Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Chad rubbed at the back of his neck. “Listen, Liam, I know we’ve had our differences, I get it, but I’m going to be having a kid of my own. I don’t want to mess this up, and maybe I just used the excuse of the baby names to come over today…but I would like to try and fix this between us.”
After reaching under the cabinet for cleaner and a rag, I sighed. “A truce?”
He laughed. “Hell, I don’t even remember what we were fighting over.”
I held out my hands. “The ranch, Chad. The ranch.”
Rolling his eyes, “Yes, I was pissed at first, but I’m over it.”
“Okay,” I said with a nod. “I’m willing to give it a shot if you are.”
He smiled. “I am. And once I get back from Chicago, I think we should spend some time together.”
Freezing, I asked, “You’re going to Chicago?”
“Yeah, I have to go there a lot for work. Why?”
A chill ran over my body as I stared at my brother. “When was the last time you were in Chicago?”
He thought about it. “I don’t know, maybe a month ago.”
This time it was me who dropped what I was holding.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mallory
I knew I shouldn’t have been listening in on Liam and Chad’s conversation, but I couldn’t help it. It sounded like Chad was wanting to reconnect. Smiling, I went to softly shut the door when I heard Chad say he was leaving to go to Chicago.
Everything in me paused. Liam asked when Chad had been in Chicago last. A month ago.
My hand came up to my mouth and I took a few steps back. It couldn’t be. Not Liam’s brother. His laugh didn’t seem the same. Nor did his voice sound familiar at all.
Glancing around quickly for what, I had no idea, I faced the door once again. Somewhere from deep down inside of me, I gathered up the courage and started for the door. Opening it, I walked down the hall and straight into the kitchen to find Liam standing there with another man who wasn’t as handsome as Liam but was good-looking. He was a bit taller, not as built as Liam, but you could see the resemblance.
Both men turned and faced me. Liam wore a shocked expression on his face, while Chad simply offered me a polite smile.
Reaching my hand out to him, I said, “Hello, I’m Mallory.”
Chad’s smile never faltered. “Hi, Mallory, I’m Chad Sanders, Liam’s brother.”
Liam looked from me to his brother then back to me.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Did I hear you say you’re going to Chicago?”
Liam’s eyes went wide as saucers.
Chad grinned. “I am, for work. I’m a computer analyst and there is a company in Chicago that is one of our biggest customers. I have to go there a few times a year.”
My eyes darted to Liam. “I’m from Chicago.”
“No kidding,” Chad commented. He looked at Liam, then back to me. “Is something wrong? I feel like I’m missing something.”
Either Chad was a damn good actor, or he wasn’t the guy who kidnapped me.
“No, nothing’s wrong,” Liam finally said. “We just got back from Chicago.”
“Awe, that’s where you went.”
All Liam and I could do was nod.
Chad waited for someone to say something before he cleared his throat. “Well, Liam, I guess I can tell Krista you don’t mind about the names.”
“Yeah, please let her know I have no issues with it at all.”
“Okay, well, I guess I’m going to take off. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mallory. I hope that we see each other again. I know my wife Krista has been pushing me to make amends with Liam; maybe we can go on a double date or something.”
Liam let out a choked laugh before covering it up by clearing his throat.
“That would be nice,” I said as I followed Liam and Chad through the house.
“When are you going to be coming back from Chicago?” Liam asked.
Chad stopped right before he opened the door. “It’s a quick trip. I’m popping in to train a few people, then flying back the next day. I won’t be there for more than twenty-four hours.”
With a head nod in my direction, Chad said, “It was nice meeting you, Mallory. Liam, I guess maybe we’ll talk soon.”
Liam nodded. “Of course, we’ll talk soon.”
Opening the door for his brother, Liam walked out onto the porch and watched as Chad got in his truck and pulled down the driveway to leave.
I walked up and stood next to him, taking his hand in mine. “It’s not him, Liam.”
He stared at the truck as it drove farther away. He exhaled and said, “He was in Chicago when you disappeared, Mallory.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Liam. “It doesn’t prove anything.”
He turned and faced me. “No, it doesn’t, but it’s a crazy coincidence.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Liam
I couldn’t get it out of my head that Chad had been in Chicago possibly the same time Mallory was kidnapped. But we still weren’t sure she was taken from Chicago and brought to Montana.