Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Oh. That’s exciting.”
“And we’re together,” Theo added with more nonchalance than I knew he felt. “Just so there’s no mistake about the nature of our relationship. I hear the gossip mill runs quick and fast around the village.”
Monroe and Sloane both raised an eyebrow.
Theo looked amused. “To clarify, Sarah and I are in a romantic relationship as well as a professional one … to save you all days or weeks of speculation.”
“Sarah, you’re awfully quiet about that,” Monroe said with a smirk.
I might be taking my time diving back into what he and I had before, but we were together. I wanted to be with him. To work on returning to that place of trust. “Theo and I are dating. People will find out soon enough.”
Sloane grinned. “Well, I’m glad for you both.”
“We can die happy now.”
I elbowed Theo. “Ignore him. Sarcasm is his first language.”
“Just for that”—Sloane pointed at Theo, lips curled at the corners—“I’m going to get Walker to do a background check on you.”
I chuckled as Theo shrugged. “Why bother? I am an open book. Ask away.”
At my snort, he turned to me, eyes narrowed. But there was heat in his gaze that made my skin flush. It felt like years since we’d touched.
“You disagree?”
“You’re an open book with me … but no one else.”
“Well, that’s all that matters,” he murmured with a wicked twinkle in his eyes. “Isn’t it?”
I wished that it was all that mattered. But before Theo had been hit with the awful news about the murders and his show, I’d been thinking more and more that Theo needed to face some of his demons. And by face his demons, I meant his father. I was worried that if I fully embraced our relationship, something else would come up to remind him of his father and Saffron’s betrayal, and I’d be the one he’d push away again.
Yet, I didn’t know how to bring up the subject now that he had so much he was dealing with.
But I knew for my peace of mind, and for his, it was something I’d need him to at least consider facing.
Twenty-Five
THEO
“It would just be two episodes. Two weeks in Vancouver,” Miles Cooley coaxed down the line. He was the head writer and creator of a successful US crime series and I’d guest directed a few episodes of the show in the past. He wanted me out there in February to do a few more.
“I can’t commit to it, Miles. I’m sorry. I have a project in development that will probably take up most of my time in the new year. But thank you.”
“Okay. Well, I don’t need an answer for another week, so think on it,” Miles insisted.
I promised him I would, though I knew I couldn’t take the job. I hoped I’d be close to getting Juno into production by February.
We hung up and I turned to look at the tuxedo on my bed. I’d had it delivered to the castle a few days ago. With the horror of the Hangman cases lingering in my thoughts, I knew I was courting distraction by asking Sarah to attend the Ardnoch Christmas party with me. The truth was, I wanted her back. Fully. And it was better to pour all my attention into winning her back than think about the show or the murders. There was nothing more I could do, anyway.
Skylark World Productions sent the police the list of cast and crew, and some of them had been contacted. The production company had their PR team fired up and ready to go as soon as this became real news. So far, it hadn’t turned into that, but I had a sinking feeling it wasn’t far from breaking headlines.
As such, I was concentrating elsewhere.
On the one thing that was most important to me in the world. In a few hours, I’d pick up Sarah and bring her back to the estate and we’d get ready here together. I’d spend the entire night showering her with affection and attention and proving to her that she was all I wanted.
And maybe, just maybe, she’d let me touch her again.
There was nothing quite like being denied the one thing you wanted more than anything. I longed for her, even though I’d had her. I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anyone. Because it wasn’t actually about sex. It was about connection.
She had her guard up.
I wanted to smash that guard to smithereens and prove to her she never needed it again.
Fuck, if any one of my acquaintances knew what I’d do for this woman, they wouldn’t believe it. That, I, Theo Cavendish, was at the mercy of an introverted Scot.
Screw them. I’d shed my pride for Sarah McCulloch any day of the bloody week.
A rhythmic thudding sounded on my suite door, followed by, “Theo? Are you in there?”