Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
“You’ve done this to me,” I tease, nipping his bottom lip. Some switch has been flipped in my body.
“We've got to get out of this bathtub.” I squeal when he easily stands with me in his arms and carefully steps out of the bathtub. He sets me down and then dries me off. “Mrs. Birch said you only had a few sips of tea.”
“She gives you notes?” I lift a brow. I had a feeling, but I was hoping she might hold out some for me.
“She was wondering when we might want to eat again. Should I ask for notes?”
“No.” My teeth sink into my bottom lip, and he eyes me suspiciously.
“I’ll let this one go,” he relents. “For now.” The smirk that plays on his lips has my heart melting.
I think I’m falling a bit more in love with him.
Chapter Ten
Boone
After I make sure Phoebe eats and I tuck her into bed, I go back to my office to finish what I started earlier. She was the perfect distraction just as I was getting to the point where I was going to lose control.
Once that’s done, I make a call to her dad’s office and find out where he is. I think it’s time I go directly to the source of all of this, even if I have plans in place to protect my wife. I need to do everything I can to keep her safe, and that includes doing what I have to do when it comes to dealing with her dad.
His secretary informs me he’s having lunch at Rosebriar, one of the nicest restaurants on the outskirts of Hollow Oak. Of course it’s also the most expensive, so I’m not shocked he’s there. I text Curt what my plans are, and he tells me he’ll meet me there.
As much as my brother aggravates the shit out of me, he’s loyal like no other. Now that Phoebe is my wife, he’ll step up and protect her too. She’s my wife, so she’s as good as his sister. I don’t necessarily need backup at the restaurant, but having him nearby will make me feel better.
When I pull up to the restaurant, the valet offers to take my car. I wave him off and tell him to leave it up front; this won’t take long.
Inside the hostess offers to seat me, but I see Sherman Hawthorne sitting at the table next to the window with the best view. There’s a young woman at the table with him, and the hair on the back of my neck prickles. I don’t like how close they’re sitting together, even if it’s not my business. Phoebe’s feelings are my only concern, and this bullshit is embarrassing to her and him.
I walk straight to his table without pausing and move to stand beside the young woman, not bothering to look at her. I keep my glare on Sherman, and when he finally looks up and recognizes me, his face pales.
“Your friend needs to leave,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Amanda, why don’t you wait for me at the bar?” He swallows hard and gives her a shaky smile. “I’ll be over in just a second.”
“Why? I thought we were going to eat.” She stands up beside me, and I can feel her eyes roaming up and down my body.
It makes me angry and, I drag a chair away from her and position it beside Sherman, taking a seat.
“Fine,” she snaps, and then I hear her heels clicking on the tile floor.
“She’s not even legal,” I say to him once she’s out of earshot.
Sherman’s face goes from white to red in a flash. “She showed me her ID.” He has the audacity to look indignant.
“I’m not here because of her.” I lean forward and notice he’s clutching his napkin in his hand like a coward. “Where’s the money I gave you?”
His hands relax a little, and he shakes his head. “You’re not getting it back. A deal’s a deal.”
“I paid you so that you wouldn’t go bankrupt, but now I’m hearing you’re running around town throwing around cash, and obviously paying for dates.” I nod toward the bar. “How much did you promise her?”
“It’s not your concern what I do with the money you gave me.” He straightens his shoulders and leans back in his chair. “It turns out I’m flush now, and I’ve got extra to spare.”
“Liar,” I hiss, and he cuts his eyes at me.
“You don’t know anything.”
“I know that if you don’t pay off those loan sharks, they’ll not only kill you but your wife and your daughter too. Do you think there’s anything I wouldn’t do to protect Phoebe?”
He swallows hard but doesn’t answer me.
“You’re still betting on a losing horse, and if you haven’t realized it yet, you’re the horse.”
He stands abruptly from the table, and so do I. If he wants to cause a scene, I’m more than happy to help him do it. I hear someone come up behind me, and I instantly know it’s Curt.