Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Lyssa’s forehead wrinkled in confusion once more. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I had to channel you. I kept thinking, what would Lyssa do? And then did that thing.”
Lyssa’s eyes widened, and she laughed. “What? Are you kidding? Why would you want to pretend to be me? Give me an example.”
“Like making out with him ten minutes after meeting him. Then leaving with him to go to his ranch. Skinny dipping. Horseback riding. Mechanical bull riding. Playing with the sex toys.”
Lyssa’s expression softened. “Wow, you’ve been busy! I’m so flattered I could be your inspiration for taking risks with a relationship. But Christ, Em, I’m the fucked-up twin.” She set her hand on her chest. “I’m the one who couldn’t get through college, or hold a steady job, or be relied on for anything. You’re the one I channel when I’m trying to make decent, responsible choices with my life.”
I let out a watery laugh. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Me? Why would you? Your jobs pay so much better and are far more glamorous. Without a jerky boss like Stan.”
“And they always end with a bang.”
“Yeah, speaking of…” I wiped my tears with my fingertips. “It turns out Mitch Chapman is a wolf and human trafficker. I mean shifter trafficker.”
Lyssa blinked at me. Stared for a few seconds. “Excuse me?”
I waved my fingers in the air. “That’s the craziest part of this story. Turns out Hot Cowboy–his name is Johnny–is actually a wolf. They aren’t werewolves, they’re a different species that can shift from human form to wolf. And Mitch is one of them, but he’s a supervillain.”
“Um. Okay, that is crazy. Did you do some kind of drugs, too, while you were channeling me?”
I shook my head. “No, you idiot. You need to quit.” I glanced around this gorgeous mega-mansion. “We should get out of here before he comes back.”
“He traffics women?”
I nodded.
“Fuck. Where should we go? The sultan’s out. Do you still have your apartment in L.A.?”
“Yes.” The idea of going back to Los Angeles felt like a brick on my chest. “And Stan offered me a new position at triple what I was making before.”
Lyssa looked at me doubtfully. “Are you sure you want to be working for that asshole again?”
“Well, one of us is going to need a paid position while we figure out our next move,” I said glumly.
She brightened, even when things were far from cheery. “See? That’s Ms. Responsible again. That’s who I always try to be but never quite manage.”
I laughed. “You shouldn’t. She’s terribly boring and never has any fun.”
“I think you mentioned a mechanical bull? That sounds like tons of fun. Remember though, Ms. Wild and Reckless over here is all fun but not substance. I have literally nothing to show for my life. I think I have two hundred dollars in the bank.”
“You’ve had years of adventures!”
“But I’m nothing on paper.” She shook her head. “No college degree. No real job experience. I make up my resumes to go with whatever job I’m looking for.”
“Who cares about paper? What matters is the heart.” As I said the words, I realized how clear my heart was.
Lyssa peered at me like she saw the change in me. Her voice went soft, and she took her hand in mine. “What does your heart want, Emmie?”
I blinked back tears. “My heart wants Johnny.”
As I said it, memories of all the tenderness he’d shown me, all the attention and concern came flitting back. The way he held me this morning. His horror over biting me last night. The way he carried me out of the saloon, suffering over how I’d feel about him for getting in a fight.
It hadn’t just been all hot sex–although the sex had been incinerating. What we had was real. But I’d allowed my own insecurities to let me believe it wasn’t.
If Lyssa tried to be me sometimes, then maybe I wasn’t always doing the wrong thing.
With Johnny, I’d overreacted.
Lyssa fished my phone out of my purse and handed it to me. “Call him.”
I gave a dark laugh. “I don’t even have his phone number. I did steal his truck, so I guess I could drive back.”
She nodded. “Yes, drive back. I mean, I’m sad because I wanted to eat cookie dough and binge watch Gilmore Girls with you, but you should go.”
Then I remembered the full situation.
“No, you have to come, too.” I jumped up. If Johnny really was so serious about Mitch, then we shouldn’t even be here. “Come on, get packed. This place isn’t safe for either of us.”
Lyssa didn’t look appropriately worried. I grabbed her wrist and tugged her to her feet. “I’m serious. Mitch is a sex trafficker or something like that. We could be in danger. Let’s go.”
The crunch of gravel outside made us both dart toward the window.