Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
I caught both of her arms and looped them around my neck, then said, “I’m going to reach for your thigh now. Hold on to my neck, okay?”
Seconds later, she was on my back, and we were moving.
The hike had taken us an hour so far, but the way down was always easier.
I usually didn’t have an extra hundred and thirty pounds on my back, though.
I’ll vacuum the beach before I tell Facebook I’m in a relationship again.
—Bindi’s secret thoughts
BINDI
“You still with me?” the mystery man asked.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m so sorry.”
“You’re fine,” he promised.
“I’m heavy, and I know that I’m affecting you because you’re breathing hard,” I corrected him.
“I’m breathing hard because I’m physically exerting myself going down the mountain, but just sayin’, I carry fifty pounds of weight on me every day when I’m working. You’re fine.”
“What do you do for work?” I asked.
It was the other man that was with him that answered. “We’re police officers. Gee is a K-9 officer, though. So he lugs his dog around with him all the time.”
“I do. Gable’s right.” Gee laughed. “I shouldn’t have started that when he was younger, because now that he’s older, he still expects it.”
The two of them sounded similar, but the one that was holding me, Gee, sounded a little darker and more dangerous.
At first when they’d walked up, I’d had a moment of panic because there were two strange men looming over me when I was vulnerable. But upon them talking me through my panic, I was much better about the situation now.
That, and desperate.
I didn’t want to spend a single second longer on this mountain than I had to.
I’d never get on one again if I had the choice.
And maybe I didn’t have the choice.
The fact that I couldn’t see right now was terrifying me.
“What do you do, ma’am?” Gee rumbled.
“I’m a paramedic for Albuquerque Fire,” I answered.
Or was.
“Ewww, a firefighter,” Gable teased.
I would’ve smiled had I had the energy.
“Tell me about these assholes that left you,” Gee suggested. “Who are they?”
“My ex-fiancé and his family,” I answered. “They’re avid hikers, and they always leave me behind. But this is a new low for even them.”
“I thought you said he was your boyfriend?” Gee asked for clarification.
“The fiancé thing was new as of a couple of months ago,” I admitted. “But boyfriend or fiancé, he’s still not that anymore. Not after today.”
I’d had an hour to think about it as I struggled to find out what the hell I should do.
I’d prayed for a group of hikers to find me, and I’d lucked out with the strapping man now literally carrying me down a mountain.
If my head didn’t hurt so bad, and I wasn’t so scared, I might very well be happy about this new adventure.
It was the wake-up call that I needed when it came to Joseph.
I lifted my hand to touch my face and felt my hand catch something hard.
“Got ’em,” Gable said from our side.
“Sorry,” I said as we came to a stop. “I didn’t mean to.”
“I know you didn’t, honey,” he said. “I’d leave them if they weren’t what I needed to see.”
He wore glasses?
He let my left thigh go momentarily but leaned forward to keep me securely on his back.
I jolted, my hand going to his neck accidentally, and grabbed for purchase.
“Sorry,” he said as he caught me back behind the leg. “I should’ve announced that I was doing that.”
“Yeah, you should have.” Gable chuckled. “You doing okay back there?”
My hand loosened but didn’t move off of his neck.
My finger brushed a scar on his face, and I stilled. “Oh, are you hurt?”
“No,” he answered. “Old scar that’s not the most pleasant thing in the world to look at in the mirror every morning.”
“He says that.” Gable tried for levity. “But all the girls think it’s sexy.”
“Sure, right.” Gee snorted.
“Are y’all related?” I asked.
“We’re twins,” Gee answered.
“Oh, that explains the G names,” I said. “I always wanted a twin. I settled for a dog, though.”
Both brothers chuckled.
“We’re about half a mile out now,” Gable said. “I’m gonna move ahead and call the cops. See if we can get someone here.”
Gee grunted, and then Gable left, making me slightly awkward when I said what I said next.
“Beautiful weather we’re having, right?” I asked.
He chuckled. “I hate to break this to you, but there are some clouds rolling in. Looks like a good ol’ mountain storm’s about to be upon us. Maybe it’ll knock that asshole and his family that left you right off the mountain.”
I snorted. “The Harrises are too good at hiking for that.”
“Damn. That’s a bummer,” Gee admitted.
I agreed with him.
I twisted my head so that I could lay my face on his shoulder.
“Thank you again,” I murmured.
He squeezed my thighs. “I signed an oath to protect and serve. If it makes you feel better, pretend that I’m working and it’s my job.”