Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Trav’s face takes on an expression that’s part sympathy, part smugness, and part annoyance. “Did you know Samuel Reins was my commanding officer before I became a Ranger?”
My dad … was Trav’s superior?
“You really think the timing on your Mike Bravo offer was a coincidence?”
At the time, while I was drowning in medical bills and trying to find a place for my dad to get treatment, I thought the offer to move to the private sector was a get out of jail free card. I didn’t give it much more thought.
“You’ve known everything this whole time and you never said anything?”
“Doing something for someone you care about isn’t about the glory or the thanks. Your dad is a good man, and so are you, Brix. I helped the only way I knew how.”
“Thank you. So much. Like—”
“I just said I don’t need a thanks.” He disappears, leaving me stunned.
By the time I shake off my unease about the entire team knowing my situation—I know it shouldn’t be there, but old habits die hard—and go back to our room, Harley’s awake.
He sits up. The worry lines prominently across his forehead make me want to wrap him in my arms. “Where were you?”
I start packing without answering him.
“Brix? What happened?” he asks again.
I grin at him.
“Nolan Brixton Reins.”
“I think that’s the first time you’ve ever called me Nolan. Or full-named me.”
“You’re freaking me out. You deserve to be full-named.”
I climb back into bed and pull Harley against me. He’s shirtless, so I take advantage of his bare skin and run my hand down his back. “Hi. My name is Brix. As in dumb as bricks. And I’m your new head of security. Nice to meet you.”
“What?”
I laugh. “Trav just told me he thinks I should take over your contract.”
“You can’t be fired? Like, ever?”
“You’re stuck with me. I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
“Ever?”
“I will protect you with my life. For my entire life.”
“Because you love me?”
“And because I was born to do it.”
Harley pulls back. “You’re lying, aren’t you? You’ve actually been fired, and I’m never going to see you again.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You … Mr. I don’t believe in fate or soul mates or destiny … You believe you were born to protect me?”
“Well, shit. I guess I do.”
“Your song isn’t even going to make any sense now.”
I laugh. “You can write me more songs. I expect them to be full of love and explosions. ‘Explosions of Love and C4.’ Good title.”
“Of course, Rambo … my motherfucking badass.”
“Never going to live that down, am I? You call me a badass all the time.”
“It’s one thing for others to say it. It’s totally not badass to self-proclaim it.”
I lean in and bring my lips to his. “You’re free to mock me whenever you want, Pop Star. I wouldn’t love you any other way.”
“Same goes for you … Badass.”
Hmm, I have to wonder if that nickname is better or worse than Rambo.
We’ve been back in LA a week, and I’ve barely seen Harley.
He’s no closer to coming to an exit agreement with the label, and he has no real plans for if he wins that battle. Or if he loses.
He’s been keeping busy doing God knows what—writing new songs, I think—but I’ve basically only seen him when we’ve gone to bed each night.
In our bed.
That was the first thing we did when we got home. We moved my minimal belongings into his room and turned my bedroom into an office for me.
Which is why, when he appears by parking his ass on my desk with a wide smile on his face, I’m suspicious.
“What did you do?” I lean back in my seat and pretend to be exasperated.
“No. Nuh-uh. You can’t go into this already hating the idea before I get to tell you the brilliantness of what it is.”
“And now I’m scared.”
“Come on, Badass. I swear it’s a good idea.”
“A good idea that I will like or hate?”
Harley hesitates. Averts his gaze. Flattens his lips.
“Right. That answers that question,” I say. I’m totally gonna hate it.
“You might hate it, but once you get over yourself, you’re going to love me for it. Or hate me. I haven’t decided.”
“I already love you, so is it worth risking that?”
Harley nods enthusiastically. “Absolutely.” He takes my hand. “Come with me.”
I’m totally confused until he leads me to a room he hardly uses. No, wait, I’m still confused.
The room is usually set up like a library with built-in bookshelves along the wall and comfy couches. Which have been pushed outside onto the patio leading to the backyard.
“An empty room? Uh, thank you?”
“I thought … well, I’ve been thinking … and planning. And doing all the research on how much it’ll cost … Okay, well, if we want to get technical, Jamie’s been doing most of the work. She’s trying to get in your good graces because she’s terrified you want to fire her.”