Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
But her father had lost his mind when she’d returned home and snuck into her bedroom. He’d been looking for her everywhere and when he couldn’t find her . . . well, he’d figured that she’d somehow snuck away. It was the only time she could remember him hitting her. But he didn’t have to hit her to make an impact anyway. Not when his yelling was enough to scare her into compliance.
“We could have picked you guys up, you know,” she said, trying to forget the memory of that day.
“Had my rental car,” Gray said.
“And you’re staying tonight?” Immy asked.
Please, please, stay tonight.
She missed Maeve like crazy and she just wanted her close after what happened to her. Honestly, Immy was scared for Maeve and while she probably couldn’t do anything to help protect her, she wanted to make sure she was all right.
Thankfully, Gray nodded before checking in with Maeve. “If that’s still what you want? We can stay at a hotel tonight if it’s too much.”
“I . . .”
Oh no. Maeve looked scared.
“Fuck,” Jenner said. “I hate that you might be too scared to come here, Maeve. This is your home. We’re going to have to sell the place.”
“Guys!” Maeve said.
Immy nodded, in total agreement. “I’ll start looking for new places. Isaiah and Sampson will want a say on security, but I think we need to look at tightening things up.”
“I’m almost thinking of moving further out of the city,” Jenner said.
“Guys! Guys! You can’t move because of me,” Maeve protested.
Immy turned to her. What was she talking about? Why couldn’t they move? Heck, it wasn’t like Immy particularly liked this place anyway.
And Maeve came first.
“Of course we can,” Jenner said, looking incredulous. “We’ll sell this place, buy a new one. Simple. We don’t even have to sell this one first.”
“Makes it easier.” Immy nodded.
“No, I mean, you shouldn’t sell your home just because . . . because I might find it, uh, hard to be here. I don’t feel that way about the house. It’s just the pool.”
Immy totally understood that. And it seemed Jenner did too.
“Good point,” Jenner said. “Make sure the new place doesn’t have a pool, Immy.”
“What’s going on?” Sampson asked, walking down the stairs and frowning at Gray.
“You can set me down,” Maeve told Gray.
“No. But we should get you in out of the sun.”
“Yes, yes, come in,” Immy said. Why were they all standing out here? She turned to Sampson. “We were just discussing moving to a house out of town with no swimming pool.”
Sampson nodded as they all walked into the house. “Good plan.”
“What? Sampson, it’s not a good plan,” Maeve protested. “You know what? I need to talk to Isaiah, he’s the only reasonable one of the lot of you.”
“Hopefully, he’s coming back tomorrow,” Sampson told her.
“So you have to stay until he comes back, right?” Immy said hopefully as they walked into the living room. “Sit. What can I get you? Coffee? Tea? Something stronger? Beer?”
“Coffee would be good,” Gray said. “Black. No sugar.”
“Right. A tough man’s drink. Got it,” Immy said with a firm nod.
Maeve giggled as he settled on the sofa with her on his lap. Immy knew how everyone else took their coffee.
When she had everything set out on a tray, she heaved it up and walked into the living room to hear Sampson questioning Gray about Maeve.
Uh-oh.
She couldn’t imagine that Gray was going to take that well.
“Oh good, I made it back in time for the inquisition,” Immy said cheerfully.
Jenner jumped up and took the tray from her, setting it on the coffee table, and she gave him a grateful look.
“So, have you asked Gray about his intentions? I mean, he already proposed.” She handed Gray his coffee and Maeve a glass of chocolate milk.
“That wasn’t a proper proposal,” Maeve told Immy. “He’s going to do better.”
“Apparently,” Gray said.
“Cookie?” Immy held out a plate of snickerdoodles.
“You’re spoiling her,” Jenner said to Immy.
“She just got out of the hospital, of course I am. Besides, I spoil you every day and you never complain.”
Jenner shrugged and took a snickerdoodle.
Maeve happily munched on the cookie and sipped her drink.
“Well? You haven’t answered my questions,” Sampson said.
“More like interrogation,” Immy muttered.
“Immy,” Sampson scolded.
“Sampson, Maeve is too sweet to say it so I will,” Immy said. “Keep your big head out of her business. Clearly, she is into Gray and Gray is into her. We all know you’re just peeved because you couldn’t find anything about him and Isaiah has been too busy to look into him.” Immy grinned at Gray. “You know we’re only nosy because we care, right?”
“Is that so?” Gray drawled.
“We just want to make sure you can take care of her. Especially with this stalker,” Sampson said. “I need to know you can protect her.”
Maeve bit her lip worriedly. “You’re right. This guy is even more dangerous than I thought.” She peered up at Gray. “I don’t want you to get hurt. This guy is clearly deranged. What’s to stop him coming after you?”