Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 121578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
She frowns. “No, that’s Henry’s car. I wonder if he’s out at a pickup with Paul.”
My hands tighten on the steering wheel, barely holding back a shudder. Pickup means they’re coming back with a body.
Shit, I still don’t want to leave Margot.
“Where should I park, so I’m not in the way?”
She blinks a few times. “You’re staying?”
“Well, I want to at least walk you upstairs.”
“I thought maybe, you know, after spending the whole weekend together, you’d…”
“What? Be tired of you? Not a chance.” I reach over and rest my hand on her leg. “We’ve spent longer stretches together here.”
“That’s true.”
“Do you want me to go?”
She stares at me with the most serious, almost sad eyes. “I really don’t. I hope that doesn’t seem too…”
“It’s perfect.” I lift my chin. “Where should I park? I don’t want to be in the way when the hearse gets here.”
“Silly, we don’t use the hearse for pickups. We use a minivan.” She points to the car. “Park next to Henry.”
We get out and Margot walks around to my side.
She holds out her hand for my bag. “I can take that.” Her lips tilt with amusement. “My murder doll is in there, after all.”
“I’m not scared of that thing.” I grab my bag and lift her backpack onto my shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Margot’s father greets us inside the door. His gaze shifts from Margot’s backpack slung over my shoulder to the duffle bag in my hand.
Christ, it probably looks like I’m moving in. Not that he doesn’t already know I spend a lot of time here.
“Hi, Margot,” he greets her. “Did you have a good weekend?”
“I did. The property up there is really pretty.”
I bite the inside of my cheek.
“Good.” His gaze shifts to me. “Jensen…well, I’m glad you’re both back.”
You might feel differently if it turns out I knocked up your daughter.
Why can’t I stop thinking about that? Between the condom fuckup and our time in the woods, I’m thinking about fucking Margot one hundred percent of the time, instead of my usual ninety-nine percent.
I clear my throat. “Just wanted to help Margot in with her bag.” I pull my shoulder with her backpack on it forward.
He nods once, then returns his attention to Margot. “Unfortunately, we got a call—”
“I figured, since I saw Henry’s car out back,” she says.
“Her name’s Mrs. Penny.” He waits as if Margot should recognize the name. When she doesn’t say anything, he continues. “She lived in the same community as Daniel’s grandmother. I think he made the referral.”
Margot’s entire body goes rigid.
Who the fuck is Daniel?
“What do you need from me?” she asks, her tone and posture stiff as a board.
If her father notices the shift in her demeanor, he doesn’t mention it. “Her granddaughter will be here in the morning. Would you take the consult?”
She blows out a breath, her entire body relaxing. “Sure. Of course.”
“Thank you. The information’s on my desk.”
“I’ll come back down and go through the file tonight.”
I trail up the stairs after her, trying to come up with a way to ask her who the fuck Daniel is that won’t sound unhinged and territorial.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Jigsaw
The perfect day for a long ride.
The kind where I let the machine take over and the roar of the engine drowns out every nagging question swirling in my head.
Like why the fuck Margot went stiff at the mention of Daniel.
Or that I suspect Daniel’s her shitty ex-boyfriend.
Or why, after a weekend that was near perfect—explosive sex, Margot getting to know the club, my brothers accepting her as my ol’ lady—I’m still turning over certain things in my mind.
Like the forgotten condom.
Like the way she looks so natural holding a baby in her arms.
Like the way I need to buy a house with a lot of acreage so I can hunt her down and fuck her outside every day for the rest of our lives.
Ow. I better save that last thought for later.
I stand on the pegs, lifting and repositioning myself, then sit farther back in my seat.
This isn’t an aimless joyride.
Today, I know exactly where I’m headed.
To find clarity with the only blood relative I give a shit about?
Maybe.
Although my relationship with my sister is hardly smooth and uncomplicated.
Jezzie said she was free this afternoon. I’m hoping we can actually enjoy some time together instead of squaring off like opponents in a cage match.
I back my bike into a spot near her apartment and kill the engine. The courtyard outside her building is full of college-age kids sprawled across the grass, soaking up the sun like reptiles while staring at their phones. A few glance my way, widen their eyes, then quickly return to their incessant doom-scrolling.
I yank out my own phone.
Me: Here.
I hit the button for her apartment once and she buzzes me in right away. At least the building’s safe.