Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
“Oh…I-I didn’t consider anything like that.” Feeling like a moron, I whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. I should have explained myself better. Thing is, I feel like I’ve known you forever, and I forget that all of this shit is new to you. That I’m new to you. We were raised to see the world differently, and things that are normal for me are totally alien to you.”
My shoulders relaxed, and I pushed my wild curls out of my face before digging through my purse with one hand while looking for a rubber band. “Nothing in my life is normal right now.”
“I know, sweetheart, and I’m sorry about that. Why don’t you pull out of that Starbucks parking lot and head to my parents’ place? I’ll meet you there later today, after you spend some time with Hannah. Just be aware that my mom is fond of you, so she may talk your ear off.”
“Okay.” I stopped digging in my purse and froze. “Wait. How did you know I was in a Starbucks parking lot?”
“Mark’s car has a tracker on it, so if anyone steals it we can find it quickly.” He said something away from the phone then returned a second later. “Take a look out your rear passenger window.”
I turned my head and let out a little startled shriek as a man dressed in a black and silver motorcycle suit roared up on a sleek, black racing bike next to the SUV. He lifted two fingers to his helmet in what looked like a salute and gave his engine a little rev. Startled, I gave him a weak wave and then turned back around to face the parking lot while gripping the wheel with one hand, tight.
“Who the hell is that?”
“Your escort. He’s also your chief bodyguard, Tino. Good guy, has a sweet wife who thinks he walks on water and two little girls that have him wrapped around their finger. He’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“Wait, hold up a second here, what do you mean my bodyguard?”
“Remember that thing I said about different worlds? Well, bodyguards are part of my world. I’ve been surrounded by them all my life. It’s my normal.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about some guy spying on me for you.”
He gave a strained laugh. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, he’s only there to protect you. He’ll just follow behind you to make sure you arrive at my parents’ house without any hassle”
My heartbeat picked up, and I shifted in my seat, scanning the area around me. “Do you think someone is going to bother me?”
“Nah, I’m just a little protective of you. Want to make sure that you’re taken care of at all times.”
That made me feel better, and my tension eased as I looked into the rearview mirror and found Tino on his bike nearby. “Should I drive slow so he can keep up?”
He chuckled, “Mami, you couldn’t lose him if you tried. Tino grew up riding a dirt bike through the mountains of El Salvador as an errand boy for a local d-uh, politician. That man can do things on a motorcycle you wouldn’t believe, and all of our bikes are updated with the latest technology. Fuck, they’ve got some shit on them that people don’t even know we’ve invented yet.”
“I feel like I’m dating James Bond.”
He laughed again, and I couldn’t help but smile in return. “Everything okay with us now?”
“Yeah, we’re good.”
“Next time I’m an asshole, smack me in the back of my head, yell at me, but please don’t run away.”
“Next time?”
“I’m only human, sweetheart.”
“Yeah, yeah. Fine.” I gave him an exaggerated sigh, but I didn’t bother to hide my smile.
“I’ve gotta go, but I’ll see you soon, okay?”
“I’ll see you soon, Ramón.”
“Mmmm,” his rumble sent a little shiver of pleasure through me. “Love it when you say my name.”
“Bye, Ramón.” I put a little teasing purr in my voice then giggled at his pained sound. I hung up after he said goodbye.
Now that my anger had passed, my empty stomach rumbled, and I grabbed my purse then left the SUV. Scanning the parking lot, I found Tino and motioned him over. He zipped to my side and easily supported the bike with his long legs. A giant of a man, probably nearing six-foot eight, he dwarfed me in size, and I had to swallow back my nerves.
Trying to give him a bright smile, I yelled, “Want anything from Starbucks?”
He pulled into the empty spot next to the SUV and turned off his bike then took his helmet off.
I don’t know what I’d been expecting him to look like, but a guy in his early thirties with chubby cheeks and big dimples did not fit the profile I’d built in my head. He may have the body of Paul Bunyan, but he had the face of an aging cherub. His skin tone was a dark, deep brown and his eyes were almost black, but they sparkled with friendliness. It was an odd combination, and I found myself returning his kind smile.