Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Beth told him to stop messing with her show, and that was when Brooke found herself watching some kids while Beth got to go to the playroom.
Hope had sighed and wished someone would spank her, too.
She never got to do that in New York, much less watch two gorgeous men who claimed to want her. Or sit around and boldly talk about spankings and which flogger was the best, and no one blinked when she complained about the plug her men made her wear.
She felt Mark put a hand on her wrist. “Good, then you understand that I’m offering you something real. Brooke, I went about this all wrong. I should have asked you to dinner and discussed how we could move forward. I should never have said what I said to you, but I was jealous. You seemed to be flirting with everyone but the one man who really wanted you.”
“I don’t flirt.” Much. She wasn’t some outrageous flirt, drawing men into her web. What had he said about someone wanting her? “Who are you talking about? Please tell me it isn’t Ronnie from reception because you know he’s teasing, right? If he doesn’t know he’s into men, someone should tell him.”
He brought her hand to his mouth and laid a kiss on it. “I was talking about me, Brooke. I think we can build something beautiful together.”
She was horrified when he started leaning toward her.
“Hey, you two stay calm,” Trev was saying.
And then Mark was ripped from the booth.
Bay and her brother were here, and she was going to need bail money.
Chapter Thirteen
“All right, we’ve had a rash of vandalism around the town and I wanted to talk to a couple of people who’ve been affected to see if there are any threads I can start weaving together,” the sheriff said as he sat back in his chair.
Shane felt anxious but then he was in the sheriff’s office and Max Harper was next to him. It was kind of his nightmare scenario with the exception of the fact that Rye wasn’t here and Bay wasn’t about to be tossed in jail beside him.
“I told Deputy Leal everything I know.” Shane had been given a cup of coffee as he walked in. Actually, he’d been given what Gemma claimed to be the greatest latte ever made, but he hadn’t touched it because it might be one of those police trick things. Give him a bunch of coffee and then not let him go to the bathroom.
“Which was not much,” Max proclaimed. “See, I was thinking maybe the boys pissed someone off. They both got big mouths.”
Nathan Wright’s blue eyes narrowed on Max. “Really? You want to talk to a certain pot, Mr. Kettle?”
Max simply shrugged. “Game knows game, man. The Kent boys are annoying as fuck, and it is no surprise that someone decided to take a knife to their tires. Or someone decided to finally put that old truck of theirs out of its misery. It was a kindness, I tell you.”
“It’s not that old.”
Max stared at him for a moment.
It was older than he or Bay. “Well, it’s not as old as you.”
Max nodded as though he’d made his point. “See, that’s what I’m talking about.”
“Okay. Then why did someone break into the tiny house you put on your property?” Nate asked. “You know the one you intended to lock Brooke in so she could never lose her innocence.”
Max paled. “Shit. Is that what they’re saying? Because that is not… What do you mean someone broke in?”
Shane leaned in. “Was anyone there? The kids weren’t there, right?”
Max put a hand on his arm, and the expression on his face was softer for a moment. “The kids are with Stef. They’re fine. I appreciate that being your first thought, though.”
“Stef called it in,” Nate explained. “He had to get Ethan’s stuffed whale, and he went in the back way. He saw the door was open and stopped to check. I’m surprised he didn’t text you.”
Max pulled his cell out. “I was busy talking to Shane. I didn’t notice it rang. Why would anyone break into the tiny house? Did they steal anything? I bought some of those things brand new, and let me tell you Marie thinks the products she sells are precious. I would go to Walmart in Pagosa if I had the time.”
“Don’t let Marie hear you say that,” Shane grumbled. He’d already gotten the Buy Bliss speech. Although it wasn’t like he could get to Pagosa Springs even if he wanted to since he didn’t have a car.
Max couldn’t be too impressed. He might have a job, but he didn’t have much else, and everyone knew cowboy wasn’t a great thing to put on a résumé. He couldn’t even say he was an expert at anything beyond handyman.