Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
I heard sleepy mumbling in the background, so I deduced Macklin was waking up.
“You don’t have to get up yet, love,” Walker murmured.
“No, it’s okay,” Macklin groaned. “Are you on the phone?”
“Yeah, I’m talkin’ to Ty. He might be on drugs.”
I huffed a breath and tugged a little on Terra’s leash. Come on, girl. This way. We rounded a corner and crossed a street. Just a few more minutes till we were home again.
“Good morning, Ty.” Macklin’s voice sounded closer. “I’m super ready for the kidnapping today.”
Kidnapping was a stretch, but I appreciated the enthusiasm. He’d managed to convince Lane to go away for a few hours this evening. Only, they weren’t going to some restaurant Macklin wanted to try in Baltimore. They were heading farther north toward Harrisburg, where we were going to borrow Walker’s brother’s cabin for the night.
“Mornin’, boy.” I sniffled and wiped my nose. “You’re 100% sure Lane has no plans tomorrow?”
“For the third time—yes, Sir.” He chuckled through a yawn. “I double-checked with Corey. No work-related anxiety to trigger.”
“Okay, good.” We were going to catch him unawares enough as it was. I wanted to minimize the damage best I could. “Did he say anythin’ yesterday?”
He’d texted me on Tuesday night, the day he’d come to my office, to ask if we’d go forward with our daily two-hour meetups. To which I’d given him a brief response—that, no, we weren’t, but I would get back to him once I’d sorted some shit out.
Now it was Thursday, and I was already going nuts from missing him. How fucked was I?
“With Lane, it’s sometimes more about what he doesn’t say,” Macklin pointed out. Valid point. “I think he’s terrified he’s pushed you away for good.”
That boded well for today’s adventure.
“Fingers crossed we’ll get him to come around tonight,” Walker said. “Ty, what time are you pickin’ me up?”
“I’m thinkin’ around two.” I started panting as I sped up the last bit. “The cabin was south of Harrisburg, right?”
“Yeah, about half an hour in the middle of nowhere,” Macklin confirmed. “I swear I saw a bear there once.”
Walker chuckled gruffly.
I nodded to myself. “Two PM, then—if Macklin and Lane get on the road at four.” It would give us a couple hours to prepare. Stock the fridge, get the cabin heated, possibly a pep talk or two, at least four shots of cheap bourbon.
Macklin let out another sleepy groan. Maybe he stretched. “Okay, big day coming up. Master, I’ll go prepare your breakfast. Ty, we’ll see you tonight.”
I had to get going too. I was almost home. “Have a good one, pet.”
“Fuck yeah, keep calling me that, Sir.”
I grinned and shook my head.
Walker’s amusement could be heard as well. “I’ll let you go, sweetheart. And take that poor little dog home. She must be freezin’.”
“Almost there,” I chuckled breathlessly. “See you later.”
I disconnected the call and looked down at Terra. She looked up at the same time.
“He doesn’t think you can take the cold. Can you believe that?”
She couldn’t. Deep down, she was stunned. Flabbergasted.
Later today, she’d be spoiled rotten by Kit. I was bringing Terra with me to work, and Colt would take her home with him. Tank was a lot more low-maintenance. He only ate two or three times a week, so he was set.
Terra and I made it back home, and I came to a stop right outside the door. With my hands planted on my thighs, I panted like a madman and waited for my heartbeat to return to normal.
“Don’t worry, sugar.” I swallowed dryly. “It’ll be a few weeks before I think this is a good idea again.”
Traffic was slowly getting busier, and I dug out my keys before a bus or a truck could shower me in slush when they drove into the puddles lining the street. I’d rather take a shower upstairs. A hot one. Then another cup of coffee and—
“Ty?”
I whipped around, and Terra barked and wagged her tail.
What the fuck? Lane was here. He stepped up on the sidewalk, carrying a tote with groceries, and he looked like he’d just rolled out of bed. He was here. Why was he here? I hadn’t fucking kidnapped him yet. Why did he look so goddamn adorable in black-framed glasses? I didn’t even know he had glasses. Sweats, a hoodie, and a beanie completed the look.
“I knocked earlier, but you weren’t home.” He was still acting too timid and awkward. “I, uh…I was hoping to catch you before you went to work.”
I cleared my throat and tried to shake the shock. “I was just out with Terra.”
He nodded with a dip of his chin. “I hoped that was the case when I didn’t hear her bark.”
So he’d waited in his car? It was parked across the street.
“Can I come in?” he wondered.
Right, we didn’t have to stand out here. “Sure.” I unlocked the door and headed in, reaching for Terra’s towel. I made quick work of drying her paws so she didn’t bring all of Alexandria into the living room.