Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
My calm mood hadn’t changed too much over the last couple of days, and now I couldn’t help but fixate on Slade’s preferred mode of travel. He’d gone into the details, explaining the benefits of using such a means of transportation while in LA, escaping the parking lot that every road became during rush hour.
In theory, it made sense. In reality, it was weird to see the expensive ride nestled among the metal trailers on the wide expanse of Texas land. How much money did that cost?
Walls slammed back in place, creating instantly renewed emotional distance. Up until right that minute, I hadn’t understood the amount of money Slade obviously made compared to what my salary could purchase.
“What just happened?” Slade asked, clutching my hand tighter.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the large life-flight-size bird; there had to be a double row of seating inside. “Why’re you with me?” I whispered and kept my gaze away from his. “You should be with some guy who has more than a quarter in his pocket.” Even though it was technically the truth, I was surprised I said the words out loud. I sat fully back in my seat. The longer I stared out the front windshield, the more freaked out I became.
“Money’s something I don’t worry about. I have a financial guy that has my money making money. If everything ended today, we might be able to live well until we die on what I have. Hell, our children’s children would be set,” Slade said, holding the steering wheel with one hand, his unrelenting grip keeping our hands joined with the other, not that I wanted to let go, because when he touched me, I forgot all our worries. But the way he made light of my sudden insecurity did actually help.
I’d honestly worried about the sustainability of such a large sanctuary. Everyone involved kept telling me that we were all good. Now I better understood what they meant.
“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to Nico who held a leash with a Border Collie on the other end. He stood in the small parking lot off to the side of the helipad.
“It’s my going away present to you. She’s trained, ready to help with the farm,” Slade explained.
Again, my uncertainty got the best of me. In a matter of two days, I’d become responsible for two animals. Yes, that was technically what I wanted, but I thought we’d start small, let me get my land legs back before we added such trained animals. The what-ifs bombarded my brain, hard to shake off.
“You got this, Mace. In a few months, you’ll have more animals to care for than you ever dreamed possible. Whiskey, and now Willow there, are the beginning of your dreams coming true,” Slade said, reading my emotional struggle like a book.
I agreed, but it was still damned daunting.
Right then was about Slade leaving. My mental breakdown could happen later. I asked again, “Tell me your itinerary.”
“It’s hard on my heart that you don’t remember,” Slade answered with a small smirk.
“I remember.” I squeezed the hand that still held mine. “But I like your voice. It calms the crazy up here,” I said, tapping a fingertip against my temple.
“Okay. I leave here for a private airport in Austin. From there, I go to LA in a private jet. My helicopter will follow. I’ll report to the studio tomorrow. Then begins the flights back and forth across the country several times a week. Outside of sleeping beside you, I get the most rest on the private jet the studio provides. It has a badass bed. I’ll miss you while I’m gone.”
“Hmm. With the strict communication schedule you gave me, I think we’ll talk more than we do now,” I teased, thinking about all the notifications that pinged my phone when Tommy sent calendar event alarms tied to the times Slade had free to talk in a day.
“I’ll see you again in thirteen days.” The closer we got to the mini-parking lot the harder and harder that thirteen-day mark was to hear. “Remember your meeting tomorrow with Dash Richmond. Tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah,” I answered, raising my volume to match Slade’s to be heard over the increasing noise from the helicopter. I wasn’t sure why I needed an attorney, but I went with it. I was already arguing and challenging so many of the changes that I let Slade have that one.
Nico opened the driver’s side door to greet us. “We’re ready to go whenever you are.” He helped Slade out of the Jeep, still yelling at him, the chopper really cranking up. “Matthew’s moving into your place right now. He’ll stay out of the way. If he does what he’s supposed to, Mace won’t know he’s there.” As Nico spoke, he stuck his head in the car. “I’m going to put her in the Jeep’s back seat so she’s out of the noise.”