Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
She straightened her shoulders, intending to tell him they were due for a talk.
“We need to talk,” he said first.
Oh. “We do,” she agreed.
“About work. You can’t go in today.”
“Oh my God, it’s Monday!” How had she forgotten? She glanced at the clock on the nightstand.
Eight thirty. She did a quick mental calculation. “I’ll be late, but I can still get there at a decent hour.” Heart racing, she started for the bathroom, only to have Cole stop her with a touch on her shoulder.
“Whoa. Didn’t you hear me? You can’t go in today. Or any other day this week.” Before she could argue or ask questions, he held up one hand. “Until this psycho is off the streets, it’s too dangerous for you—and the baby—to follow your normal routine and make yourself an easy target.”
Erin exhaled a long, slow breath and let his words sink in. She didn’t know what disturbed her more, the fact that despite her hating it with every fiber of her being, Cole had a point, or that she’d completely forgotten today was Monday and a workday.
“Okay,” she said at last.
He narrowed his gaze. “You aren’t going to fight me on this?” he asked, sounding stupefied.
This stalker woman, whoever she was, had gotten into Erin’s home. Cut up her things. Had her shot at. Even if she wanted to go about her business and not give in to fear, she’d never ever put the child she was carrying at risk.
“I’m not a fool. I understand how dangerous this woman is. And despite what you think, I don’t argue for the sake of arguing. I only do it when the men in my life think they know what’s best for me. I just want the right to make those decisions for myself.” Her throat ached from holding back unexpected, sudden tears.
“Dammit,” she swore, and stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.
She splashed cold water on her face, embarrassed and frustrated at the same time. She’d had it with the pregnancy hormones, the ups and downs, the stalker, and she’d had it with Cole blowing hot and cold. But she didn’t want to cry in front of him, and just because she’d shut herself in the bathroom didn’t mean he hadn’t figured out she was upset.
As evidenced by the barrage of knocking on the door. “Erin, let me in.”
Not wanting to be any more dramatic than she’d been, she opened the door. “Go away. I need to shower.”
He raised an eyebrow. “First, tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m okay,” she deadpanned.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I’m not joking.”
“Hormones suck. Is that what you want to hear? Being stalked by some freaky female that wants you to herself sucks.” She drew a deep breath, knowing what was coming and unable to stop herself. “And while we’re being honest, your freaking changing moods suck! Now go away and let me shower.” She grabbed for the door, but he blocked her from closing it with his body.
His eyes softened. “You’re right. Everything’s been dumped on your shoulders, and it’s not fair.”
She blinked, first in surprise, then in an effort to push back oncoming tears. She didn’t want him to feel sorry for her. “Don’t be nice. It’ll just make me cry.”
She tried to turn, but he grasped her shoulders. “Erin.”
“What?”
“You deserve to have me be nice to you. You deserve a hell of a lot of things—”
“That you can’t give. Blah, blah, blah. I. Know. Do you hear me asking you for anything? Hmm?” No matter what she wanted, she’d never once expressed her private hopes or wishes.
He opened his mouth, then closed it again.
“Well, other than asking you not to get out of bed two seconds after we made—” She caught her mistake before the words were out, and paused to cleared her throat. “After we fucked, then no, I don’t believe I’ve requested a damned thing.”
Fire flashed behind his dark eyes. “Erin,” he said, his voice sounding in a warning growl.
“Now what?” She set her jaw, not wanting to have this—or any—conversation with him right now.
“I don’t care how big of an ass I’ve been, don’t say we fucked. It’s demeaning both to you and to—”
“To what? To us? To everything we share?” she asked, her voice rising. “Well, do me a favor. Unless and until you’re ready to commit to an us, don’t you dare ask me to call it anything else. Because you’re right about one thing. The way you’re behaving right now? I do deserve better.” She pointed through the doorway. “Now out. I’m taking a shower. Alone.”
Cole looked like he wanted to say something, but just as Erin expected, he turned and walked out, leaving her alone.
* * *
For the rest of the morning and into the afternoon, Cole kept himself busy. He made phone calls to people she didn’t know, asking questions about old cases. He called Nick and informed him that he wanted a better security system here, which Erin tried to say was ridiculous, since for all she knew they could be gone tomorrow. But Nick apparently had no problem with the idea, and a crew was coming out later in the day to work.