Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43749 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
“Teapot.” I hear the warning in Marcus's tone, but I'm already on the move. As I leave the office and make my escape, I’m thankful Nina has given me coverage.
But maybe I shouldn’t be.
Chapter Six
MARCUS
“Oh my god, was that Bronte?” Nina asks as she looks over her shoulder.
“Yeah.” I let out a frustrated sigh and run a hand down my face. “Good timing as always, sis.”
“Why didn’t you stop her from leaving?”
I think about the intensity of what we shared and then how quick she was to separate from me. How she cut me off to declare she was only my paralegal and not the actual love of my life. She was eager to get as far away from me as possible, and if I’m honest, it stung. No, I’m not going to let her get away for long, but right now, I’m going to deal with my nosy sister before I chase after Bronte and make her acknowledge what I’m already certain of.
She loves me just as much as I love her. The two of us are inevitable, and that’s the end of it. The sooner she faces the facts, the better.
“What do you want?” I can hear the impatience in my voice, but I’m too far gone to care.
“Always the warmest of welcomes,” Nina huffs. “I came by to say hello to my big brother and check in on things. The last time we talked, you sounded like a puppy that had been left out in the cold. Clearly things between you and Bronte have improved.”
“Until you interrupted,” I clarify.
“I’m sorry, but I did knock.” She raises an eyebrow. “For several minutes.”
I clear my throat and try to think of an excuse. When I can’t come up with one, I just shrug. “I guess I need to install a doorbell.”
“Right,” she says slowly and then peers around my office. “I see she’s made herself at home.”
“As I told her to.”
Nina sighs. “That wasn’t a challenge, Marcus. Believe it or not, I like what she’s done with the place. It seems she was able to take that stick out of your ass, and for that, I’d love to shake her hand.”
“Then next time don’t run her out of here.” I know I’m being an asshole but I also know that Nina will forgive me much faster than Bronte. The longer I argue with my sister, the farther Bronte gets from me.
“Fine.” Nina throws her hands up. “I’ll leave.”
“Wait,” I say, and thankfully she doesn’t make me chase after her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“Seriously, it’s fine,” she interrupts and then waves her fingers towards my desk. “I interrupted something, and it was bad timing all around. I’ll head back to the city and get out of your hair.”
“No, don’t leave. Why don’t you stay the night? I need to talk to Bronte, but I would love for you to finally meet her.”
“Are you sure?” Nina hesitates, and I know she’s weighing the options to see if I’m serious or not. When I nod, she beams, and I know it was the right call. Nina and I had shitty parents growing up, and I’ve been her guardian for most of her life. “Great. I packed a bag just in case.”
“Okay, I’ll catch up with you later,” I tell her quickly before I bolt out of the door.
I look up and down the street, and I’m not shocked to see that Bronte is gone. I try to think about where she would go. I discard her house. That would be the obvious place, and she wouldn’t want me to find her so easily. The same goes for the diner too. She’s already eaten, and she can’t go home, so she needs a place to hide. It would have to be somewhere public and within walking distance. She would want to go somewhere familiar, but I guarantee she’s not in the mood to have conversations.
I’m grinning to myself as I turn around and take off in the direction of the library.
Once I climb the stairs and walk inside, I see a little old lady at the circulation desk stamping books. When I get up to her, she looks over the top of her glasses at me and gives me the sweetest smile.
“You must be Marcus.” I see she’s wearing a name tag with Mrs. Maggie on it. To my surprise, the little old lady looks me up and down like a piece of meat. “I can see why Bronte is running from you. What size shoe do you wear?”
“Um...” I can feel my cheeks heat as I look anywhere but in her direction.
“She told me not to tell you she was going to hide with the research textbooks on the second floor.” Mrs. Maggie pushes her glasses up her nose. “But I’ve never been good at keeping secrets.”