
He meant everything to her. And she wasn’t sure what she’d do if anything happened to him.
“Samantha seemed very upset. She’s concerned about Rhodes?” she asked.
“This letter deviated from the other one in that it seemed like a threat to Samantha.”
“Why would they threaten her?” she asked.
“Basically, the message said that the stalker wanted Rhodes all to themselves. And that they would get rid of anyone who stood in their way. There was also a photo of Rhodes and Samantha together with Samantha’s face slashed out.”
“Oh no. That’s terrible.” As much as she and Samantha didn’t get along, she wouldn’t wish her any ill-will.
And Rhodes seemed to care about her. So Cate tried to at least be civil.
“No wonder she’s upset,” Cate said.
Ethan nodded, still studying her closely. Was there something more he wanted to say?
“She wants to move in here so we can protect her as well.”