Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Years.
That bastard set me back years.
"So, I'll get you coffee," Kai declared, trying to keep things light.
But I couldn't find the muscle control - or the desire even - to smile.
"You know what I mean, Kai."
"I know what you mean," he agreed, nodding, voice getting what I called its 'work-edge' to it. Because Kai's normal voice was easy, laid-back, charming. But his work voice had a sharpness to it, a firm confidence. "You worked your butt off for that money, Jules. No one knows that better than me."
"I have to get it back," I decided, my own voice getting some of its spirit back.
"Okay," Kai agreed, no hesitation, straightening, reaching for the phone that had let out a short buzz. A text, maybe.
"No!" I all but shrieked, reaching across the island, closing my hand over his on his cell.
His gaze shot up, a look in his eyes that I couldn't quite interpret.
It seemed to take effort for him to find his next words. "No, what?"
"Don't tell Miller. Don't tell any of them. Please."
There was a desperate edge to my words, and I couldn't muster the desire to care about that.
"Jules..."
I knew what he wanted to say.
That if something had happened in my life, something criminal, then the combined knowledge and skills of Quin, Gunner, Finn, Miller, Lincoln, Ranger, and Smith would be invaluable. They would be able to lend a hand, make this a team effort, figure out who Gary really was, where he might be, track him down, get the money back.
"Kai," I started, voice thick. "They can't know."
"Why, honey? They all care about you. They would want to help."
"I... I wouldn't be able to face them again if they knew what an idiot I've been. Don't," I cut him off when he tried to object. "Don't say I'm not an idiot. I was. I rushed into this. I didn't think. I didn't... run a check on him." At that, Kai's lips curved upward, making my brows drawn low. "What?"
"Jules, maybe a couple dozen women in the whole world would think to run a background check on their potential partner."
"But I should have. I know better. Quin and everyone else would be thinking the same thing. You know they would. It's just... humiliating, Kai. I know you don't view it that way, but I do. I don't want them to know. Even if they would be helpful."
"Okay," he agreed, nodding. "I won't tell them."
"Thank you." The words came from somewhere deep. I felt like I was always thanking Kai, like he was always doing something good, kind, thoughtful, unexpected. This was just the newest in a long line of good deeds I had begun to know him for.
"But I am going to help you then."
"What? No."
The response was knee-jerk.
I couldn't ask that of him.
"You can try to fight me, Jules, but the end result will be the same. I'm not letting you deal with this on your own. You're stuck with me."
There it was again.
That tight-chest thing I got around him at times.
And, to be perfectly honest, the idea of not having to do it alone was appealing. Especially with my mood being so up and down. I needed someone level-headed, someone to keep their cool when I was losing mine.
Kai was good at calm.
"Okay," I agreed, nodding. "What am I..."
"Look," he cut me off, reaching to put his hand over top of mine. "I will handle Miller. And run to the office to do a quick check," he offered, meaning the background one I was supposed to run on him myself months before. "You need to get out of that dress. Maybe take a shower. Wash this all away. Then we will go check out his place together. Twenty minutes, tops," he assured me, knowing that giving him too much of a head start would mean he could be anywhere, maybe even out of reach before we could find him. "Okay?" he asked, needing confirmation.
He made it sound so easy.
So doable.
So much so that I had no choice but to believe him, to trust him.
"Okay."
-
Flashback - 6 months before -
She couldn't claim to hate being a hardass. She made her living having to be one, after all.
But there was no denying that Miller was very much hating every second of walking down the hall, and stopping in front of Kai's office.
Hell, it even took her a couple of moments - and slow, deep breaths - to be able to raise her hand to knock.
Because, well, it was one thing to be a bit blunt and in-your-face to some asshole.
It was another thing to do it to the sweetest guy you'd ever met.
She had a feeling it was going to feel like kicking a puppy.
"Come on in," Kai's voice called, calm, happy, completely oblivious to what was coming.
But it had to come, she reminded herself.