Total pages in book: 217
Estimated words: 207224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1036(@200wpm)___ 829(@250wpm)___ 691(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 207224 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1036(@200wpm)___ 829(@250wpm)___ 691(@300wpm)
We all sag. Fuck. “Where?”
“Where’s safe?”
I immediately look around the gym that’s in my safe home but quickly dismiss it. That wouldn’t end in divorce, that would end in death. Whether at the hands of Rose or Beau, I couldn’t say, but it is not a risk worth taking. But . . . where else? Fuck it. “Come to the house,” I tell her, looking at Brad who shakes his head. “Three o’clock. Call me when you’re at the gates.” I hang up.
“I don’t like this,” Brads says, now motionless on the bike.
“Here is safest.” We all know it. I get another strong waft of stale alcohol and move away from James. “Mate, get a shower, I beg you.”
Brad’s nose wrinkles too and he slips down off the Peloton after a pointless workout. “My question now is, how are you two going to distract the girls while we deal with this?”
I look at James. He doesn’t look capable of dealing with anything. “Are you and Beau okay?” I need him on the ball today. It’s a ridiculous statement when he’s drunk enough vodka to sink an island, but whether he and Beau are all right will tell me if we’re at risk of an AWOL woman again and if that might steal his time chasing around town looking for her.
James lowers to a bench and sinks his face into his palms on a groan. “I know nothing.”
“Are you saying she’s a flight risk?”
“Who the fuck knows?” He scrubs down his face. “She wants a baby, she doesn’t; she thinks her dad wasn’t murdered, she does; she wants to be married, she doesn’t; she wants to be a cop, she—”
“We get it,” Brad says. “We can’t depend on Beau to behave. What about Rose?”
I laugh. “If she sees Amber in her house, she’ll attack.”
James raises his hand, a message that even if we contain Beau and stop her disappearing, we have to then stop her attacking Amber too.
“Do we put her in a cage?”
James’s head slowly lifts, his mouth a twisted shade of murder, and I purse my lips, thankful on Brad’s behalf that he’s not on form today, or I’m pretty sure Brad would be embedded in the wall right now. “Why don’t you ask her?” James growls.
“No, thanks.” Brad takes a seat next to him. “So if we can’t cage both of your pets, what do we do with them?”
“You’ve got a death wish, Brad.” I start pacing, chewing the edge of my phone, thinking about what we can do with the women that won’t have them suspicious. The boatyard, nope. Fuck knows what might go down. And Hiatus isn’t an option when we’re not there. What does Rose want? A school for Daniel. I’m working on it. Driving lessons. When I have time. Another baby. Check. Do regular shit with the kid. I sent them for pizza yesterday. “Independence,” I blurt, slowing to a stop.
“What?” they both say in unison, impatient.
“Rose wants independence. A job.” I face their frowns. I’m a fucking genius. “She’s going on about jobs and freedom constantly, not just for her but for Pearl and Anya too.” I get on my phone and pluck out the first one I find, dialing, then lowering to the bench beside them.
“Good afternoon, Red’s Salon and Spa, this is Petal speaking, how many I help you?”
“Hello, Petal,” I say in my most friendly voice, very thankful Petal won’t be meeting me in person. “I would like to book your spa facilities for a private party.” Brad laughs under his breath, and James puts his head back in his palms.
It wasn’t possible for me to privately hire Red’s today. Something about existing appointments. So I gave them a reason to make it possible. One hundred thousand reasons. A bargain, if you ask me.
The one thing I didn’t consider, and it’s quite an important thing, is Daniel. I’m not sure a mani or pedi is going to get the kid excited, so I’ve sold my soul to the fucking devil. A good-looking devil who happens to be a single dad and a private banker. Rose mentioned they were visiting his parents. Great. So after talking very nicely to Mr. Benson, he agreed to let Barney go shark diving for the day with Daniel and Tank. Tank looked traumatized. Fury laughed his big Viking nuts off.
Until I told him he was going for a pamper day. Whether Benson agreed through fear or not, I couldn’t give a fuck.
Now, to handle my wife . . .
I push the door of our bedroom open and poke my head round, hearing the shower. Perfect. She’s more amenable when she’s naked. When I’m naked. When we’re both naked.
I push my shorts down my legs and go to her. She’s facing the spray, face up, her hair wet, stuck to her back, skimming her arse. I groan and look down my body, watching my dick wake up and slowly rise, pointing the way. I lay a palm over it, taming the fucker, as I step into the stall. She stills, her hands in her hair, pausing running the conditioner through it.