Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 682(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Oh, she could hear her cousin in her head right now. Sorry, cos. Was way too busy getting my ass kicked and then valiantly trying to save us both to give you a debrief on what happened with your ex-honey in Colorado.
“Okay, I’ll give you that, but obviously Zach knew.” And she wouldn’t understand why he didn’t tell her until she talked to him. “Sorry. I’m mad, but I get it. I don’t know the whole story. Even when I do, I don’t know that I can trust him.”
“All you can do is try and listen and trust your instincts. Look, there’s a big part of me that wants to tell you to come home. We can hide out somewhere until the heat is off, and you don’t have to risk having your heart broken. Because there’s still a big risk of that. He’s in serious trouble.”
Trouble she didn’t understand. “Mom, I love you. I’m going to go talk to Zach.”
Her mom nodded. “Good. I think you should do that, and tell him you’re going to need a tablet or something you can work on because I’ve already got a text from Tasha. She wants you to send her some more design ideas for her dress.”
“More? I’ve sent her five already.” Her cousin was turning into a bit of a bridezilla.
Her mom shrugged. “She might have mentioned that it’s not like you have a lot else to do. Unless you’re coming home.”
That didn’t seem like a great idea. On a lot of fronts. Including the one where she hated Zach and still couldn’t stand the thought of not being around him. To torture him and get revenge.
Yeah, sure. That’s what she was doing.
“I’m staying. It’s safer for everyone.” Still a lie, but closer to the truth. She couldn’t leave until she had some closure.
“I love you,” her mom said and cut the connection.
And Devi stood ready to figure out what the hell was happening with the man she definitely shouldn’t love.
* * * *
Zach walked back into the kitchen, his heart heavy. How had he forgotten? In all the drama of the last day and a half, he hadn’t told her the biggest secret of all. “I didn’t tell her about Cooper. I…should have. Her mom told her and she’s angry all over again.”
Lacey looked up from the stove where she was stirring something that absolutely would not include a side of beef. “When were you supposed to tell her? She pretty much woke up and started yelling at everyone. Honestly, not what I would have expected from a Taggart.”
“You keep saying that. Almost like you know a few.” Zach was confused. Lacey was normally completely cool under pressure. Her calm demeanor was one of the reasons he trusted her and had for more than a year. Lacey knew a bit about the team he’d been on. She knew about Big Tag and his daughter Tasha. But as far as he knew she thought what the rest of the world did. That Ms. Magenta was Kara.
Lacey shrugged. “Only by reputation, but I would expect her to have a bit more fire.”
“She’s fiery enough.” He should know since she singed the fuck out of him. He could still feel himself bleeding. He had to be stronger than this. He wasn’t supposed to…feel this deeply. This was why he should never have touched her. He shouldn’t have brought her into his world.
“No, she’s bratty and privileged. She’s not thinking about any situation but her perceived one.”
He thought she was being a little harsh. “She’s been through something traumatic. I lied to her about a lot of things.”
“You had to. Look, Zach, if you want me to assign blame, I can do it. You shouldn’t have started a relationship with her. Your life is far too dangerous with your mother unwilling to come in and your father in play now. This is not the time to look for love.” She glanced over to the door that led out to the hallway and then focused on the task of plating again. “In fact, I’m going to say you were much more reasonable when your affections were directed at the other Ms. Taggart.”
He did not need to talk about that. “It was a crush. I never meant to make a move. Devi is different.”
“Different how? Because I don’t understand. From my perspective she’s nothing but trouble. She was annoyed by the cat.”
Despite the fact that he’d recently had the revelation that he shouldn’t have brought her in, Lacey saying it bugged him. Seriously bugged him. And he didn’t like the way Lacey was talking about Devi. He had a deep protective instinct when it came to his sub. “She was not. She was surprised, and then she made a whole plan of how she’s going to befriend the damn cat. You don’t know her. You met her on what must be one of the worst days of her life. She had to watch her cousin get taken away by Huisman. She fought. She was brave. Don’t talk about her like that. I won’t listen. If you dislike her so much, we can both leave. Don’t forget. I help you out, too. Well, I’m calling in those favors for her.”