Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
After a brief pause, she answered, “I know. I just want to forget all that.”
“You can talk to me about anything, Pippa. If not me, we’ll find you a professional to work through any rough places with you. There’s no shame in getting help.”
She nodded and remained silent.
Zale realized they’d been sitting in the Jeep in the driveway for a while. He reached up and triggered the garage door opener and drove into the garage. After turning off the engine, he told her, “Stay there. I’ll come get you.”
“I can do it,” she told him.
“I know you can, but it makes me happy to take care of you. Stay there.”
When she nodded, he slid from the vehicle and rounded the hood to open her door. After helping her down, Zale grabbed the sack Aspen had packed for Pippa. He took Pippa’s hand and led her to the door, saying, “I hope I didn’t leave the house in a mess.”
“I won’t pay attention to anything. I promise,” she told him as they walked in. Her mouth dropped open as she scanned the room. “A mess? You have to be kidding me. It looks like someone sanitized your house.”
“It’s not too hard to keep it clean when I’m the only one here. Come on. Let me show you the guest room. We’ll put your stuff there. I ordered some more clothes and things for you. They will be delivered this week,” he explained as he led her down the hall.
Zale set the bag on the double bed. “I’m going to let you settle in. Wander around and check out the house. There’s no place that’s off limits to you.”
When she appeared anxious at the thought of him leaving the room, Zale said, “I’m a call away, Pippa. You’re safe here.”
“I’m sorry I’m being silly.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re incredibly resilient. Remember, you’re protected here and I’m going to do everything to make sure nothing sinister finds you again. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said, nodding. “Thank you, Zale.”
“Make yourself at home, little girl. I’m not happy about how I found you, but I’m very glad you’re here.”
“Where are you going to be?”
“I’m going to jump in the shower. I’ll leave the door open so I can hear you if you call. We’ll meet in the kitchen for dinner.”
Turning and leaving her standing there alone was tough. Zale dragged himself away. He needed to strip off his grimy clothes and get clean. She didn’t need to spend the evening with someone who’d trained hard.
Caden, the team chief, had worked them ferociously today. Zale suspected he’d increased the training regimen to push the men. The thought of someone transporting a woman hundreds of miles against her will had riled up everyone.
He grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt before heading into the master bathroom. After flipping on the shower to warm, Zale grabbed his toothbrush without thinking. He rolled his eyes at himself when he realized he was brushing his teeth before eating. What was his subconscious plotting?
Give her time to settle in.
Zale rinsed his mouth and stripped off his clothes, dropping them in a pile by the hamper. They smelled so bad, they’d need to go into the washer immediately. Abandoning that task for later, he stepped into the shower and dunked his head under the spray to rinse his face and hair.
CHAPTER 5
Pippa considered the things she’d unpacked on the bed. Aspen had included her freshly laundered clothes as well as all sorts of things for her—the rest of the pack of underwear, another sports bra, a pair of leggings and a couple of T-shirts, the toothbrush she’d used, a blue bath pouf and some body wash, some small tubes of lotion, shampoo, and conditioner, even tampons and a couple of disposable razors.
What a kind woman! She’d obviously put thought into what Pippa would need and gathered supplies for her. When Pippa was back on her feet, she’d think of something to repay her thoughtfulness.
Gathering all the toiletries, Pippa carried them into the bathroom and set the shower things on the inner ledge of the bathtub. Some male toiletries were already there. Pippa figured those must be for when Zale’s brother visited or if one of the team showered there.
Leaving the bathroom, she heard the shower go on and heard a melodic, deep voice. Zale sings in the shower? She grinned as she walked back into the bedroom. Pippa peeked into a drawer in the dresser and found it empty. She stowed the clothing inside to keep everything tidy.
Turning in a circle, she checked out the bedroom. There wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere. She vowed to clean up after herself. Her natural preference for convenience over neatness would clash with Zale’s perfectly ordered life. She needed to be the ultimate guest and follow his ways.