Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“April,” Maxim calls as he follows, but I ignore him as I lean down just enough to slam my hand into one of the tires, then jerk it back, hearing a hiss. “What the fuck?” he mutters, and again, I ignore him and walk to the next tire and start to do the same thing. But before I can make contact with the tire, his hand wraps around my wrist, stopping me. “Talk to me.” I look up at him, and his eyes scan over my face. “Who was that?”
“The guy who called Harris a—”
“Right,” he cuts me off before I can say the word, then with one move, he takes the tool from my hand and slams it into the tire before leaving me where I’m standing and doing the same thing to the other two on the opposite side of the car. Looking at me over the roof, he orders, “Get in the car. We’re leaving.”
I don’t argue; I hustle to his car, grab my bag, get in, then wait for him to join me. As soon as he’s behind the wheel, he hands me the multitool, and I drop it in my purse.
“He deserved that,” I tell him, with my heart beating a million miles a minute.
“Yeah, he did, but next time we’re going to commit a felony, at least give me a heads up.”
“I hope there isn’t a next time,” I tell him, not trying to be funny, but he laughs anyway. “Do you think they got us on camera?”
“I’ll make a call as soon as we get out of the parking garage and make sure we’re covered.”
“Okay,” I whisper, feeling freaked out and a tad bit guilty now that I’m no longer riding on a vengeance and adrenaline high.
“At least you gave me a valid reason to get out of shopping,” he mutters, and I laugh, resting my head back against my seat. Then I turn my gaze his way, and he looks over at me and shakes his head. “Love you, crazy woman.”
“I know.” I let out a breath, wondering if I will ever get used to hearing him say he loves me.
I really hope I don’t.
Chapter 19
April
STANDING IN MY living room, I watch two men carry my mattress from upstairs, past the kitchen, and smile at both of them as they head around to the set of steps to go down to the first floor and outside. I do not envy them. I know that mattress is heavy as heck and awkward, given that it’s all cushion and there aren’t even handles to hold on to.
Blowing some hair that’s fallen out of my messy bun out of my face, I look around my mostly empty house, trying to come to terms with the fact that I will no longer be calling this home after today. After weeks, moving day has finally arrived, and after just a few short hours, my house has been packed up by the team Maxim hired to move me out. And as much as I love him and his house, and as excited as I am to really start our lives together, I’m also going to miss this place.
Moving to the kitchen, I grab the lamps that were on my bedside tables off the island and start to carry both of them downstairs. I want to put them in my car with the stuff out of the fridge and freezer and a few of the other things I needed to take myself, worried they would get broken being in the truck with all the other stuff. When I reach the driveway, I spot Maxim at the back of the moving truck, talking to the two guys, and as soon as he spots me, he walks to my car and helps me load the lamps into the trunk.
“The guys said they only have a couple of boxes left to bring down, so we can head over to the house whenever you’re ready.” He pulls me against him and holds me tight. I melt into his chest and wrap my arms around his waist.
Even if I haven’t been the one doing the heavy lifting, it’s been an exhausting day, and it’s not over yet. We still have to unpack everything, and since I don’t really know for sure where things will be going, the guys won’t be helping with more than getting furniture and boxes into the house and in the rooms.
“Are your parents and sisters still coming at four?”
“The last time I checked my phone, that was the plan.” I tip my head back and look up at him. “Is it bedtime yet?”
“A few more hours.” He kisses my forehead, and I reluctantly let him go. “I’m going to do one more walkthrough with the guys. Do you want to wait here with me, or do you want to head on over to the house?”