Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 111359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
After two sleepless nights and a day where he couldn’t even concentrate on rewiring West’s truck so that the horn wouldn’t blast every time he put his indicator on, Raid decided he needed to do something.
Which was why he was there, standing on her stoop with coffees, Danishes, and plenty of Malone determination.
He held everything in one hand while he knocked firmly on the door.
Nothing.
He frowned. Maybe she was grocery shopping or something.
Or perhaps she’s hiding from you.
Well . . . if she wanted to get rid of him, then this was the wrong way to go about it. Because there wasn’t a lot that Raid Malone needed or wanted. A belly full of food, a roof over his head, some cold beer, and his family to be safe and happy.
But when he decided he wanted something . . . then he was like a dog with a bone. He didn’t give up or let go.
“Hannah, open up.”
Still nothing.
“Guess I’ll just wait out here until she gets up or shows up,” he said loudly, sitting down and sipping his coffee.
He ate his Danish and stared out at the parking lot. Not the best view. He wasn’t sure how he felt about her living here. At least there were security lights. Even so, it was a back entrance. At night, someone could hide back here and jump her.
Yeah, he wasn’t liking this at all.
Fuck. Where was she?
With a sigh, he got to his feet. He had a feeling he knew exactly where she was . . . hiding from him.
“Guess I’ll get my jacket back another day, darlin’.”
With a frown, he turned away.
Even though every part of him wanted to go back, he couldn’t force her to open the door.
But this didn’t mean that he was giving up. Just that he needed to regroup.
Crap!
She was out of painkillers. The last thing Hannah felt like doing was going to the pharmacy. But she had a killer headache that just wasn’t going away.
Moving to the dining table of her tiny apartment, she ignored the wave of dizziness that washed over her as she picked up her handbag.
She really needed a good night’s sleep. And she should probably eat something. The trouble was she didn’t really feel hungry. And when she tried to eat, she just felt nauseous.
Stepping out of her apartment, she walked carefully down the outside stairs. The last thing she needed was to trip and hurt herself. Walking out of the alley onto the street, she headed down the block to the pharmacy. She was grateful it was within walking distance since she barely had any gas left in her car.
Glancing up as she heard laughter, she saw Savannah Ferguson and Lila Richards walking along the footpath. Both were pushing strollers. Savannah’s was a double, as she’d had twin girls not long ago. Lila’s stroller held her daughter, Meggie. While her son, Bronson walked beside her.
They looked so happy. A stab of loneliness hit her. She’d never have that. Before they could notice her, she quickly crossed the road.
Cowardly?
You bet.
But she just couldn’t handle people right now. Her head was thumping, and it was making her feel even more nauseous.
As she stepped into the pharmacy, she saw him.
Crap!
How did this keep happening? Sure, Haven was a small place, but not that small.
Deep breaths. He didn’t see you. Just leave.
But she really needed some painkillers. She could go to the grocery store, but she didn’t feel up to walking that far.
Moving down the aisle with the painkillers, she grabbed a packet and headed to the cashier. She kept her head down, hoping like hell no one noticed her. After paying for her painkillers, she put them in her handbag and then moved toward the door.
“Hannah?”
Rats.
Before she looked up, she pushed all of her emotions down. So far down, she was convinced they wouldn’t surface. Then she glanced up at him.
“Hi, Raid.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Hi, Raid? That’s all you’ve got to say to me?”
“Was there something more you wanted?”
Every word made her die a bit more in side. She didn’t want to be like this. To push him away.
But she had to.
Raid folded his arms over his chest as he glared down at her. “I’ve come to your apartment several times, darlin’. Are you avoiding me?”
“Why would I avoid you?”
“I’m not sure. I was hoping you’d tell me.”
“I like my privacy. And I don’t need anything from you. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need to go.”
To her shock, he let her go.
She told herself it was for the best. That it was what she wanted.
So why did she feel so sad?
“Raid?”
He glanced up in surprise to find Melody and Brye standing beside the booth he and Tanner were sitting in at the diner.
It was Friday morning. He’d been into Haven twice during the week to try to see Hannah, but each time she’d either been out or ignored his knocking.