Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Stone checked his watch. “The hardware store should still be open. Want to make a run and get new locks? And a security camera for the porch would be nice. It wouldn’t hurt to set you up with a security system, either.”
“I can spring for the locks. But I don’t have the money for a security system. Don’t you have to pay a monthly fee for that?”
His brows dipped and he looked me in the eyes. “Don’t worry about it. I know a guy.”
My eyes widened. “Are you joking with me right now?”
He grinned, his sexy smile doing funny things to my stomach. “Babe, I’m talking about myself. Besides, you should have done this right after he left. Now I can do it for you, and it’ll help make us even.”
My brows rose. “You mean for saving your life today… and yesterday?” I twisted my lips. “I’m not sure that’s enough to make us even.”
“Maybe not, but if you think of something else, we can add it to the tab.”
His smoldering gaze sent a different kind of message, and heat filled my veins. Was he propositioning me? Just the thought made it hard to think straight. I swallowed and shrugged, hoping he didn’t notice. “I guess I’ll have to see how good of a job you do on the locks before I decide.”
He raised a brow. “Well… I am good with my hands, so you’re on.” He grabbed his jacket and headed to the back door. I snatched mine, and quickly followed.
The hardware store wasn’t far, and I ended up following Stone around the aisles, since he knew where to go and I didn’t. He helped me pick out everything I needed. Then he paid for it before I could stop him, and we ended up back at the house in no time.
While he got to work on the locks, I cleaned up the kitchen from our dinner. I had to admit that it was nice having him here to take care of this for me. I probably could have done it myself, but why not take advantage of him while I could, right?
Too bad I couldn’t take advantage of him in other ways. Just knowing he was spending the night sent shivers down my spine, and I shook my head. I couldn’t go there. Nope. I definitely wasn’t ready for that, no matter how much my body ached for his touch.
Feeling drained, I stepped into the living room, leaning against the doorway to watch him set up the security camera on my front porch. Wanting to sit down, I started toward the couch, and the vision of us kissing and naked hit my chest.
That was where it happened. On my couch. Shit. I swallowed and tried to put it from my mind. Seeing a vision didn’t mean it was going to happen. Besides, I wasn’t ready for that. At least, I didn’t think so.
“Serenity?”
I jerked. “Huh?”
“Your phone. I need it to connect everything.”
“Oh, right. Here.” I unlocked it and handed it over. Instead of sitting on the couch, I stepped to the chair beside my bookcase. Sinking down into it, I let out a breath and relaxed. So much had happened today that it boggled my mind.
The vision of Stone getting shot popped into my head. If I’d reached him just a second later, he’d be dead. It still unnerved me that the bullet had hit me instead. I could be dead right now too. Just thinking about it made my head hurt.
And what about getting sucked into the darkness of that vision and not being able to pull myself out? But it was a lot more than just that. Stone and I had barely escaped the blast from the trailer. On top of that, Brandon had shown up and ruined a perfectly good meal.
The last few days were catching up to me, and a sudden pain arched behind my eyes. It stretched across the front of my skull to the back of my neck. Oh no. Not now. The pain intensified, and I winced.
Stone handed me my phone and his brows rose. “Are you okay? You look a little pale.”
“My head’s hurting. It usually means a migraine is coming on. I think I can stave it off if I get some sleep. Are you okay if I go to bed?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks. I never got migraines before the accident. But with all the trauma I’ve experienced lately… along with a head wound, I should have expected it.”
“I’m sorry. I’m pretty good at neck massages. Would that help?”
My eyes widened. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried it before.”
“It might make a difference.”
I shrugged. “Okay. Should I lie down?”
He grabbed a pillow from the couch, and had me sit cross-legged on it while he took my place in the chair. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. His touch was gentle but firm. As he expertly rubbed his thumbs over my shoulders and neck, the tension drained out of me, and my headache lessened. I may have groaned a few times, and, after several of minutes of this, I was a spineless blob.