Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
I absolutely agreed with her. But … “My e-bike cost my parents, like, a grand. That’s a lot of money for us.”
Mum might have made good money as head librarian, but it wasn’t epic money. And Dad ran his own successful photography business, made even more successful by some clever social media marketing. He mostly did weddings and big events, but he had a side business where he sold beautiful prints of scenes from Edinburgh and Scotland. He did well for an artist, but it wasn’t like we were rolling in it like Beth’s parents.
A grand on a bike was a lot.
And I treated that bike like my child.
Sierra sighed heavily. “We’ve secured the goddamn bikes.” She gestured angrily to the bike rack at the end of the large car park behind us.
“I’m not familiar with the area.” I sniffed haughtily. “Our bikes might not stay there very long if we leave them unattended.”
“Enough with the bikes.” Sierra abruptly stood and took off across the road.
Heart in my throat, I hurried after her, flattening myself against the wall of the apartment building. The guys could see us coming any second. Sierra had it on good authority the lads recorded the show Friday mornings. I was skipping a class for this ludicrousness!
Without another word, she pressed all the buttons except button 2A on the intercom system. Someone answered the intercom. “Yes?”
“Amazon package,” Sierra lied.
The door clicked open two seconds later. Shaking my head at her deviousness, I followed her inside and up the stairs to flat 2A. The student accommodation was new and modern, but it didn’t have the character of my flat on Leven Street. It probably doesn’t have the mouse problem or draftiness either, I thought with momentary longing.
“Now what?” I hissed as we stopped outside the flat.
My pulse was deafening in my ears.
“I should have brought Jan.” Sierra cut me a wry look. “She lives for this stuff.”
My wee sister did live for misadventures and mischief. “She’d also give you away in two seconds.”
Sierra let out a snort that was quickly replaced by determination. “I’m coming for you, you bastards.” She reached for the door handle.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, I’m not knocking and giving Olly a chance to hide his dirty work.” The handle twisted and she beamed triumphantly as she quietly pushed open the door.
Oh my goodness, we were going to prison.
We were so going to prison!
Legs trembling, I tiptoed in behind her as we entered an airy, modern hallway.
There was no sound from within.
Nothing.
Sierra placed a finger to her lips to ensure my silence before she tiptoed down the hall, glancing into doorways. The reception hall led into an open-plan living room and kitchen with lots of windows. It was empty.
There was only one closed door in the entire flat.
“I’m going to be sick,” I muttered as Sierra crept toward it.
She shot me a sharp shut up look as she grasped the door handle.
Then she threw open the door, marching inside. “Aha!”
I followed her in and abruptly ran into her as she halted.
My eyes widened.
The room had been soundproofed with foam panels. It was small. A round table sat in the middle, recording equipment on it with two laptops open beside it.
And around the table were three guys with headsets. Mics hung on stands near their faces.
Olly gaped at Sierra from one seat.
A guy with light brown hair turned to us with an expression of moderate surprise.
My heart stuttered as I looked at Potterrow Bloke number three.
And then it felt like it crashed into my stomach as nausea rose.
Sebastian Thorne stared back at me, wide-eyed and panicked.
CHAPTER SEVEN
SEBASTIAN
Present Day
“Do you really want to do this here?” Lily defensively crossed her arms over her chest. She wouldn’t meet my eyes. “I’m not sure I want our business aired publicly.”
“As opposed to the hundreds of thousands of people who listen to your podcast?” I teased, trying to ease the tension between us.
“You’re the one who kept your identity a secret.”
“For reasons.”
“That you’re happy to share here?”
I shrugged. “It’s not like what I’m about to tell you isn’t already in the public domain.”
With a sigh, she brushed past me. She smelled amazing. I’d thought at first it was her perfume, but it wasn’t. It was her hair. It was floral, but not in a heady way. It was fresh and slightly intoxicating. I’d imagined burying my face in her hair more times than I could count.
I watched as she settled on the bed, her back against the wall. My eyes narrowed as she tugged down her sweater to cover her lower abdomen, crossing her arms to hide herself. I didn’t want her to do that. I wanted her to know how gorgeous she was.
Anticipation agitating me, I had to force a look of patience.
“Fine.” Lily finally let out a heavy sigh. “There’s nothing else for us to do in here, is there?”