Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
I wanted to feel like my younger self again—the girl who stayed up late writing songs with a flashlight under the covers when she was supposed to be asleep. Those songs had meant something to me. Those songs were where I buried my deepest hurt, expressed my greatest joy, and dreamed my wildest dreams.
I wanted that girl’s voice to be heard.
The trail ended at some kind of river or creek, and even though I was hot and sweaty, the water looked sort of green and scary. With visions of a slimy gray rat snake in my mind, I decided not to risk a swim and turned for home again. It was while I was on my way back that a song idea came to me—not fully formed or anything, just a few scraps of lyrics, a three-quarter time signature, and some chord changes I hadn’t played with before.
I was so excited, I didn’t even stop to wipe off the sweat, I just grabbed my guitar and a piece of paper. After scribbling down some notes, I recorded myself messing around with the chords and rhythm. It wasn’t perfect, but when I played it back for myself I was happy. It was a good start.
My stomach growled as I stripped off my running clothes, and I realized I hadn’t eaten in nearly eight hours. Between what I’d brought from home and my stop at the farm stand, I had enough on hand to make a nice little pasta dinner for myself. I’d even packed a bottle of wine. Tomorrow, I’d drive into town and stock up.
While I was in the shower, I kept trying out different lyrics, and while I was rinsing the conditioner from my hair, the perfect lines came to me. Frantic to write them down, I jumped out of the shower and bolted from the bathroom naked.
That’s when I discovered the bearded lummox in my living room.
THREE
xander
The girl had some pipes.
Her scream was so loud, you’d have thought I came after her with an axe. (Did I mention I know how to throw an axe?)
She also had a smokin’ hot body with plenty of curves, and her long wet hair was clinging to her bare skin like vines. As quickly as I could react, I turned around and held up my hands so she wouldn’t think I was there to harm her.
But the high-pitched shrieking continued as she ran back into the bathroom and slammed the door.
Then silence.
Except that my ears were ringing.
Tentatively, I turned around and called out. “Kelly Jo Sullivan?”
“Go away!”
“My name is Xander Buckley, I’m—”
“I know who you are—the bodyguard! And I already fired you, so go away!”
I moved closer to the bathroom door, so I wouldn’t have to yell. “I can’t do that.”
Kelly, on the other hand, continued to shout. “Why not?”
“I made your brother a promise.”
“What promise?”
“That I wouldn’t leave no matter how hard you tried to make me.”
“Damn him,” she muttered quietly. Then louder, “What’s he paying you to be here? I’ll pay you double to leave!”
“He’s not paying me.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I owe him a favor.” I paused. “Actually, I owe him my life.”
A few seconds of silence passed. “What?”
“Six years ago, he saved my life in Afghanistan, and I’ve been waiting for the chance to repay the debt.”
The bathroom door flew open. She’d wrapped one white towel around her head and a second around her body, which she held in place with stiff wooden-soldier arms. It struck me how much prettier she was without any makeup on. I noticed the ginger lashes and the dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks, like cinnamon on whipped cream.
“Well, I am not that chance,” she declared, lifting her chin. “So you can just march yourself right on out of here and wait for the next one.” She pointed a finger toward the front door. Her nails were unpainted and trimmed short.
Exhaling, I shook my head. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Then I’m calling the cops,” she announced imperiously.
“How? This place has no phone, and you left yours sitting over there on the couch.” I jerked my thumb over one shoulder. “If I was a real threat, you’d be in big trouble.”
Her emerald eyes blazed with fury. “This is breaking and entering!”
“I didn’t break anything,” I informed her calmly. “The door was unlocked, and every window in the place is open. You couldn’t get any less secure if you tried.”
She pursed her lips together and drew herself up with a deep inhale. “The fact remains. I don’t want you here.”
“Here’s another fact that remains.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not leaving.”
We stood there in a stalemate for a solid twenty seconds, neither one of us willing to budge.
Finally, she shook her head. “I can’t believe my brother would do this to me.”